Proper 17 Series B

 

Emmanuel Lutheran Church
Ft. Wayne, IN
Proper 17 Series B
Mark 7:14-23
Having heart trouble?

We face a universal challenge. How to make individuals good? To be respectable. And decent. And live righteously.

Is it merely, “Good Thoughts, Good Words, Good Deeds?”[1] If so, how are we as Christians different from the rest of the world?

How ought you reward a child for demonstrating proper behavior? And such expected behavior. Is it taught? Or is it caught?

What is the answer to crime? Is it education? More laws? Better prisons? Stiffer penalties?

Today an emphasis has been placed on behavior modification. Through drugs. Rewards. Positive as well as negative reinforcements. All with the hope of a confident outcome.

But these measures only address the symptoms of a much deeper problem. Today. In our Gospel reading. Jesus literally gets to the heart of the problem.

Jesus puts His finger on the cause of all human behavior. It is - A dirty heart.

A good life - calls for a good heart. If so. The world is suffering from heart trouble! What to do about a diseased and difficult heart?

The Savior gives us the answer, “All these evils come from inside and make a man ‘unclean.”’ V.23

Almighty God, our heavenly Father, because of Your tender love toward us sinners You have given us Your Son that, believing in Him, we might have everlasting life.

Continue to grant us Your Holy Spirit that we may remain steadfast in this faith to the end and finally come to life everlasting.[2]

I. Know and understand that the heart is the source of behavior.

A.    Scanning the heart - Through the scrutiny of the Scriptures. - Reveals troubling results.

1.        It shows a heart. Blackened by sin. Solomon would remind us, “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” (Proverbs 4:23)

While the Savior reminds us in our Gospel reading today,

“From within the hearts of men come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery.” v. 21.

2.        It is a heart. Broken by hurt. Which results in pain.

David would remind us, “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart, O God, Thou wilt not despise.”  Psalm 51:17

A broken spirit and contrite heart means we repent of our sin by turning away from our disobedient actions. Admitting our mistakes. And turning towards Christ.

Repentance, however, does not end with us merely sitting in guilt and shame over the sins we have committed. Wallowing in misery. There must be - a change of heart.

3.        It is a deficient heart. Inherited by our parents. When Adam and Eve rebelled, falling headlong into sin, man lost this image of God. Now the will, desires, and the thoughts of man follow the self.

“Thus when Adam was 99 years old, he had a son after his own image and likeness and called him Seth.” (Genesis 4:25)

B.       This heart reflects the nature of man. Because the heart is darkened by sin. Man now tries to hide himself from sin.

Anyone who has ever been around a toddler has witnessed what so often happens. The child might be doing something, he knows he shouldn’t. When the parents enter the room. He shuts his eyes. And the problem goes away!

That’s what the heart darkened, and blindness of sin can do. It makes us close our eyes. To anything which would expose our sinful self.

Transition: Realizing that the heart is the source of human behavior - what shall we do? We turn to Jesus. Our Great Physician. Who can perform His work in you. –

His greatest work is reserved for those He came to save. Understand this. Christ alone can make a good heart.

He alone is the Great Physician. Who performs His work in you.

II. With repentance and faith we turn to Jesus.

A.       He alone can make a good heart. Thus, David prayed: “Create in me a clean heart, Oh God.” Psalm 32

1.        Sometimes a transplant is the only solution. This is what Christ has done for you. He has given you a new heart. When He went to the cross and stood at the mouth of an empty tomb.

He took your poor weak heart and replaced it! Jesus. The Son of God. Descended from heaven above. He made the ultimate sacrifice by giving His life in exchange for yours.

He had no sin. But chose to take your sins as His. To suffer and die in your place. Behold His cross!

Who would do that? Your God! That's who!

Jesus endured the fever of His Father's wrath. He hung suffocating. Nailed to wood. So you would go free. He did it willfully. Joyfully. This was His natural response. To the problem of sin. A predicament you could not solve. His cross is His promise of His love for you.

2.        Because Jesus has given you a new life. – New life in Him. He is the one who shapes and molds your life. Your times are in His hands. Only He can direct your path. He has promised He will do this.

B.       As the Great Physician. Jesus alone can perform His work in you.

1.        His work in you began at your baptism. When you were connected to Christ. He gave His word and promise.

To restore and forgive you. And then. To be with you always for time and eternity.

2.        And He always works through those means He has chosen namely His word which is connected to water, wafer, and wine.

You know those words so well. “But the Holy Ghost has called me by the Gospel.”  

When we struggle with fear and doubt. The Holy Spirit invites us to pray for comfort and hope. The Spirit—Our Helper—Does not give us over to discouragement. But strengthens us in our faith.

He reminds you. That Christ. Your Savior from sin and death. Holds you firmly in His undying grip. And helps you hold firmly to Him.

The Spirit does not give us over to uncertainty. But consoles us. Confirming in us the belief that God’s Word is true. And His promises are sure. The Spirit gives us joy amidst grief. Peace. In the face of fear.

