St John Lutheran Church & School

06/11/2026

"Prayer Request"
June 11, 2026
And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the Gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction. When He saw the crowds, He had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers in His harvest.” And He called to Him His twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every affliction. The names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Him. These twelve Jesus sent out … (Matthew 9:35-10:5a)

If you’re like me, you ask people to pray for you all the time. If someone’s sick, if they’re dying, if you’re in danger of losing a job or your house, if you’re just feeling poorly—you ask people to pray. And that’s sensible, isn’t it?

But in today’s story, we get the only prayer request Jesus ever made of His disciples, as far as I can remember. He looked at the crowds of human beings He was preaching the Gospel to, and He had compassion on them. And He said to His disciples—to us!—“The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.”

This is still true, isn’t it? Most of us can simply look out a window and see some of the people Jesus came to save. Even if we are out in the desert, a glance at our cellphones shows us a world dying without Christ—a world of people who are “harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.” And the longer we have been with Jesus, the closer we come to His heart—the more our hearts will break for these people. For we were once among them—without life and without hope in the world.

But Jesus reached out to us. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, He brought us to Himself in faith. His suffering and death set us free from our sin, guilt, and shame; and now that He has risen from the dead, He gives us His own real, eternal life that has started already in our hearts, and that will go on forever. We know what it means to be at peace with God—more than that, to be His beloved children, people whom God delights in. That is what Jesus wants for every human being.

And so now He sends us out, both to pray and to speak the Good News to the people around us, so they can trust in Jesus, too.

WE PRAY: Dear Lord, I’m nervous, but I love You. Use me to bring others to faith in You—and please remember my weakness, and show me what You can do through me in spite of it. Amen.

This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Kari Vo.

Reflection Questions:

Why is this the one thing Jesus ever asked of His disciples, do you think?
Why does He send them out to tell the Good News right after asking them to pray?
If He could use Judas (and He did), can He use you? How do you know?

06/10/2026

"Dying for the Ungodly"
June 10, 2026
For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die—but God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by His blood, much more shall we be saved by Him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by His life. (Romans 5:6-10)

I think pretty much all Christians have days when our sins overwhelm us and we can’t make ourselves believe that God really wants us—that He really loves us, forgives us, and wants us to be His own. It’s a human problem. We know ourselves well enough to look at our sins and think “Yuck!” and turn away in loathing. We wouldn’t want even our closest friends to know the evil thoughts that flit through our heads, even (maybe especially!) when we’re trying to do good. And how terrible if anyone ever found out about that thing we did years ago, that still worries us at night when we’re lying awake!

Paul knows we feel this way. He had his own nightmarish sins to accuse him. But Paul found something stronger than the power of sin to accuse and make us feel horrible. He found Jesus—or I should say, Jesus found him. Jesus found him right in the middle of his worst sins—actually on the road to Damascus, where Paul intended to arrest and imprison and kill Christian believers! And Jesus made Paul His own, forever.

If you believe in Jesus, He has found you as well. He came looking for you, and your sins didn’t put Him off! Your sins are no surprise to Him—He knew them, suffered for them, and put an end to them, long before you were born—on a cross outside the walls of Jerusalem.

This is why Paul can say, “For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. … God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Jesus never said, “Clean up your act and then I’ll die for you, then I’ll make you My own.” No, He came and He suffered and He died and He set us free, long before we were born. He washed us clean and took us to belong to Him forever and He gave us a share in His own resurrected life—and He did all of this before we even knew enough to wish for it, when we didn’t even know His Name. He loved us when we were still in our sins—and if He could love us to the point of death then, what will He do for us now?

WE PRAY: Lord, You loved me when I was a sinner—enough to die for me! I need Your help to believe this. It’s too wonderful for me. Help me. Amen.

This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Kari Vo.

Reflection Questions:

When in your life have you ever felt like you struck the jackpot—like something too wonderful to be true has happened to you?
Why does it matter that Jesus died for you before you ever tried to clean up your act?
What does that say about the way He will love you into eternity?

06/10/2026

Rev. David Boisclair joins Rev. Brady Finnern to continue our study of the Power and Primacy of the Pope.

06/09/2026

"A Kingdom of Priests"
June 9, 2026
They [the people of Israel] set out from Rephidim and came into the wilderness of Sinai, and they encamped in the wilderness. There Israel encamped before the mountain, while Moses went up to God. The Lord called to him out of the mountain, saying, “Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob, and tell the people of Israel: ‘You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to Myself. Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, you shall be My treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is Mine; and you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you shall speak to the people of Israel.” So Moses came and called the elders of the people and set before them all these words that the Lord had commanded Him. All the people answered together and said, “All that the Lord has spoken we will do.” And Moses reported the words of the people to the Lord. (Exodus 19:2-8)

Have you ever wondered why God chose Israel to be His special nation? Indeed, why bother having any special nation at all? I think the reason God chose one nation is right here in these words: “You shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.”

