Faith Lutheran Church, 1201 Dogwood, Warsaw, MO (2026)

06/03/2026

"Saved by God’s Promise"

June 3, 2026

For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world did not come through the Law but through the righteousness of faith. For if it is the adherents of the Law who are to be the heirs, faith is null and the promise is void. … That is why it depends on faith, in order that [God’s] promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his offspring—not only to the adherent of the Law but also to the one who shares the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all, and it is written, “I have made you the father of many nations …” [Abraham] did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was as good as dead (since he was about a hundred years old), or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah’s womb. No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what He had promised. That is why his faith was “counted to him as righteousness.” But the words “it was counted to him” were not written for his sake alone, but for ours also. It will be counted to us who believe in Him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification. (Romans 4:13-14, 16-17a, 19-25)

This is a really technical passage, and hard to understand if you don’t have the context. What is Paul talking about?

He’s trying to explain why human beings can’t save ourselves by keeping God’s Law and living a good life. He’s doing it by talking about the great ancestor of the Jewish people—Abraham, the man God promised to make a “father of many nations,” even though he was childless. Abraham was no idiot; he knew a man 100 years old wasn’t likely to have a child, especially with a wife who was 90. But he also knew that God would keep His promise. And so he was happy. He trusted the promise—and God made it come true.

We, too, trust in God’s promise—not the one about having a baby, but rather the one about Jesus saving us. Because Jesus suffered, died, and rose from the dead for our sake, we know that everyone who trusts in Him has forgiveness, life, and salvation. God has told us so (see John 3:14-17; John 6:28-58; John 20:31; Acts 16:31). Just like Abraham, we trust God’s promise, and we are happy, because God will certainly give us all the good things He has promised us. God is doing all the work—not us. Which is good, because we would certainly make a mess of it, if He left it to us to do!

WE PRAY: Dear Father, thank You so much for saving me and giving me life through Jesus, Your Son. Amen.

This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Kari Vo.

Reflection Questions:

What promises do you depend on in your everyday life?

Does it make a difference to you who is doing the promising? Why or why not?

From what you know of Jesus, is He trustworthy or not? Can you trust Him to take care of you and bring you safely to God’s kingdom?

06/03/2026

From Quiet Times to Noisy Love

Lost and Found

In the Word

“And when she had found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.’ Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents” (Luke 15:9–10).

Of the Word

Can’t find your car keys? Glasses? Checkbook? How irritating! You look everywhere, checking every nook and cranny, even searching the same places over and over. Finally, the lost is found. Your level of joy is directly proportionate to the time spent searching.

When Jesus told the parable about the lost coin, He knew His listeners could relate. They understood as Jesus explained that the joy in heaven when a sinner repents is greater than finding a lost coin. “A sinner … like me?” we think. “The angels of God rejoice over ordinary me?”

It is hard to grasp the immensity of this truth. We can do nothing to earn the value He places on us. God, in His grace, loved us while we were still lost sinners. Jesus’ death and resurrection changed us into precious treasures.

Walking with my Lord

Lord, help me live each moment of today as a precious, restored treasure and share this message of joy with those around me. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Mustard Seed: From Quiet Times to Noisy Love. Jan Struck, author. 18/30 ©2013 Lutheran Women’s Missionary League, 801 Seminary Place Ste. L010, St. Louis, MO 63105. www.lwml.org

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations were taken from the ESV Bible® (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), Copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.

06/02/2026

Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries

"Absolutely Certain"

June 2, 2026

[God says:] I will return again to My place, until they acknowledge their guilt and seek My face, and in their distress earnestly seek Me. “Come, let us return to the Lord; for He has torn us, that He may heal us; He has struck us down, and He will bind us up. After two days He will revive us; on the third day He will raise us up, that we may live before Him. Let us know; let us press on to know the Lord; His going out is sure as the dawn; He will come to us as the showers, as the spring rains that water the earth.” (Hosea 5:15-6:3)

You can hear the frustration in God’s voice. What is He to do with His stubborn people?