3.        And He has promised to guide and lead you. Every step of your life’s journey. No matter what happens to be “in your road.”

His hand will always guide you. Never will He let you go. He will mold and shape every circumstance of your life. To bring it into conformity. With His good and perfect will.

4.        And your faith in Christ will naturally have a response.

After nine long months of eager anticipation the day finally arrived. The country doctor was called to the house to help with the delivery.

The anxious father - was instructed - to stand in the corner - and to hold up a lantern - for the good doctor to see.

Finally! – A healthy baby girl! The father began lowering his lantern. But the good doctor asked him to keep it lifted.

Within a few minutes. – A second child! This time - a boy!

Letting down his lantern a second time, the good doctor asked him again. - To keep it lifted.

Within a few minutes. – A third child!

Finally, the father asked – “Do you suppose? ... They’re attracted by the light?”

John would remind us, “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.” – 1 John 1:7

Jesus said, “In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” – Matthew 5:16

Having received the forgiveness of sins you now share that light of Christ with all that you meet. You are the hands and feet the fingers and toes of Jesus in this world.

Your task = shine brightly with the light of Jesus!

It starts at our school. Emmanuel- St. Michael. Where we thank the Lord Jesus for the talents. Gifts. And abilities. He has given to our students.  

And Students. Remember this! A vital part of your education is to discover what you do and what you do well. And then to take those gifts. And use them for service to your neighbor.

Think of the cleaning service - “Service Master.” In all that you do. You render Service to the Master.

And especially on this Labor Day weekend. We give thanks for the various vocations the LORD has placed before us. As you work and serve your neighbor in love. That’s how you build faith in the city. By shining the light of Christ in this corner of Christ’s kingdom.

The way you love and serve others is what you do best. For those you love most.

It’s not for me to dictate to you. How. When. Where. And for whom you are to serve.

That's for you to find out. And when you do. Serve them well. Be a sermon in shoes.

It's faith in the Christ. That allows you. To discover in joy. And delight. And surprise. What Christ has in store for you. As you share His good news. To those He has placed in your life.

Having heart trouble? Take the prescription. Which is proven to work. Every. Single. Time. It’s offered. – Given to you by that great Physician – Jesus Christ - the wounded healer – who not only redeems you - but also equips you for every good work!

Words-1,630
Passive Sentences –3.6%
Readability-84.6%
Reading Level 3.2
Luther’s Seal © Ed Riojas. Higher Things

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[1] Such are the tenants of Zoroastrianism.

[2] Collect for Steadfast faith Lutheran Service Book © 2006 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis

 

Saturday prior to Proper 17

 

1

Sunday’s hymn of the day, Be Strong in the Lord (LSB 665) exhorts us to make full use of the armor of God, that we may withstand the wiles of the devil and our sinful nature. Having been equipped by our Lord, we can be certain of the victory.

1 Be strong in the Lord
In armour of light,
With helmet and sword,
With shield for the fight;
On prayer be dependent,
Be belted and shod,
In breastplate resplendent:
The armour of God.

2 Integrity gird
You round to impart
The truth of His Word
As truth in your heart;
His righteousness wearing
As breastplate of mail,
His victory sharing,
Be strong to prevail.

3 With eagerness shod
Stand firm in your place,
Or go forth for God
With news of His grace;
No foe shall disarm you
Nor force you to yield,
No arrow can harm you
With faith as your shield. 

4 Though Satan presume
To test you and try,
In helmet and plume
Your head shall be high;
Beset by temptation
Be true to your Lord,
Your helmet salvation
And Scripture your sword.

5 So wield well your blade,
Rejoice in its pow'rs,
Fight on undismayed
For Jesus is ours!
Then in Him victorious
Your armour lay down,
To praise, ever glorious,
His cross and His crown.

Collect for Pentecost 15—Lord of power and might, Author and Giver of all good things, graft into our hearts the love of Your name, increase in us true religion, nourish us with all goodness, and bring forth in us the fruit of good works; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

A Prayer before confession and absolution: Almighty, everlasting God, for our many sins we justly deserve eternal condemnation. In Your mercy You sent Your dear Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, who won for us forgiveness of sins and everlasting salvation. Grant us a true confession that, dead to sin, we may be raised up by Your life-giving absolution. Grant us Your Holy Spirit that we may be ever watchful and live true and godly lives in Your service; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen. 

Sources:

1. Go into all the world, copyright © Ed Riojas, Higher Things

2. Collects from Lutheran Service Book © 2006 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis

Friday prior to Proper 17

 

1

Mark 7:14–23— What defiles a person? Is it what goes into him? No. We are all defiled by sin. We have inherited our sinful nature from our first parents, and are inclined toward evil. Jesus gives a whole laundry list of wicked thoughts and actions which proceed out of our sinful hearts. We must ever be on guard, not only against the attacks of Satan, as in the epistle lesson, but even on the treachery of our own hearts. We must not depart from the Word of God, but read, hear, and learn it daily to know of both our salvation and of the will of God.

