Commemoration of Elijah

Lord God, heavenly Father, through the prophet Elijah, You continued the prophetic pattern of teaching Your people the true faith and demonstrating through miracles your presence in creation to heal it is its brokenness. Grant that Your Church may see in Your Son, our Lord Christ, the final end-times prophet whose teaching and miracles continue in Your Church, through the healing medicine of the Gospel and the Sacraments, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Proper 11

Proper 11

7.21.2013

Luke 10:38-42

O Lord, grant us the Spirit to hear Your Word and know the one thing needful that by Your Word and Spirit we may live according to Your will through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Mary & Martha have Jesus over for dinner. He is invited for a meal in their home. Martha was concerned that everything, the furnishings, the guests seated at the table, the meal, – everything - had to be perfect. 

Mary is content to sit at the feet of the Savior.  Martha is distracted with much serving. What can be gleaned from this conversation the Savior had with the members of this family?

I.        Only one thing is needed. The one thing needed is for you to sit at the feet of the Savior; to listen to His Word, to abide in Him, and to know of His direction and care in your life.

A.     To sit at the feet of the Savior.

1.      You are doing this, this very moment. You are sitting at the feet of the Savior listening to His Word. Drinking deep from His instruction.

2.      This has been the routine of so many. In a word it’s called “faithfulness”. You have been found faithful. Faithful in coming to service. Faithful in your hearing of God’s Word. Faithful in receiving His gifts with thanksgiving.

B.     To listen to His Word.

1.      As Christ comes to you in His Word which is preached, taught, shared, read.  You respond with a faithful heart.  

2.      Make it a daily habit; make it a part of your everyday ritual. There are countless resources which are readily available; our daily devotionals, “Time in the Word”  Portals of Prayer, and for our children, My Devotions.  Use them!

C.     To abide in Christ.

1.      He initiated this relationship with you when you were baptized. St. Paul would remind us in his letter to the Romans, “When we were baptized into Christ Jesus, we were baptized into His death. We were buried with Him by our Baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might live a new life. For if we have been united with Him in a death like His, we shall certainly be united with Him in a resurrection like His.” - Romans 6

2.      He will keep this promise. The writer to the Hebrews speaks of this wonderful promise.  “May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.”  ^{Hebrews 13:21}

D.     To know of His direction and care.

1.      He has been doing this all your life. His word and promise to you on the day of His Ascension is an enduring promise. He said, “I am with you always, even unto the end of the age.” – Matthew 28 - Every moment of your life, in every circumstance, He is shaping and using these events of your life to draw you closer to Himself.

2.      But, will He change? Will He change His mind concerning your situation? He can never change. You and I are so fickle changing our minds constantly. Not so with your Lord. He has bound Himself to His Word.  He has clearly spoken this truth through His prophet Malachi when He said, “I am the Lord, I do not change!” (3:6)

Transition:  Only one thing is needed. To sit at the Savior’s feet is a wise choice.

II.     Mary chose what is better. She chose to trust and believe in Christ first. Serving has its place – yet, serving comes from believing.

A.     To trust and believe in Christ is of first import.

1.      It must be top priority. When Christ is not the center of everything we do we are violating the 1^st Commandment. We must fear love and trust in God above all things. 

2.      It must be chief among all of us. St. Paul would remind us, “For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.”  – 1 Corinthians 2:2

B.     Serving does have its place.

1.      Without serving nothing would get done. There are so many needs. We need faithful people to be the hands and feet of Christ.   

2.      There is much to do.  What then should be out motivation?  Consider the instruction of St. Paul recorded for us in Colossians 3:17- And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Then Paul gets specific, Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.  Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.  Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged.  Slaves, {employees} obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to win their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord. Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men. -  (Colossians 3:18-22)

C.     Yet serving comes from believing.

1.      We serve only after we have sat and listened. We receive instruction first. Then, we go out into the world as ambassadors for Jesus Christ. We serve, with all our strength. But first we’re fed.

2.      Serving is our response to sitting and listening. We worship on Sunday. Service is performed Monday through Saturday as you live your lives in your given vocations as husbands, wives, children, employees and masters - praising God while you are serving your neighbor.

Transition: Because we choose to sit and the feet of the Savior and listen our reward can not be taken from us.

III.   It will not be taken away from her. A faith which trusts is an enduring faith. It is the blessed assurance we have in Christ, it is a faith that endures throughout time.

A.     A faith which trusts is an enduring faith. Trust is nothing more then another word for faith. Trust is nothing more then taking God at His Word.               