He has sent them prophets, and the prophets have not been gentle; God uses words like “hewn” and “slain” to describe how painful their message to God’s people has been. And the people themselves use that kind of language, when they say, “Come, let us return to the Lord; for He has torn us, that He may heal us; He has struck us down, and He will bind us up. After two days He will revive us; on the third day He will raise us up, that we may live before Him.”

That sounds painful! And yet, God’s message has succeeded, right? Because look at what else the people are saying! They say, “He has torn us, that He may heal us.” That means God’s whole purpose in tearing them was to heal them in the end. They say, “He will bind us up,” and “He will revive us … He will raise us up, that we may live before Him.” I don’t hear any uncertainty in those words. They are convinced that this God, their own God, whom they deserted, still loves them so much that He will do a miracle and restore them to life and health.

And they’re right. Even though they have deserted the Lord, even though they have gone after other gods and brought the Lord’s discipline upon them—even though they are driving Him nuts!—He still loves them, loves them dearly. He will do all the things that they say. He will heal them, He will raise them. And He will do the same for us.

Because we, too, sometimes fall into sin that we can’t get out of, and we worry what the Lord thinks of us—will He give up on us? Is this the last straw? Have we pushed Him too far?

And God makes it clear: He will take us back and restore us, no matter how far away we’ve been or what we’ve done. Even if we’ve fallen into the same sin a hundred million times, He will patiently and lovingly restore us and raise us from the dead, so that we may live before Him in peace and joy. This is why Jesus came—to bring us home to God, again and again and again, until that final day when He brings us home forever, and sin is nothing but an old, bad memory. He suffered, died, and rose again so that He could make you—you personally—His own forever. He’s not going to give up on you now.

WE PRAY: Dear Savior, strengthen my trust in You, especially when I’ve sinned and feel terrible. Amen.

This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Kari Vo.

Reflection Questions:

Do you ever worry what God thinks of you?

What does Jesus’ coming indicate about God’s attitude toward you?

What does God do when you’ve fallen into sin? See Luke 15:3-7.

Today's Bible in a Year Reading: Psalms 53, 55, 58; John 13:1-20

06/02/2026

Love, Laughter, and Lullabies

Growing and Changing

In the Word

But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, (2 Peter 3:18a).

Of the Word

Watching my daughter grow is amazing! Each time she learns a new word, mimics an action, or gains independence, I realize what fun it is to enjoy the changes. And yet a part of me would like to hold on to the present, to keep her a baby just a little longer.

As much as I enjoy this stage of her life, would I really want my daughter “stuck” in babyhood forever? Certainly not!

Just as our babies grow and mature, the apostle Peter encourages us to grow as Christians. Knowing Jesus loves us so much He sacrificed His life for us is the foundation of the Christian faith, but Jesus has so much more to teach us about Himself, about living for Him, and serving Him.

Just as I cannot be satisfied to keep my daughter helpless and dependent, I cannot be satisfied with a baby-sized faith either. When I dig into God’s Word, the Holy Spirit strengthens me with knowledge that gives me more of the grown-up faith God wants me to have.

Walking with my Lord

Dear Lord, thank You for the faith You gave me when my spiritual life began. Continue to provide opportunities for me to grow in grace and knowledge. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Mustard Seed: Love, Laughter, and Lullabies. DCE Amanda Stacy, author. 19/30 ©2013 Lutheran Women’s Missionary League, 801 Seminary Place Ste. L010, St. Louis, MO 63105. www.lwml.org

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations were taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.