Jesus teaches that people are not defined by food or other things entering the body from the outside, but rather by their own evil inclinations and sinful behaviors. This teaching exposes the uselessness of our own excuse making and dismisses our claims that other people and things are to blame for our shortcomings and failures. However, Jesus does not merely condemn; He also sets free. Through His promises we are liberated from sin and reconciled to God the Father.

By this teaching Jesus declares (cleans and makes) all food good. He directs His words to the condition of the heart. Instead of doing more to be good we need a new heart. To lord over another because of their piety is hypocrisy. “I desire mercy not sacrifice,” meaning not empty sacrifice.    

Ritually impure food does not touch the heart and so cannot contaminate. All food is clean. Jesus' teaching will affect the future Christian mission. Simply put, Gentile will not need to observe Jewish dietary laws. The question of food laws caused much controversy in the 1st Century Church. See Acts 15:1-1-35; Romans 14:1-3, 1 Corinthians 8:7-13

A Prayer for aid against temptation: O God, You justify the ungodly and desire not the death of the sinner. Graciously assist us by Your heavenly aid and evermore shield us with Your protection, that no temptation may separate us from Your love in Christ Jesus, our Lord. Amen.

A Prayer for spiritual renewal: Almighty God, grant that we, who have been redeemed from the old life of sin by our Baptism into the death and resurrection of Your Son, Jesus Christ, may be renewed by Your Holy Spirit to live in righteousness and true holiness; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen. 2

Sources:

1. Go into all the world, copyright © Ed Riojas, Higher Things

2. Collect for aid against temptation and for spiritual renewal, Lutheran Service Book © 2006 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis

The Martyrdom of St. John the Baptist (August 29)

 
Revelation 6:9–11
Romans 6:1–5
Mark 6:14–29

The Martyrdom of St. John the Baptist 

“Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means!” (Rom. 6:1–2).John preached the Law boldly against Herod’s adultery with Herodias. Choosing human honor over honesty, Herod served up John’s head on a platter to pacify Herodias’s conscience without the contrition and repentance of Baptism (Mark 6:17–28). So John was slain for the Word of God and for the witness he had borne (Rev. 6:9). John is Christ’s forerunner also in death; so other fellow-servants and brothers continue to be martyrs (witnesses) of Christ to this day (Rev. 6:11). Their deaths are precious to the Lord (Ps. 116:15) and so also to us, who celebrate even a beheading. Such is the confidence of the baptized! Buried into Christ’s death through Baptism, we believe we shall certainly be united with Him in a resurrection like His also (Rom. 6:4–5). 

United to Christ, the Church’s Head, John can be confident that He will be reunited to his own at the last day. Even John isn’t really the forerunner; Jesus has gone before us all: out of the tomb alive, the firstborn of those who sleep!

Luther's Seal copyright Ed Riojas, Higher Things

Lectionary Summary copyright LCMS commission on worship

Thursday prior to Proper 17

 

1

Ephesians 6:10–20— A Christian puts on the whole armor of God to stand against evil powers.

According to tradition Paul wrote Ephesians while in prison. The presence of a Roman soldier gave him an analogy for this reading. He sees a Christian as a soldier properly equipped to do battle with the world. A Christian is in constant conflict with the world because it is evil. The enemy to be defeated is spiritual evil powers, darkness, wickedness. To conquer this kind of enemy, the Christian warrior needs, appropriate spiritual equipment which Paul describes in terms of a Roman soldier’s equipment. Since the Christian is now equipped for battle, he/she goes forth emboldened and empowered by prayer. 2

This last reading from St Paul’s letter to the Ephesians fit exceptionally well with Sunday’s other readings. 

Moses had given his instruction to the Israelites because he knew how easy it is for people to fall away from God. In times of both adversity and prosperity, people may be tempted to forsake the Lord. Attacks will come, for the devil hates God and all whom He loves. 

The Christian must gird himself for spiritual warfare with the weapons which God has provided: truth, righteousness, the Gospel, faith, salvation—with these, we are equipped for the assaults of the Evil One.

Prayer for aid against temptation: O God, You justify the ungodly and desire not the death of the sinner. Graciously assist us by Your heavenly aid and evermore shield us with Your protection, that no temptation may separate us from Your love in Christ Jesus, our Lord. 3

Sources:

1. Go into all the world, copyright © Ed Riojas, Higher Things

2. Lectionary Preaching Workbook Series B, John Brokhoff © 1981 CSS Publishing, Lima, OH

3. Collect for aid against temptation, Lutheran Service Book © 2006 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis

Wednesday prior to Proper 17

 

1

Deuteronomy 4:1–2, 6–9—A nation that obeys God’ laws will live.