1.      He gives you faith - it will get you through times of testing - in which we are tempted to believe whether God your Father will act for you.

2.      He gives you faith - it will get you through times of doubt -  in which we are called to question whether God your Father is concerned for you.

B.     This is the “blessed assurance” we have in Christ. For He relieves all fear and removes all doubt and sets us apart to be His people for time and eternity.

C.     It is a faith that will endure.

1.      The devil, world and flesh can not defeat faith. They are already crushed as Jesus went to the blood and cruel cross of Calvary and suffered - for you - and then victoriously rose from the grave to defeat our last enemy - death.  Every time you commune this promise of the cross and tomb is given for you. Christ’s body is given - for you - and His blood was shed - for you.  

2.      We are secure in Christ Jesus.  That’s why you are encouraged to pray in the morning and in the evening, “…into Thy hand I commend myself;(placing) my body and soul and all things (into your care). Let Your Holy Spirit be with me that - the devil, world, and the flesh - may have no power over me,”

 Only one thing is needful. What was evident in the life of Mary – sitting at the feet of the Savior may it be found in you today, tomorrow and throughout your days. In Jesus’ Name. Amen

Image: Schnorr von Carolsfeld woodcuts © WELS for personal and congregational use

Commemoration of Ruth

O God, whose never-failing providence orders all things both in heaven and earth, we humbly implore You to put away from us all hurtful things and to give us those things that are profitable for us; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.  Amen. 

Proper 10

Proper 10

7.14.2013

Luke 10:25-37

Lord Jesus Christ, in Your deep compassion You rescue us from whatever may hurt us. Teach us to love You above all things and to love our neighbor as ourselves; for You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. 

An expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” he asks. The answer the Savior gives him puts this “young buck” in a rather awkward spot. “Wanting to justify himself” Luke tells us that he asks yet another question, “And who is my neighbor?”  Upon hearing the parable of the Good Samaritan this expert answers his own question, Who is your neighbor – well, it’s, “The one who had mercy.” Mercy. We’re good at talking about it but here standing before us is mercy, with clothes on!  The one who has mercy is like…

1.      Not like the robbers who beat the man leaving him half dead.

A.     To beat a man obviously does not show compassion. It demonstrates brutality, the same brutality that’s been known to man from the dawn of time. It was Kane who killed his brother Able. David had Uriah executed in battle to cover up an extramarital affair. The officials and nobles of the people stoned Stephen to death because they could not bear and could not handle hearing the truth. Do such things happen in our sophisticated world today? 

B.     Yet, how do we reach and react with words?  We can kill a person’s reputation with our speech!  All you would need to do is start a half-truth. If told enough times - within a week - it would be spread all over town - and in many sections of town - it would be believed!. And no matter what the innocent tries to do to regain his good name he cannot. People will believe what they want to hear.  Sometimes being the victim of a soiled reputation due to rumor or innuendo or suspicion is worse then death!

Transition: The one who shows mercy is not the one who kills. Nor is the one who refuses to get involved.

2.      Not like the Priest or Levite - who consider him DOA.

A.     To come in contact with a dead body would cause one to be ceremonially “unclean.” The Priest and Levite had their own religious path set out before them. To stop and help this helpless soul would take time out of his already busy day. He had his course already set out. To stop and help would be an inconvenience. He had a schedule to be kept. After all, he was on his way to the service.

B.     Can we become like this Levite or Priest, avoiding opportunities for service all the while making every effort to appear pious and sincere?  Are we content to live in our own “comfort zone”?  To show mercy often means we have to extend time and energy when we don’t want to.  Often it means we will have to take time our of our busy schedules and our hurried live. Sometimes it means we will have to involve ourselves in the lives of others.  In an episode of the sitcom M*A*S*H Frank Bernes refused to get involved in the life of another. He explained, “If I did that it would get messy. And I don’t like messy!” At times, our involvement means we will be taking the time to help when we know we are walking down a one-way street. 

There will not be an opportunity for that other person to repay – they can’t, or they won’t be able to. Some only help if they know the other will some day repay the favor.  These two refused to show mercy because the timing wasn’t right. We show mercy because the Savior bids us to show mercy – period!

Transition: The Priest and Levite refused to offer mercy because it didn’t fit into their narrow definition of what mercy involves. The Savior doesn’t define mercy He offers it!