What exactly does that mean, a “kingdom of priests”? What exactly are priests, anyway, according to the Bible? What are they supposed to do?

I went looking, and I found this in the book of Hebrews: “For every high priest chosen from among men is appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins” (Hebrews 5:1). That is how the Bible describes the work of a priest: to serve as a mediator between God and human beings, mainly by offering sacrifices for human sin.

That was supposed to be Israel’s role when it came to all the other nations. They were to serve as mediators. They were to tell other nations about the true God, so that all people, Jews and Gentiles alike, could draw near to Him and put their trust in Him.

But what about the sacrifices part? That, too, came true—because Jesus our Lord was born a Jew, under the law of Israel, pure and holy, without flaw. And as the sinless Lamb of God, Jesus gave Himself up as a sacrifice on the cross, taking away all our sins—all the guilt and shame and penalty that lay against us. Because He suffered and died for us, we are set free from our sins—every human being who trusts in Him, Jew and Gentile alike. And because He rose from the dead, we have life and joy and peace in Him forever—living together in His kingdom.

WE PRAY: Dear Jesus, thank You for sacrificing Yourself for me, so that I too may be part of Your kingdom. Amen.

This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Kari Vo.

Reflection Questions:

Did God choose Israel because they were so wonderful?
If not, why did He choose them?
Why has God chosen you to be His own beloved child and a citizen of His kingdom through Jesus, your Savior?

06/08/2026

"In placing fathers and mothers “at His side,” God designs parenthood in such a way that a child’s earliest experiences of being cared for, loved, and instructed are at the hands of two people who love that child in a way that images God’s own love for us as closely as possible." —Christa Petzold

Read more about how God creates faith in your child and shapes discipline with grace ➡️ https://myc.ph/4flc3Fw

06/08/2026

"His Steadfast Love"
June 8, 2026
Enter His gates with thanksgiving, and His courts with praise! Give thanks to Him; bless His Name! For the Lord is good; His steadfast love endures forever, and His faithfulness to all generations. (Psalm 100:4-5)
If faithful church-goers respond to a survey about their reasons for attending worship, there may be as many different answers as there are respondents. Why do they worship every Sunday? Some enjoy music and like to sing the hymns that celebrate our salvation. Others want to hear the Scripture readings and the sermon, teachings that will help them grow in faith. Many look forward to receiving God’s gifts of Word and Sacrament. There will be those who especially long for the peace and comfort they find in the words of the absolution. Others enjoy fellowship with their brothers and sisters in Christ, and many may attend simply in joyful obedience to the Lord’s command to keep the Sabbath day holy.
These are all reasonable answers, but the psalmist might have a different response for a worship survey. He worships with joy, entering the Lord’s temple with thanksgiving and praise. He blesses the holy Name of the Lord. But why is he there in God’s house? The psalmist is not there because he enjoys music, although it is very likely that he does because he composes songs! The temple is a place to learn the Word of God and to grow in faith and fellowship with all who trust in the God of Israel. But the psalmist has another reason for his attendance. He goes to the temple because the Lord is good. The psalmist worships in God’s presence because the steadfast love of the Lord endures forever, and His faithfulness lasts through all generations.
“The Lord is good; His steadfast love endures forever.” Whatever our personal likes or opinions might be as we go to church, our reasons are the same as those of the psalmist. We come together to worship with our brothers and sisters in Christ because of the enduring, steadfast love of our Lord. That steadfast love led our Savior to take up His cross and die for us. The Lord’s steadfast love and faithfulness are revealed in the gift of His holy Supper as we receive His body and blood, given and shed for the forgiveness of our sins. It is the steadfast love of the Lord that comforts and encourages us through the reading, teaching, and hearing of His Word. Week after week, we “enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise” to receive God’s gracious gifts of Word and Sacrament. We might respond to a survey with a variety of answers about our reasons for worship, but each time we gather to worship in the presence of the Lord, we are there because of His steadfast love!
WE PRAY: Now and forever, Lord, accept my grateful praise for Your steadfast, enduring love. Amen.
This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Carol Geisler.
Reflection Questions:
1. Do you have a favorite reason for going to church? If you don’t always find that on a given Sunday, can you still get a lot out of church anyway?
2. How has God shown us that His love and faithfulness extend to all generations?
3. How can you make church more agreeable, inviting, engaging for someone else, the next time you go?

06/07/2026

"Today Your Mercy Calls Us"
June 7, 2026
“Today Your mercy calls us To wash away our sin. However great our trespass, Whatever we have been, However long from mercy Our hearts have turned away, Your precious blood can wash us And make us clean today.