The first four chapters of Deuteronomy consist of a narrative by Moses telling the people what happened since the giving of the law on Mt. Sinai. Israel is about to enter the Promised Land and Moses calls upon them to obey God’s law that they may live and prosper in the new land. It is assumed that the laws referred to are the laws recorded in Deuteronomy chapters 12-26 (Referred to by Bible scholars and the Decalogue or the Deuteronomic code)

The laws are given as never to be added or to be subtracted from. The life of the nation depends upon their obedience to God’s laws. If the laws are obeyed, they will receive God’s blessing and other nations will be impressed with Israel’s wisdom and righteous laws. 

Moses warns and Jesus argues that the Law is not to be added to or taken from the original. If this were allowed each person could writer his/her own laws. Each would do what was right in his/her own eyes. There would be no absolute standards. Moreover, the Law dare not be changed because it is God’s law. He wrote the moral precepts. Who is man or woman to change them? Is he greater than God?

In addition there needs to be no change in the laws of God because people of every generation remain the same. They are always in need of moral direction.  2

As the Children of Israel were about to take possession of the land that the LORD, the God of your fathers, is giving them, Moses reminds them of all that the LORD had taught and commanded them. His advice is to them and to us, heirs through Christ of the spiritual Promised Land, the Kingdom of Heaven. We must be diligent to hear the Word of God and preserve it, making it known, not only among ourselves, but to our children and our children’s children.

Prayer for steadfast faith: Almighty God, our heavenly Father, because of Your tender love toward us sinners You have given us Your Son that, believing in Him, we might have everlasting life. Continue to grant us Your Holy Spirit that we may remain steadfast in this faith to the end and finally come to life everlasting; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen. 3

Sources:

1. Go into all the world, copyright © Ed Riojas, Higher Things

2. Lectionary Preaching Workbook Series B, John Brokhoff, © 1981 CSS Publishing, Lima. OH

3. Collect for a steadfast faith, Lutheran Service Book © 2006 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis

Tuesday prior to Proper 17

 

1

Psalm 119:129–136—Psalm 119 is the longest psalm, and it extols the virtues of delighting in the Word of God. One who is righteous by faith has a great desire to live according to the precepts of God’s holy Word. The Word of God gives light and understanding; it keeps us from having our iniquity getting dominion over us. We the redeemed long to live by faith according to the Word; we shed tears because people do not keep God’s Law.

The theological theme is the Word of God–pay attention to the synonyms for Scripture: “your decrees,” “your words,” “your commandments,” “your promise,” “your precepts,” “your statutes,” “your law.”

The poetic theme is the body– pay attention to the “embodied” poetry: “my soul” (literally: “my throat”), “open mouth,” “my steps,” “your face,” “my eyes.” And at the heart of it all is a living relationship between the Lord and the human being: “Turn to me and be gracious to me, as is your custom toward those who love your name” (verse 132).

Verses 129-131 Wisdom-like statements about God’s Word: “Your decrees are wonderful.”

Verses 132-135 Petitions: “Turn to me… Keep my steps steady… Redeem me from oppression”

Verse 136 Wisdom-like statement:  “My eyes [cry] because your law is not kept.”

The force of verses 129-131 are that the Word of God is a means of grace. Through the Word– which is both law and gospel– the Lord of Israel encounters the people of God. The word is “wonderful.” This Hebrew word (pila’ot) is often used in the psalms to describe God’s mighty actions on behalf of both the people as a whole (77:10, 14; 105:2; etc.) and also of God’s redeeming actions on behalf of individual people (9:2; 17:7; etc.). Here in Psalm 119, this characteristic is applied to God’s Word.

In other words, just as God’s might acts of deliverance can be means through which God shows grace to suffering people, so also the Word itself is such a means that mediates God’s wonders to his people. The psalm then compares God’s word to light that gives guidance (the image here is one in which a scroll is unrolled and light shines upward and outward).

Verses 132-135 build on the promises of verses 129-131, by essentially asking that the Lord make real for the psalmist that which has been promised in the word. The phrase that is translated “be gracious to me, as is your custom” by the NRSV, more freely means, “be gracious to me as you have promised in your word," (“your custom” is “your judgment” in Hebrew). The psalmist prays for relationship (“turn to me,” “be gracious to me”), guidance (“keep my steps steady,” “never let iniquity have dominion over me”) rescue (“redeem me from human oppression”), and blessing (“make your face shine upon your servant,” “teach me”). 

At the heart of these petitions is a very realistic theological anthropology. The psalmist knows that we cannot by our own strength or effort, believe in God, keep God’s word, or defeat the power of sin. That is, left to our own will, we cannot maintain a relationship with God. We cannot keep our feet on the narrow path. We cannot defeat sin. Therefore, we need guidance (a light to shine in our darkness) and we need rescue (from ourselves and from other human powers) and we need blessing. In short, we need a teacher: God.