06/01/2026

Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries

"Better Than Gold"

June 1, 2026
It is good for me that I was afflicted that I might learn Your statutes. The law of Your mouth is better to me than thousands of gold and silver pieces. (Psalm 119:71-72)

When we struggle with any kind of affliction—issues with physical health, anxiety, workplace or family trouble, spiritual concerns—it can be difficult, if not impossible, to see anything good about our circumstances. Inspired by the Spirit of God, the psalmist has clearer sight: “It is good for me that I was afflicted.” The psalmist sees beyond his immediate circumstances to the purpose of God. The affliction serves good purpose because through his suffering, the psalmist learns to rely on the teachings of God. The Word of the Lord is worth more than a fortune in silver and gold!

The psalmist is not the only biblical writer to see beyond affliction to the work of God. The apostle Paul suffered a “thorn” in his flesh, yet he saw divine purpose in that physical ailment. The thorn was a messenger of Satan, permitted by God to prevent the apostle from becoming conceited about the many revelations the Lord had given to him (see 2 Corinthians 12:7-9). The Lord did not remove the thorn, revealing to Paul that His grace was enough. The mighty power of Christ is made perfect in weakness and suffering, as it was at the cross. Paul also explains that in our afflictions we are comforted by our Heavenly Father “so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which ourselves are comforted by God” (2 Corinthians 1:4b). We find peace and hope in the promises of God’s Word and then, in turn, share that peace and hope with others who suffer. Through the trials we experience, God conforms us to the image of His Son.

The psalmist recognized the good in his afflictions because the suffering led him to learn the teachings of the Lord. In days of trouble, we also turn to the Word of God. The Holy Spirit is at work in the Word to bring us forgiveness, peace, and hope. Joining with saints from the psalmist to Paul, we glorify God even through suffering. In our trials we may see more clearly the afflictions endured by our Savior Jesus Christ for the sake of our salvation. We rejoice in the glory of His victorious resurrection and long for the day when we will experience perfect peace and healing in His eternal presence. It is never easy to endure the trouble we face. Yet in that suffering, in the midst of our afflictions, we recognize the truth of the psalmist’s words. The hope and peace to be found in the promises of God’s Word are better than gold and silver.

WE PRAY: Spirit of God, when I endure trials, lead me to turn to the comfort of Your holy Word. Amen.

This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Carol Geisler.

Reflection Questions:

Why is it hard to see beyond our immediate circumstances and still give praise to God?

How did the apostle Paul deal with that thing that was bothering him? What monumental truth did he learn from his situation? See 2 Corinthians 12:7-9.

How do you think God shapes and forms us as His children through the things we face in this life?

Today's Bible in a Year Reading: Psalms 39-41 John 12:27-50

06/01/2026

From Quiet Times to Noisy Love

Judgmental Moments

In the Word

Why do you pass judgment on your brother? (Romans 14:10a).

Of the Word

She noticed him the minute he entered her checkout line. He had multiple tattoos, body piercings, and a T-shirt extolling an oddly-named music group. “Another one of them,” she thought. “How are you?” she asked. “Blessed!” he answered, “I’m blessed by God!”

How often our first impressions become final judgments! We look at style of dress, skin color, nationality — even facial expressions — and decide a person’s worth. We gravitate toward those who are most like us. Yet we forget the world’s most common denominator — our sinfulness. We have all fallen short of God’s demand for perfection; everyone has sinned. How foolish to pass judgment on those who are exactly like us!

Because Jesus died and rose again, God the Father now sees us in the perfection of Christ. We are new creatures. How blessed we are when we see others through Jesus’ eyes, loved and saved by Him. They, too, belong to the family of God.

Walking with my Lord

Lord, when I am tempted to pass judgment on someone, please enable me to see instead through my Father’s eyes. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Mustard Seed: From Quiet Times to Noisy Love. Jan Struck, author. 17/30 ©2013 Lutheran Women’s Missionary League, 801 Seminary Place Ste. L010, St. Louis, MO 63105. www.lwml.org

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations were taken from the ESV Bible® (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), Copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.