“Today Your gate is open, And all who enter in Shall find a Father’s welcome And pardon for their sin. The past shall be forgotten, A present joy be giv’n, A future grace be promised, A glorious crown in heav’n.”

“Never put off until tomorrow what you can do today.” Benjamin Franklin often receives the credit for that bit of wisdom, although the procrastinators among us might prefer the version attributed to Mark Twain: “Never put off till tomorrow what you can do the day after tomorrow just as well.” There is no procrastination allowed as our hymn calls out, “Today!” It is a summons taken from Holy Scripture: “Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts” (Psalm 95:7b-8a, Hebrews 3:7b-8a). It is a call to repentance and faith, and it must not be put off until another day.

Our Heavenly Father calls us to repent. It is His command and invitation and He is eager to forgive, as our hymn declares, “Today Your mercy calls us to wash away our sin.” We enter God’s presence in repentant humility and find there “a Father’s welcome and pardon” for our sin. We may be afraid to come before God, even in repentance, expecting the condemnation that we justly deserve. Instead, we see that the “gate is open” and, as we enter, we do not find wrath and judgment, but God’s welcoming love and His full and free forgiveness. The Father welcomes us because the judgment that we deserve for our sins fell on Jesus, the Father’s beloved Son. Jesus endured the judgment, condemnation, and the penalty of death that should have been ours. Our sins are washed away in His blood. We come into God’s presence clothed in the righteousness of our risen Savior.

The Holy Spirit works through the Word of God, moving us to sorrow over our sins and turning our hearts to follow that insistent call: “Today!” No matter how long or how far we have wandered in sin and rebellion against God, “however long from mercy our hearts have turned away,” the Father welcomes us home for the sake of Jesus our Savior. Our sins are forgiven and as far as God is concerned, it is as if we had never turned away from Him. Our sins are removed from His sight and memory. Today “the past shall be forgotten.” Today we live in the “present joy” of God’s forgiveness and the daily guidance of His Word. Today we await the promise of the “future grace” that is the crown of eternal life!

WE PRAY: Lord, forgive my sins and lead me to walk in Your ways today. Amen.

This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Carol Geisler. It is based on the hymn, “Today Your Mercy Calls Us,” which is number 915 in the Lutheran Service Book.

Reflection Questions:

Has someone ever surprised you by his or her display of forgiveness? What led them to forgive?
What is the danger in hardening our hearts against God and others?
Is there someone you know who would do well to hear a word of forgiveness from you? Can you take strength from Jesus’ example in Scripture to offer that forgiveness?

06/06/2026

"The God Who Is Obvious"
June 6, 2026
So Paul, standing in the midst of the Areopagus, said: “Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very religious. For as I passed along and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription: ‘To the unknown god.’ What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you. The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man … The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now He commands all people everywhere to repent, because He has fixed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has appointed; and of this He has given assurance to all by raising Him from the dead.” (Acts 17:22-24, 30-31)

One can only imagine the impact St. Paul’s sermon must have had on the Greek philosophers of that day. Addressing the presence of an altar inscribed “to an unknown god,” Paul replies that there is only one God, that He made heaven and earth, and He is very much alive.

There is no need, friends, to speak any longer about an unknown god. There is no need to stumble around in spiritual hopelessness. God has made Himself known to you for your forgiveness and your salvation. Scripture says that long ago God spoke through Isaiah, Jeremiah, and many other prophets, in many ways. More recently, however, God has spoken to us through His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ (see Hebrews 1:1-4).

And the Scriptures let us know that because of Jesus Christ, our Heavenly Father will not deal with you and me according to the penalty our sin demands. Instead, forgiveness is promised. As the psalmist of old says, “For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His steadfast love toward those who fear Him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does He remove our transgressions from us” (Psalm 103:11-12).

God “knows our frame and He remembers that we are dust” (Psalm 103:14). He knows there is nothing we can do to earn His love or expect His forgiveness. Therefore, this compassion—all this love the known God has for you—is offered to us in the cross of Christ, by which God has lifted judgment against us. As the apostle John writes: “the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin” (1 John 1:7b). And this God gave proof of this “by raising Him from the dead.”

Let us then confess with the saints, praising this God who knows us—and has made Himself known to us. “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:37-39).

WE PRAY: Heavenly Father, You have clearly made Yourself known to us and shown us that You love us in Jesus. Thank You! Amen.

Based on “The Known God,” a sermon by Rev. Dr. Wallace Schulz, former Speaker of The Lutheran Hour

Reflection Questions:

Why do you think the Greeks of Paul’s day had an altar dedicated to an unknown god?
How has God made Himself known to us?
When someone says it’s impossible to know anything about God, how do you respond?