The closing comment is, “my eyes shed streams of tears, because your law (Hebrew, torah; better: “instruction”) is not kept.” Far from being a self-righteous statement, this closing verse should be understood in a communal and personal way. The psalmist sheds tears both because hi own community does not keep the word, but also because he is aware that personally, he fails to keep the commandments (see Psalm 19:12-13). 2  

Collect for Psalm 119: Lord, you are just and your commandments are eternal. Teach us to love you with all our hearts and to love our neighbor as ourselves, for the sake of Jesus our Lord. 3

Sources:

1. Go into all the world, copyright © Ed Riojas, Higher Things

2. https://www.workingpreacher.org/commentaries/revised-common-lectionary/ordinary-17/commentary-on-psalm-119129-136-2 

3. Collect for Psalm 119, For All the Saints, A Prayer Book For and By the Church vol. IV  The American Lutheran Publicity Bureau, © 1996 Delhi, NY

Proper 17 Series B reflection

 

August 26, 29 - Proper 17 reflection  

Law/Gospel Theme:  The way you love and serve others is by what you do best for those you love most.  We see that love demonstrated around us by the people who serve and care for us. James in our reading for today encourages us not to give up in showing love and care for others. May we be encouraged to express love and care to the people around us.

Prayer Lord of all power and might, the author and giver of all good things. Graft in our hearts the love of your Name. Increase in us true religion.  Nourish us with all goodness; and bring forth in us the fruit of good works; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God for ever and ever. Amen.

Hymn: #72 Rock of Ages

Confession/Absolution:

LORD - we pray to you also for the forgiveness of our sins. Have mercy upon us, most merciful Father.

In Your compassion forgive us our sins. Known and unknown. Things done. And left undone. And so uphold us by Your Spirit.

That we may live and serve you in newness of life. To the honor and glory of Your Name. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Almighty God have mercy on you. Forgive you all your sins.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ. And may He strengthen you in all goodness.

And by the power of the Holy Spirit keep you in eternal life. Amen.

James 1:17-27

Every generous act of giving, with every perfect gift, is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. In fulfillment of his own purpose he gave us birth by the word of truth, so that we would become a kind of first fruits of his creatures.

You must understand this, my beloved: let everyone be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger; for your anger does not produce God's righteousness. Therefore rid yourselves of all sordidness and rank growth of wickedness, and welcome with meekness the implanted word that has the power to save your souls.

But be doers of the word, and not merely hearers who deceive themselves. For if any are hearers of the word and not doers, they are like those who look at themselves in a mirror;

for they look at themselves and, ongoing away, immediately forget what they were like. But those who look into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and persevere, being not hearers who forget but doers who act-they will be blessed in their doing.

If any think they are religious, and do not bridle their tongues but deceive their hearts, their religion is worthless.

Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.

Hymn:  #71 Praise to the LORD, the Almighty

Imagine this: You scrape your knee. You hobble over to your friend who is watching. You start to cry as you say, "I scraped my knee."

Here comes the What If? part.

What if your friend looked at your bleeding knee and said. "Oh my, I am sure God will heal your knee. Let's say a prayer."?

How would you feel? Not too good.

How about this?

The sun is shining. It's a beautiful day. You have a great time enjoying the warmth and sunshine.  But when it comes time to go inside, it starts pouring rain. You don't  have a raincoat or an umbrella.

Someone is standing next to you at the door looking at the rain coming down. What if all they said to you was "Have a great day. Hope you get in all right."?

How would you feel? Again. Not too good.

Or how about this. It's almost lunch time. You sit at your regular place in the dinning rood but nobody comes!  You don't have anything to eat. You tell your friend. “They forgot all about me!”

What if your friend walked with you to the dining room, sat down. and said, " Well, there’s nothing for you today."

How would you feel? You’d feel terrible!  

Let's revisit these What If stories. In each story, you could have used a little bit of help, don't you think?

When you scrape your knee, what could your friend have done or said to help you?

When it started to rain, what could have that person done that might have shown that they cared about you?

When you didn't have a lunch. What could your friend have done?

Our Bible story today tells us that it is not enough to just wish good things for other people.

Have you heard people say "They'll know we are Christians by our love"? We show our love and we do that by service to our neighbor.

We might call it ministry or service. It is important to get together as a Christian family as we sing and pray and read the Bible.

It makes us stronger in our faith. It gives us confidence. It helps us to know who we are and who God is. But it shouldn't stop there.  We show our love for God by the way we love others; especially those who care and help us.

Everything we believe means nothing if we don't put what we believe to work. So this week, I ask each of you to find a way to do something special for somebody who needs help.

I'll let you figure out what that might be.  The way you love and serve others is by what you do best for those you love most.  We see that love demonstrated around us by the people who serve and care for us.

Now I have one more What If? question for you. What if no one had ever told you that God loves you?[1]

But the good news for us today is that God in fact loves you!

That fact is the Bible is full of promises that God does in fact love you.  

Jesus speaking to Nicodemus said “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

John would remind us again: “In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him.”