05/31/2026

Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries

"Holy God, We Praise Thy Name"

May 31, 2026

“Hark! The glad celestial hymn Angel choirs above are raising; Cherubim and seraphim, In unceasing chorus praising, Fill the heav’ns with sweet accord: Holy, holy, holy, Lord!

“Lo, the apostles’ holy train Join Thy sacred name to hallow; Prophets swell the glad refrain, And the white-robed martyrs follow, And from morn to set of sun Through the Church the song goes on.”

Choir concerts may last an hour or two or somewhere in between. Enjoying the experience, we wish the music could go on forever. Before the throne of God, the angelic concert does continue forever. That is one task of the holy angels, the cherubim and seraphim mentioned in our hymn. These heavenly messengers were created to serve God and to offer praise “in unceasing chorus” to their Creator. At times the angel choir was summoned for special performances, as when the heavenly host filled the night with light and praise at Jesus’ birth. The heavenly choir rejoiced in the victory of the risen and exalted Savior: “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever” (Revelation 11:15b). Many earthly choir members cannot resist joining in that particular chorus!

The angels are not alone in their unceasing chorus. In heaven they are joined by “the apostles’ holy train,” that is, the noble procession of those who were eyewitnesses for the risen Christ. Also praising the Lord are the prophets, through whom God spoke to His people. Following along are the “white-robed martyrs,” witnesses for Christ who gave their lives for that witness. They “washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb” to whom they testified (Revelation 7:14b). All of these continually offer praise, but heaven is not the only place where the unceasing chorus is heard.

All of creation is called to praise its Creator. The sun, moon, and stars, great sea creatures, fire, hail, snow, and wind, beasts and birds are commanded to praise the Lord who created and sustains them (see Psalm 148). We who follow Jesus are by no means left out of the chorus. We are told to sing “psalms and hymns and spiritual songs” with thankfulness in our hearts (Colossians 3:16b). On Sunday mornings or at home, with brothers and sisters in Christ or alone, we join the unending hymn. In freedom to worship or suffering under persecution, in health or in illness, the body of Christ on earth joins the church in heaven to praise God. Singing aloud or in the silence of grateful hearts, we worship Jesus, the Lamb who was slain to save us. All eternity will never be enough to give thanks for what He has done for us, so we begin now as through the church the song goes on.

WE PRAY: Lord Jesus, accept my grateful praise, now and forever! Amen.

This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Carol Geisler. It is based on the hymn, “Holy God, We Praise Thy Name,” which is number 940 in the Lutheran Service Book.

Reflection Questions:

Does your church have a choir? Does it have a contemporary worship service? Is there a place in either for you to contribute your musical talents?

What do you think the heavenly chorus sounded like the day of Jesus’ birth?

How does music that honors God fit into your life even when you’re not a church?

Today's Bible in a Year Reading: Psalms 36-38; John 12:1-26

05/31/2026

From Quiet Times to Noisy Love

Joy vs. Happiness

In the Word

“But now I am coming to you, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves” (John 17:13).

Of the Word

Years ago, a popular T-shirt read, “If Mama ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy.” Many people, including Christians, believe that God wants us to be happy. But happiness is often confused with the joy we read of in Scripture. Being happy is a feeling of bliss or a mood that is dependent on other people and circumstances. Joy is a gift from the Holy Spirit — not a moment or a mood.

Joy is God’s intentional gift of His presence. Jesus came to live among us, speak the truth of God’s unconditional love for us, and take away our sin through His death and resurrection. No matter what circumstances surround us, we can live in the joy that we are His precious children. We are made whole in the promise of Jesus, “that they may have my joy fulfilled in them” (John 17:13b).

Moments of happiness are a delight, but we can rejoice in the always-present joy that is the foundation of our life in Christ!

Walking with my Lord

Lord, I thank You for moments of happiness and, more importantly, for the never-ending joy of being Your redeemed child. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Mustard Seed: From Quiet Times to Noisy Love. Jan Struck, author. 16/30 ©2013 Lutheran Women’s Missionary League, 801 Seminary Place Ste. L010, St. Louis, MO 63105. www.lwml.org

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations were taken from the ESV Bible® (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), Copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.