06/05/2026

"That We and Others Might Believe"
June 5, 2026
This devotion pairs with this weekend’s Lutheran Hour sermon, which can be found at lhm.org.

Simon Peter, Thomas (called the Twin), Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other of His disciples were together. Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We will go with you.” They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to them, “Children, do you have any fish?” They answered Him, “No.” He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, because of the quantity of fish. That disciple whom Jesus loved therefore said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment, for he was stripped for work, and threw himself into the sea. The other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, but about a hundred yards off. (John 21:2-8)

Two times toward the end of his Gospel, the writer John tells us that what he has written is for the sake of those who hear and read his words, that they might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God, and have life in His Name. He signs off on his Gospel saying that he was in fact an eyewitness to the things he recorded. In the account of the miraculous catch of fish recorded in John 21, as part of his eyewitness account he includes a small little detail. John tells us that the disciples caught 153 large fish. There’s little significance to that particular number. The significance is in the fact that the number is known. We know it was 153 because John was there when they counted the fish. He wrote his Gospel and included details just like this so that you might know that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God. It’s not that the fish themselves are important. Rather, it’s the Lord who brought about the miraculous catch. And it just so happens that there were 153 of them. These are the kinds of details eyewitnesses provide, especially those who have witnessed something like a miracle. The center of the story is Jesus, who gave that miraculous catch. Upon hauling the catch to shore, Jesus gathered His disciples around a fire for breakfast.

It’s the same Lord who will gather you around His miraculous Word this weekend, whether it’s three of you, 153, fewer, or maybe more. What happens as you gather is just what John describes throughout his Gospel—the branches remain in the Vine, the sheep hear the voice of the Good Shepherd and follow Him. That is, those who hear these and every other Gospel story receive them with faith and embrace them for the miracle of salvation. And we rely on Jesus that through us, He might continue to bring in a miraculous catch, not of fish, but of people who don’t know Him, that they too might have life in His Name. He blesses us, too, because we, along with John, get to be eyewitnesses of His work.

WE PRAY: Almighty God, pour out Your Spirit upon us and stir up our hearts to hear and embrace the Good News of Your saving work for us in Jesus, and use us to introduce others to Him. Amen.

This Daily Devotion was written by Rev. Dr. Chad Lakies.

Reflection Questions:

Have you ever been fishing with a guide? If so, did you do better than you expected to?
There are many opinions as to why John included the number of fish caught. Why do you think he gave a specific number?
How does God work through us to bring others into His sheepfold?

Today's Devotion Coming Close to Us Jun 4, 2026Thursday, June 4, 2026 As Jesus passed on from there, He saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth, and He said to him, “Follow Me.” And he rose and followed Him. And as Jesus reclined at table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and s...

06/04/2026

"Coming Close to Us"
June 4, 2026
As Jesus passed on from there, He saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth, and He said to him, “Follow Me.” And he rose and followed Him. And as Jesus reclined at table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and were reclining with Jesus and His disciples. And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to His disciples, “Why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” But when He heard it, He said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.” (Matthew 9:9-13)

I have to laugh at the poor Pharisees. Clearly they believe that Jesus is doing a bad thing. They are echoing the same ideas our parents probably taught us—“Don’t make friends with bad people, they’ll drag you into their problems and you’ll end up just like them.” The Pharisees are also feeling moral disgust—just the thought of sitting down with tax collectors and sinners makes them feel “icky.” (I believe that’s the technical word for it.)

But to Jesus, what they want Him to do makes no sense. Jesus came into this world to save sinners! How can He do that from a distance? It’s like telling the doctor to diagnose and treat someone from the other side of a football field. It’s like telling soap not to get anywhere near those dirty, stinky hands.

Of course the doctor is going to go where the sick people are. The soap will make the dirty hands clean. And Jesus will go where the sinners are, as close as close can be—and He will make them clean.

Jesus’ holiness is not fragile. It can survive becoming a human baby—growing up in a broken world—living among sinners—even being betrayed, flogged, and put to death naked on a cross. Jesus’ suffering, death, and resurrection don’t change the fact that He is the holy God.

What they change is us. Because Jesus comes so near us, He makes us clean, healthy, holy. He changes us to be like Him. Because He loves us and gave Himself for us, we come to reflect His glory in miniature. We trust in the Savior who has come so near us to save us, and so we become adopted children of God, just as Jesus Himself is the Son of God by nature.

WE PRAY: Lord, thank You for coming so near to me because You love me. Draw me even closer to You. Amen.

This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Kari Vo.

Reflection Questions:

Jesus comes close to us because that’s what we need. What else has He done for us because we need it?
How has Jesus come close to you? Think of your own personal life and experiences with Him.
Jesus lives within His people. How can you come near to someone else who needs Jesus, and become a blessing to them?