3.      Like the Samaritan who bound his wounds and carried for him.

A.     He bound up the man’s wounds. The Savior continues to bind up the wounds of many. He began His ministry showing mercy. Recall His first sermon – The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to Him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written, “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners, and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him, and he began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing!” (Luke 4:16-22)

B.     He demonstrated compassion.  He has shown compassion by bearing your sins in His own body on the tree of the cross. All of your sins, all of your imperfections, all of your troubles, scandals, and abominations He took to Himself. He has shown compassion by suffering dying and rising again for your sin. He drops them into the sea of forgetfulness and He remembers your sins no more!

C.     He went beyond the call of duty. He didn’t have to do any of this. Yet His love for His Father and His love for you compelled Him to go to the cross. He goes beyond the call of duty by sustaining and directing your life every single moment of your life. He is not obligated to help you as we see sometimes define it.

His assistance in your life is not some sort of duty in which we are obliged  to do something. It’s not as if it’s a favor we’re asking Him to perform for us. He acts for you - Purely out of Fatherly love goodness mercy without any worthiness in me. Thus it is my duty to thanks and praise to serve and obey Him. This is His attitude toward you.

D.     He put faith into action. Quite frankly, the work of the Good Samaritan is a deeper story of Jesus and His great love for us. He is the one who has had mercy on you. He is the one who sought you out when all others left you for dead. He won’t desert you. He’ll never abandon you. He can never leave you or forsake you. He’ll never, ever, give up on His own!  He is the one who has paid your debt and has promised to repay even more. Oh, how great is His compassion.

“And who is my neighbor?”  It is the one the Savior places in your life to show mercy, empathy, compassion. As the Savior so has shown His great love for you – show forth in your own lives His love, care and consideration. 

Image The Good Samaritan by Aime Morot Le Bon

Time in the Word - Proper 10

Time in the Word

Pentecost 8 – Proper 10

The Benefits of Obedience

July 8-13, 2013

Sunday’s theme might well be called “Obedience Sunday.” Both Gospel (Luke 10:25-37) and other lessons deal with God’s commandments. The Epistle lesson (Colossians 1:1-14) calls upon the people to lead lives worthy of Christ. We are in the position of children, who, when told to do something, ask, “Why?” Often the parent answers, “Because I said so.” Why obey God’s laws? The Lessons give the answer – the benefits of obedience. The parable of the Good Samaritan is a sub point to the question raised in the Gospel. It answers the question, “Who is my neighbor?” The parable serves as an illustration of one who obeys the command, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.”

The Verse for Proper 10: - Luke 10:27 – Alleluia. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself. Alleluia.

Collect for Proper 10: Lord Jesus Christ, in Your deep compassion You rescue us from whatever may hurt us. Teach us to love You above all things and to love our neighbors as ourselves; for You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Prayer for pastors and their people: Almighty God, by Your Son, our Savior, You have always given to Your Church on earth faithful shepherds to guide and feed Your flock. Therefore we pray, make all pastors diligent to preach Your holy Word and to administer Your means of grace, and grant Your people wisdom to follow in the way that leads to life eternal; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Prayer for increase of the holy ministry: Almighty and gracious God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, You have commanded us to pray that You would send forth laborers into Your harvest. Of Your infinite mercy give us true teachers and ministers of Your Word who truly fulfill Your command and preach nothing contrary to Your holy Word. Grant that we, being warned, instructed, nurtured, comforted, and strengthened by Your holy Word, may do those things which are well pleasing to You and profitable for our salvation; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

For purity: Almighty God, unto whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hidden, cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of Your Holy Spirit that we may perfectly love You and worthily magnify Your holy name; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

For faith, hope, and love: Almighty God, grant us a steadfast faith in Jesus Christ, a cheerful hop in Your mercy, and a sincere love for You and one another; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

Monday, 8 July 2013— Psalm 136:23-26; antiphon, Psalm 136:1— Psalm 136 seems to be an expansion of Psalm 135, about God’s mighty works of Creation and in His dealings with Israel, arranged for antiphonal singing. The phrase “His mercy endures forever” occurs in every verse. It is called a “Hallel” Psalm, was sung at the opening of the Passover, and was a favorite Temple Song. (See also 1 Chronicles 16:41; 2 Chronicles 7:3; 20:21; Ezra 3:11) The description of God’s great works in creation (Vv.4-9) and in history (Vv.10-24) alternate with the people’s refrain to God’s unchanging timeless love.