05/27/2026

Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries
"With Jesus"

May 27, 2026

But Peter [said] … “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves know—this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. God raised Him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for Him to be held by it. For David says concerning Him, ‘I saw the Lord always before me, for He is at my right hand that I may not be shaken; therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced; my flesh also will dwell in hope. For You will not abandon my soul to Hades, or let Your Holy One see corruption. You have made known to me the paths of life; You will make me full of gladness with Your presence.’ Brothers, I may say to you with confidence about the patriarch David that he both died and was buried …. Being therefore a prophet … he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that He was not abandoned to Hades, nor did His flesh see corruption. This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses. Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, [Jesus] has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing. For David … himself says, ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand, until I make Your enemies Your footstool.”’ Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.” (Acts 2:14a, 22-29a, 30a, 31-34-36)

What amazes me about this sermon is the man who’s preaching it. I mean, this is Peter. He’s a fisherman, not a rabbi! But somehow he knows the Scripture well enough to use Psalm 16 and Psalm 110 to explain what God has done to save us through His Son Jesus. He explains how God the Father sent Him into the world to suffer and die for us on a cross, and then raised Him from the dead to live forever—and now, Jesus is at the right hand of God the Father, and has sent us the Holy Spirit to live in us.

I’m not surprised 3,000 people came to faith and were baptized! Clearly, God is working through him. But what about those Bible verses—where did that knowledge come from?

Acts 4:13 clues us in. It says, “Now when they [the elders and rulers of the people] saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus.”

It is Jesus who makes the difference in Peter and John. It is Jesus who makes the difference in us, people who have come to faith in Him through the work of the Holy Spirit. It doesn’t matter what we have been in the past. Now we are with Jesus, and the Spirit of God is remaking us to be like Him—teaching us, taking away our fear, and working to save others through us.

WE PRAY: Dear Lord, bring me closer to You! Amen.

This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Kari Vo.

Reflection Questions:

Do you remember a time before you knew Jesus?

If so, what difference do you see now? If not, how have you grown in your faith over your lifetime?

How do you spend time with Jesus?

Today's Bible in a Year Reading: Psalms 20-22; John 10:1-21

05/27/2026

Daughters of The King

The Widow of Zarephath —
Nothing Left but Trust

In the Word

Then the word of the Lord came to him [Elijah], “Arise, go to Zarephath … I have commanded a widow there to feed you” (1 Kings 17:8a; 9b).

Of the Word

Because of a drought, a widow’s flour and oil were nearly gone. She would bake a bit of bread then she and her son would lie down to die. Enter the prophet Elijah who asks for some bread and water. Explaining her situation to Elijah, he tells the widow not to be afraid. Miraculously, the flour and oil lasted for days.

This story has yet another miracle. The widow’s son dies of an illness and even Elijah doesn’t understand why God let the child die. He fervently prays for life to be returned to him. Miraculously, it was! This woman, led to despair, thought circumstances couldn’t get any worse, and yet they did. And we cry, “Lord, I, too have been there.”

God doesn’t want us dangling at the end of a rope. He wants to be our strength. Just as He told the widow not to be afraid, our Father gives us that same assurance. “It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed” (Deuteronomy 31:8).

Walking with my Lord

Lord, when life is difficult, help me freely surrender my troubles to You. Then help me trust in Your promise to always be with me. I pray in Your Almighty name. Amen.

Mustard Seed: Daughters of the King. Marcia Gomulka and Myrna Lou Meyer, authors. 16/34 ©2013 Lutheran Women’s Missionary League, 801 Seminary Place Ste. L010, St. Louis, MO 63105. www.lwml.org

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations were taken from the ESV Bible® (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), Copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers

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