And he says this “In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” I John 4: 9,10

And John continues, “We love, because He first loved us.” 1 John 4:19

And he continues with these words and promises:

“Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.” 1 John 4:11

“See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are. For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.” 1 John 3:1

Paul writes in Romans 5:8: “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”[2]

And finally from the love chapter of the Bible 1 Corinthians 13:

If I speak with the languages of men and of angels, but don’t have love, I have become sounding brass, or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but don’t have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give away all my goods to feed the poor, and if I give my body to be burned, but don’t have love, it profits me nothing.

4 Love is patient and is kind. Love doesn’t envy. Love doesn’t brag, is not proud, 5 doesn’t behave itself inappropriately, doesn’t seek its own way, is not provoked, takes no account of evil; 6 doesn’t rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; 7 love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things. 8 Love never fails.  

13 But now faith, hope, and love remain—these three. The greatest of these is love.[3]

Lord, thank you for your love and care.  Thank You for the love you have shown us from our Savior Jesus. May we love as He has loved us.

Words –1,524
Passive Sentences –4.3%
Readability –86.3%
Reading Level -4.0

[1] https://sermons4kids.com/sermons/playing-the-what-if-game

[2] Source: https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/God~s-Love-For-Us

[3] The World English Bible (WEB) is a Public Domain (no copyright) Modern English translation of the Holy Bible. That means that you may freely copy it in any form, including electronic and print formats. The World English Bible is based on the American Standard Version of the Holy Bible first published in 1901, the Biblia Hebraica Stutgartensa Old Testament, and the Greek Majority Text New Testament. It is in draft form, and currently being edited for accuracy and readability.

 

Monday prior to Proper 17

 

 

1

Psalm 51:7, 10–12; Antiphon, Psalm 51:2—Sunday’s Introit is a portion of David’s penitential psalm, the one he wrote after being confronted with his sin with Bathsheba (2 Sam 11:1—12:14). David evinces true repentance: grief, shame, and contrition over his sin, but also faith and trust in God that he would be redeemed of all his iniquity. When we sing this as the Offertory, we make David’s plea our own: we ask for—and receive—a clean heart, a right spirit. We have been washed thoroughly from iniquity and cleansed from all sin by the atoning sacrifice of Christ.

The theme for this coming Sunday is Faith in Action. The Pharisees of Christ’s day adhered strictly to the dietary restrictions laid down by God in His Law. They even extended them. However, they believed that this strict outward fulfillment would save them. They gave little thought to the condition of their hearts, for even as they were outwardly pious in following the letter of the Law, inwardly, they were filthy with sin, hating Christ and His disciples and even hatching a plan to murder Him.

Jesus tells us that what matters is not the outward act, but the condition of one’s heart. Now this does not mean that we are free to act however we will. True faith will always manifest itself in doing good works, and a desire to adhere to the Word of God. People will be able to see that we have put our faith in action by our love for others.

As for the dietary laws of the Jews, we can be thankful that Christ has fulfilled the Law and has declared all foods clean. We are free to enjoy bacon cheeseburgers, pork chops, shrimp, and much more without guilty consciences.

Wickedness and evil come “from within, out of the heart,” and that is what defiles a person (Mark 7:21–23). Hence, we cannot save ourselves, because we are sinful and unclean from the inside out. But as the Lord Jesus “declared all foods clean” (Mark 7:19), so He cleanses us by His Word, by the preaching of repentance and the forgiveness of sins. Therefore, “listen to the statutes and the rules” of the Lord, “and do them, that you may live” (Deut. 4:1). 

For His Word is righteous, and to live according to it is “your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples” (Deut. 4:6). Cling to His Word, and also teach it “to your children and your children’s children.” (Deut. 4:9). 

Put on this “armor of God” by hearing and heeding what He speaks to you, that you may “stand firm” in the evil day (Eph. 6:11–13). Gird yourself with the righteousness of Christ, by faith in the “gospel of peace,” and take up “the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,” by confessing Christ Jesus and “praying at all times in the Spirit” (Eph. 6:14–18).

Collect for Psalm 51: Almighty and merciful Father, you freely forgive those who, as David of old, acknowledge and confess their sins. Create in us pure hearts, and wash away all our sins in the blood of your dear Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. 2

Sources:

1.Go into all the world, copyright © Ed Riojas, Higher Things

2. Collect for Psalm 51, For All the Saints, A Prayer Book For and By the Church, Vol. IV The American Lutheran Publicity Bureau, © 1996 Delhi, NY

Proper 17 Series B sample outlines

 

Ephesians 6:10-20
Equipped for the battle

As Christians we are soldiers, drafted at our baptism to fight in God’s army against a formidable foe. Jesus said, “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” (v.12) 

We must never underestimate the strength and tactics of our adversary, the devil. As the father of lies, he leads “spiritual forces of evil,” who are intent on destroying our souls. The devil has a ready ally in our sinful nature with its reliance on the self. But reliance on ourselves, on our strength and resources, will only result in capitulation and eternal defeat. The only way to stand firm in this battle is to “be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power.” (v.10). God Himself provides us with the equipment we need to be strong in Him. God has equipped you for battle.