Tuesday, 9 July 2013— Psalm 66:1–7— This psalm is David’s pray for mercy when he was seriously ill. His enemies greet the prospect of his death with malicious glee. Even his once close friends betray his friendship see verse 9. Psalm 41 concludes a collection of four psalms connected by common themes, and also form the conclusion to the first section of the book of Psalms. (Psalms 1- 41) In its structure, the psalm is very symmetrical, composed of four stanzas of three verses each. The first and fourth stanzas frame the prayer with a note of confidence; stanzas two and three elaborate the prayer. Verse 13 is a doxology that closes Book I.

Wednesday, 10 July 2013— Leviticus 19:9-18— Obedience demanded from the Lord your God. Notice throughout the Old Testament reading that the people are reminded, “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: “I am the Lord your God.” (Leviticus 18:1) God’s people are given instructions concerning a morality reflecting God’s holiness. God was preparing His people for a life different from their pagan neighbors, whose life-style was deplorably immoral. Our lesson is an expansion of the Ten Commandments as the Lord gives detail as to how and why we must live. We live in obedience because of the relationship with have been given with our God.

Thursday, 11 July 20138— Colossians 1:1-14— Obedience pleases God. In daily life we are accustomed to being transferred, and with each transfer we hope it means a promotion with larger salary. We may transfer schools. We may get a transfer at work from one department to another one. The company may transfer us to another city. In our Epistle Paul talks about the greatest transfer of all: from darkness to the light of God’s kingdom. Everyone needs this transfer because we are born into the world of sin and need to be delivered. Has this transfer taken place in your life?

The Gradual for Proper 10: - Romans 10:13b; Isaiah 52:7b - How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news, who publish peace and bring good news of salvation. Their voice has gone out to all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world.

Friday, 12 July 2013— Luke 10:25-37— Obedience leads to eternal life. The common understanding of a neighbor is one who lives close to you in a neighborhood. In today’s world this is not necessarily the case. Many do not even know even the name of the family who lives in the apartment down the hall, nor the couple living in the adjoining townhouse. Using this definition of “neighbor,” the lawyer was sure he was exempt from the law to love your neighbor. In the parable, Jesus gives a new understanding of a neighbor; he is one who is in need of your assistance given out of love.

Saturday, 13 July 2013—  Romans 3:23-25 – The hymn of the week is the great hymn of faith “By Grace I’m Saved” (LSB 566). The glory God intended man to be is the glory that man had before the fall. (See Genesis 1:26-28; Psalm 8:5-6; Ephesians 4:24; Colossians 3:10. Believers in Christ will again have this glory through faith in Jesus Christ. (See Hebrews 2:5-9)

Prayers from Lutheran Service Book © 2006 Concordia Publishing House.

LECTIONARY PREACHING WORKBOOK SERIES C John Brokhoff © 1979 CSS Publishing, Lima, OH
Woodcut by Baron Julius Schnoor von Carolsfeld, 1794-1872, a distinguished German artist known especially for his book, Das Buch der Bücher in Bilden [The Book of Books in Pictures]) ©WELS.

Praying for AZ

A prayer for those who serve and protect - remembering those who perished from Prescott, AZ

Almighty God, our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble, look in mercy upon the residents of Arizona. As the news breaks of the injuries, loss of life and destruction of homes and property, sustain our faith and defend those affected from every danger to body and soul. Lift up Your face and be gracious to them in this time of danger. Protect them, especially those who are weak and helpless. Be with the emergency service workers, police, fire, EMS and medical teams whose vocation is to respond in the minutes, hours and days following these storms and fires. When they are weak, give them strength; when afraid, courage. Turn the hearts and minds of all to You, that they might find peace through the cleansing of Jesus' blood. Amid the tumult of disaster, build Your kingdom and turn these suffering souls to Yourself. For Jesus' sake, Amen.

Time in the Word Proper 9

Collect for Psalm 16: Lord God our Father, keep safe Your servant on the path of eternal life, for You alone are my refuge. When my last hour comes, may my body rest secure in the promise of the Lord's resurrection; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Prayer for likeness to Christ: O God, by the patient suffering of Your only-begotten Son You have beaten down the pride of the old enemy. Now help us, we humbly pray, rightly to treasure in our hearts all that our Lord has of His goodness borne for our sake that following His blessed example we may bear with all patience all that is adverse to us; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

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.

Prayer for grace to love and serve God: O God, through the grace of Your Holy Spirit You pour the gifts of love into the hearts of Your faithful people. Grant Your servants health both of mind and body that they may love You with their whole heart and with their whole strength perform those things that are pleasing to You; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

The Lord restores Jerusalem, His Church, because she is the mother of His children, whom He comforts “as one whom his mother comforts” (Is. 66:13). We are “satisfied from her consoling breast” with the pure milk of the Word, and we “drink deeply with delight from her glorious abundance” (Is. 66:11). The messengers of Christ bestow such gifts upon His Church. For He sends them out “as lambs in the midst of wolves” (Luke 10:3), bearing in their bodies the sacrifice of His cross, by which “the kingdom of God has come near” (Luke 10:9, 11). Wherever He enters in with this Gospel, Satan is cast out and falls “like lightning from heaven” (Luke 10:18). Thus, we do not “boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Gal. 6:14). Rejoicing in this Gospel, we “bear one another’s burdens” in love, according to “the law of Christ” (Gal. 6:2).

Monday, 1 July 2013— Psalm 19:2, 4–6; antiphon, Psalm 19:1—Many of the psalms praise the Lord for His deliverance from enemies, both mortal and spiritual. Psalm 19 is a hymn of praise to God because of the majesty and glory that are His by His very nature. The glory of God is revealed by the entire creation. Those who attribute the earth and the cosmos to mere happenstance are only deceiving themselves.

Tuesday, 2 July 2013— Psalm 66:1–7—Psalm 66 calls upon all peoples of the earth to join in with God’s chosen people, Israel, in praising Him. His deliverance of His people from bondage in Egypt and the threat of Pharaoh and his army at the Red Sea is specifically recounted, but all of God’s deliverance of all His people are to be included, especially the deliverance of mankind from the bondage of sin, and the threat of death.

Wednesday, 3 July 2013— Isaiah 66:10–14—Those who remained faithful to the Lord during the days when Isaiah prophesied in Judah had reason to mourn over Jerusalem: hypocrisy, unbelief, and idolatry were common among the people. Likewise, through the ages, including our own, God’s faithful people have reason to mourn when they see the condition of the visible Church: rejection of the authority of the Word of God, acceptance of sins, rather than forgiveness of sins, being preached, and so on. Yet, we know that the gates of hell shall not prevail against the Lord’s Church (Matthew 16:18), so we can rejoice. We can rejoice, for the pure Gospel of Jesus Christ provides nourishment, comfort, and abundance for our souls. As a mother nurses her child, so we are nursed by the Holy Word of God.

Thursday, 4 July 2013— Galatians 6:1–10, 14–18—This Sunday, we shall celebrate our nation’s independence. Our political liberty and freedom is a gift from God. Yet, in the Church, we are not independent. We are member of one body, the mystical body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:27). As such, we are not to live our lives for ourselves independent of others, but are to bear one another’s burdens. The strong Christians are to help the weak.

St Paul urges us, let us not grow weary of doing good, for we are a new creation in Christ, and, as such, our wills are conformed to God’s will, which desires what is best for all people.

Friday, 5 July 2013— Luke 10:1–20—Our Lord desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth (1 Timothy 2:4). But how are people to believe in Jesus Christ, if they have not hear of Him, if they have not had the Gospel proclaimed to them? (Romans 10:14) In our Gospel reading for Sunday, we hear how Jesus sent out 72 men to proclaim the Good News of salvation in Christ Jesus. Likewise, He still call pastors to labor in His harvest fields. As in the days of Christ, their labor is met by different responses: some people are eager to hear of the forgiveness of sins wrought by Christ’s death on the cross, whilst others reject it. The Day of Judgement will be a horrifying one for those who have refused the forgiveness Christ offers, but a glorious one for us who are in Christ, who gratefully receive His gift of salvation.

Saturday, 6 July 2013— Sunday’s Hymn of the Day, Jesus Has Come and Brings Pleasure Eternal(LSB #533), is a majestic hymn of praise to Jesus. It proclaims Jesus as God in the flesh, as our great Deliverer, Redeemer, and the King of all glory.

Prayer for the nation: Almighty God, You have given us this good land as our heritage. Grant that we remember Your generosity and constantly do Your will. Bless our land with honest industry, truthful education, and an honorable way of life. Save us from violence, discord, and confusion, from pride and arrogance, and from every evil course of action. Grant that we, who came from many nations with many different languages, may become a united people. Support us in defending our liberties, and give those to whom we have entrusted the authority of government the spirit of wisdom, that there may be justice and peace in our land. When times are prosperous, may our hearts be thankful, and in troubled times do not let our trust in You fail; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Prayers from Lutheran Service Book © 2006 Concordia Publishing House