I.       With the belt of truth.

A.    The belt was an essential part of the Roman soldier’s equipment, for it kept the other parts in place and allowed for more freedom of movement. All seven weapons enumerated for defense and offense are supplied by God Himself. Thus the truth of God’s truth in Christ, not our own  truthfulness, which may sometimes be mere rationalization, that he devil, the father of lies, can subvert to his own purposes.

B.     This is the truth God has made known to us about ourselves and about Christ.

C.     The truth about our sin and our Savior helps us “get it all together” against Satan, the father of lies.

D.    When Satan accuses us with the truth that we are sinners, we can stand firm with another truth of God – which Christ has saved us from our sins.

II.    With the breastplate of righteousness.

A.    This is the righteousness of Jesus, which is imputed and attributed to us. This is to be used for defense. Not even the righteous conduct that flows from faith, but rather the righteousness of Christ.

B.     Our works of righteousness are like flimsy rags.

C.     When Satan reminds us of our unrighteousness, Christ’s righteousness is the breastplate that protects us from despair.

III. With the shoes of peace.

A.    A soldier with bare, sore feet is almost immobilized. In our battle against evil we can be immobilized by fear and doubt.

B.     The good news of the Gospel’s assurance of peace with God gives us courage to tread on the scorpions of evil because we know God is with us.

IV. With the shield of faith.

A.    Besides the small circular shield for defense in close combat, there is a large oblong shield that protects the entire person. Faith that clings to Christ makes us partakers of His invulnerability.

B.     We have an impenetrable defense against the flaming darts of Satan when he uses sickness, discouragement, and loss to disturb of faith.

V.    With the helmet of salvation.

A.    Christ has already saved us through His suffering, death and resurrection. In his Salvation we are safe. For our head, the most vulnerable part of our body, the helmet of salvation is our defense. The salvation we have in Christ assures our deliverance from sin and death.

B.     As possessors of salvation we are safe; Satan’s blows cannot cause us permanent injury.

VI. With the sword of God’s Word.

A.    Our offensive weapon is “the sword of the Spirit”. It is the Word of the Lord which is powerful to defeat the forces of evil in this world. Because the Holy Spirit works in the Scriptural Word, that Word is a source of power by which we can drive away Satan-induced bitterness and resentment, anger and despair.

B.     When we immerse ourselves in the Word and use it against Satan, Christ Himself is fighting for us.

VII.          With prayer.

A.    The seventh weapon is both offensive and defensive.  Prayer in the Spirit, that is, in faith worked by the Spirit is necessary at all times because Christians are engaged in a life-long battle requiring watchfulness and perseverance. Fellow Christians need our prayers, even seemingly strong Christians like the Apostle Paul, so that despite the severity of circumstances, they can stand firm and be good witnesses for the Gospel. Prayer is god’s all-encompassing piece of equipment because prayer alerts us to the need for perseverance in the battle and opens the door of the arsenal of all of God’s resources.

B.     We pray not only for ourselves but for our fellow Christians that God may equip them to fight the battle well.

If we will use the equipment God Himself supplies, we will be able to stand our ground against the devil’s schemes in very evil day.

Words-820
Passive Sentences-12%
Readability –68.3%
Reading Level –7.7

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Mark 7:14-23

Having heart trouble?

We face a universal problem: how to make individuals good, to do good and do live righteously? What is the answer to crime? Is it education, more laws, better prisons, capital punishment? Today an emphasis is placed on behavior; modification through drugs, rewards, punishment etc. Jesus puts his finger on the cause of all evil behavior: a dirty heart. A good life calls for a good heart. If so, the world is suffering from heart trouble! What to do about heart trouble? The Savior gives us the answer, “All these evils come from inside and make a man ‘unclean.”’ V.23

Know that the heart is the source of behavior.

Realize that Christ alone can make a good heart. He alone is the great physician who has performed His work in us.

I.                    Know that the hearts is the source of behavior.

A.     The heart is the window to the soul.

1.      It is a heart blackened by sin.

2.      It is a heart broken by the hurt, pain and the effects of sin.

3.      It is a deficient heart inherited by our parents.

B.     This heart reflects the mature of man.

1.      Who was created in the image of God. 

a. Created in righteousness. 

b. And holiness.

2.      Yet, when Adam and Eve rebelled, falling headlong into sin , man lost this image of God. Now the will, desires, and the thoughts of man follow the self. “Thus when Adam was 99 years old he had a son after his own image and likeness and called him Seth.”

3.      Because the heart is darkened by sin, man now tries to hide himself from sin. My wife and I have a nephew Ari who is just about to turn one.  Anyone who has ever been around a toddler has witnessed what happens when the child might be doing something he knows he shouldn’t. When the parents enter the room he shuts his eyes and the problem goes away! That’s what the darkness and blindness of sin can do. It makes us close our eyes to anything which would expose our sinful self.

Transition: Realizing that the heart is the source of human behavior what shall we do? We turn to Jesus our Great Physician who is able to reform His work in you – He greatest work is reserved for those He came to save.

II.                 We turn to Jesus

A.     We must come to realize that He alone can make a good heart.

1.      Sometimes a transplant is the only solution. This is what Christ has done In us. He has given us a new heart when He went to the cross and stood at the mouth of an empty tomb. He took your poor weak heart and replaced it!

2.      Because He has given us new life – new life in Him He is the one who shapes and   molds our life. Our times are in His hands. Only He can direct our path. He has promised He will do this.

B.     As the Great Physician Jesus alone is able to perform His work in us.

1.      His work in you began at your baptism when you were connected to Christ and He gave His word and promise to restore and forgive you and then to be with you always for time and eternity.

2.      Yet His hand is still upon you. Never will He let you go. He will mold and shape every circumstance of your life to bring it into conformity with Hid good and perfect will.

Having heart trouble? Take the prescription which is proven to work every single time it’s offered – given to you by that great Physician – Jesus Christ the righteous!

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St. Bartholomew, Apostle (August 24)

 Proverbs 3:1–8
2 Corinthians 4:7–10
Luke 22:24–30 or John 1:43–51

St. Bartholomew, Apostle 

Skinned alive! That, according to tradition, is how Bartholomew (called Nathanael in John) was martyred. Christ’s preachers are not to be great lords, but servants who faithfully stay with Christ in His trials (Luke 22:24–30). They are jars of clay; the Savior they preach is the surpassing power (2 Cor. 4:7). Christ’s servants are afflicted in every way, always carrying in their bodies the death of Jesus, so that His life may also be manifested there (v. 8–10). On the foundation of their prophetic and apostolic confession, the Church is built, held together by Christ the cornerstone (Eph. 2:20–21). As an apostle (Luke 6:13–14), Bartholomew manifested the Son of God in his preaching and his death. Christ is the Son of Man—the King who opens heaven to us by His wounds (John 1:49–51). 

We bear sufferings not leaning on our own understanding, but trusting in the Lord (Prov. 3:5–7). Life will be manifested in our bodies too when the Lord brings healing to our flesh and refreshment to our bones in the resurrection (v. 8). For this reason Bartholomew is often depicted holding his flayed skin. He will have need of it on the last day—at least for sizing.

Luther's Seal copyright Ed Riojas, Higher Things

Lectionary Summary copyright LCMS commission on worship

Saturday prior to Proper 16

 

–Luke 17:5– This verse is the inspiration for the hymn, “Oh for a Faith that Will Not shrink”.  The disciples, feeling incapable of measuring up to the standards set forth by the Lord, cry out to Him, “Lord, increase our faith!” This is the cry of faith asking the Lord to supply us in every need. 

“See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are” (1 John  3:1) Parenting begins with parents remembering that they live in God’s kingdom ruled by God’s lavished love in Christ. The Gospel is the basis for parenting, not some how-to book with a list of rules. God’s underserved love in Christ reminds parents that having a child is not a right but a blessing. Parents do not merely produce children as an industry produces a product. They are entrusted with a child as a gift from God. All parenting flows from the gift of the heavenly Father. 

A hymn which asks God to help us have the faith that overcomes the world is "O For a Faith That Will Not Shrink."  The text was written by William Hiley Bragge Bathurst, who was born at Clevedale near Bristol, England, on Aug. 28, 1796, the son of Charles Bragge, a one-time member of Parliament from Bristol, who changed his name to Bathurst when he succeeded to his uncle’s estate at Lydney Park in Gloucestershire. William was educated at Winchester and at Christ Church College of Oxford, from which he graduated in 1818, and became an Anglican minister the following year.  Beginning in 1820, he served at Barwick-in-Elmet near Leeds for 32 years.

During this time Bathurst completed his Psalms and Hymns for Public and Private Use in 1830, published in 1831, from which this hymn, originally entitled "The Power of Faith," is taken. He also produced A Translation of the Georgics of Virgil and Metrical Musings or Thoughts on Sacred Subjects in Verse, both in 1849. In 1852, he resigned his ministry because of an inability to reconcile his doctrinal views with certain portions of the Anglican Book of Common Prayer, especially regarding the baptismal and burial services, and retired to private life at Darley Dale near Matlock. On the death of an older brother in 1863, he succeeded to the family estate at Lydney Park in Gloucestershire, where he died on Nov. 25, 1877.

All told, Bathurst is credited with over 200 hymn texts as well as The Roman Antiquities of Lydney Park which was published posthumously in 1879. Various emendations have been made to the text of this hymn over the years, and several tunes have been used with it. Most of our books have used a tune (Azmon) composed in 1828 by Carl Gotthelf Glaser (1784-1829). It was arranged as a hymn tune in 1839 by Lowell Mason (1792-1872). Since this melody is most commonly associated with Isaac Watts’s "I’m Not Ashamed to Own My Lord." 1

Sources:

The Lord’s Supper, copyright © Ed Riojas, Higher Things

1. https://hymnary.org/text/o_for_a_faith_that_will_not_shrink