Time in the Word Pentecost 18 - Proper 22

Sunday’s Theme is God’s intentions for the Family. The lessons deal with home, marriage, divorce, and children. The Gospel considers Jesus’ position on divorce and His attitude toward children. The Old Testament lesson fits into the Gospel with its account of Eve’s creation and the relationship between husband and wife. The Psalm for the week concerns a God-fearing person’s blessing of a fruitful wife, children and grandchildren. The Hymn of the Day is a prayer to the Lord to bless the home and family.

Collect for Proper 22 – Merciful Father, Your patience and loving-kindness toward us have no end. Gant that by Your Holy Spirit we may always think and do those things that are pleasing in Your sight; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Monday, 28 September 2009—Psalm 127:3-5, Antiphon, Psalm 127:1a – Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. In keeping with the theme of the week, God’s intention for family the psalmist gives us a timeless truth. Unless the Lord is the center of all that we do, unless the Lord builds the house all of our efforts are in vain. The house in essence becomes a house of cards. May Jesus Christ be the ever present yet unseen guest in each of our homes.

Tuesday, 29 September 2009—Psalm 128; key verse v1—Blessed are all who fear the Lord. Psalm 128 speaks of the blessedness of the godly man, another word for wisdom concerning health and home. The concluding benediction suggests that the psalm originally served as a priestly word of instruction to those assembled from their homes to worship in Jerusalem. The main body of the psalm is found in verses 1-4.

Wednesday, 30 September 2009—Genesis 2:18-25 – God intends husbands and wives to be one. God creates woman as man’s helper and companion. This lesson is part of the Lord’s account of creation beginning with 2:4. It is the earlier of the two accounts. According to this account, man is created first, then the animals, etc and finally woman. The animals were not a suitable helper for Adam, and consequently Eve was created. Why the rib? It’s closest the man’s heart. After her creation from his rib, Adam recognizes her as an equal part of him (v.23). She is recognized as a fellow human with equal dignity and worth. Because of the creation of man and woman, marriage is one of the orders of creation in which the two become an entity of one flesh. Flesh her is more than physical; it refers to the whole person.

Thursday, 01 October 2009—Hebrew 2:1-13, (14-18) – God intends the family of humankind to be a family in Christ. By the grace of God, Jesus became a man who because perfect through suffering and died for all. Today’s Epistle reading is the first in a series of passages from Hebrews. The author if Hebrews is facing the situation of the church’s waning faith, probably because of the delay of Christ’s return. To stimulate their faith, he writes the epistle of Hebrews.

Today’s reading deals with the event of Christ’s incarnation leading to His suffering and death for the salvation of humanity. Jesus’ incarnation gave Him solidarity with humankind in order to save it. At present we do not see Christ’s lordship over everything, but we do see Him (v.9). His atoning death created a oneness of Christ and His followers whom He calls “brethren” (v.11). In comparison with the Old Testament lesson, humans are created and re-created by redemption.

Friday, 02 October 2009 – Mark 10:2-16 – God intends marriage to be lifelong. Sunday’s Gospel deals with two accounts: marriage/divorce and Jesus’ love of children. In regard to marriage and divorce, Mark has Jesus take the position that neither husband nor wife should get a divorce. For the Pharisees divorce is a legal latter: for Jesus it is a divine matter – not what is legal but what is right. Jesus pointed out to the Pharisees that the legal right to get a divorce was due to a human’s sinfulness, but this was contrary to God’s intention that marriage is permanent. To substantiate this, Jesus refers twice to the creation account. The Gospel continues with an account of Jesus receiving little children, for marriage and children go together. Jesus urges that children should be brought to Him and teaches that one should receive the kingdom of God as a child in terms of openness and receptivity.

Saturday, 03 October 2009— Joshua 24:15b; Ephesians 6:4; Luke 2:41-52; 10:38-42 - Sunday’s hymn of the day is Oh, Blest the House. (LSB 862) This is an appropriate hymn as it deals with the Christian home. May the Lord bless not only our Friedheim St. John and Zion families but each and every individual family of our congregations. Taking the lead from Joshua, “as for me and my house we shall serve the Lord!” May the Lord bless each of us as Christ remains at the center of our homes.

Prayers from Lutheran Service Book © 2006 and Lutheran Worship © 1980 Concordia Publishing House and from Lutheran Worship © 1980 Concordia Publishing House.
Schnorr Von Carolsfeld woodcuts © WELS permission granted for personal and congregational use
Lectionary Preaching Workbook Series B – John Brokhoff © 1981 CSS Publishing, Lima, OH

Pentecost 17 - Proper 21

O God, the Strength of all who put their trust in You, mercifully accept our prayer, and because through the weakness of our mortal nature we can do no good thing without Your help. Grant us the help of Your grace that, keeping Your commandments, we may please You in both will and deed; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, One God, now and forever.

In our lessons for this morning – there is woven a common theme of our failure to live the Christian life to its fullest and our tendency to think that it simply does not matter. In the Old Testament lesson the Israelites complain about the monotony of daily manna. James condemns the sins of arrogance and the persecution of the poor while in the Gospel lesson the Savior urges us to get rid of anything that causes us to sin. His point? Any sacrifice is worth eternal life rather than going to hell forever which is described as eternal torment. The Lord calls for a radical obedience rather than an accommodation to the world. This Christian life that we live is a journey of faith. We have not yet arrived – we are always becoming. Therefore we need the Lord’s strength in living the Christian life.

I. We are called to live according to the will of God.
A. God has the right to demand this, and He does demand it. He commanded Moses, “Then the Lord spoke to Moses saying, ‘Speak to all the congregation of the sons of Israel and say to them, ‘You shall be holy, for I the Lord, your God am holy.’ (Leviticus 19:1-2)

B. He has not left us in doubt about His will. (There are many examples) Luther would explain to us in His explanation concerning the 3rd Petition of the Lord’s Prayer, ‘The good and gracious will of God is done even without our prayer, but we pray in this petition that it may be done among us also.

C. His will for the way we live is not to make us miserable but to show us what a good and happy human life is. And how is this done? God’s will is done when He breaks and hinders every evil plan and purpose of the devil, the world and our sinful nature, which do not want us to hallow God’s name or let His kingdom come; and when He strengthens and keeps us firm in His Word and faith until we die. This is His good and gracious will.

Transition: The good and perfect will of God is clear. Our problem – our will stands in opposition to the will of God.

II. Left to ourselves, we fail to meet God’s holy and perfect will.
A. Even in the face of His great goodness, we fail. (Consider the Israelites in our Old Testament lesson.) The Israelites are in the wilderness and complain to Moses that they have only manna and no meat.

B. Even the apostles failed (example in our text for today) Jesus approves a non-follower’s use of His name to cast our demons. He urges the extermination of those sins that result in hell.

C. There are so many traps (Vs. 42 the “skandalon”) The point is that any sacrifice is worth eternal life rather than going to hell forever which is described as eternal torment.

D. We are clever at rationalizing our failure (see “if” clauses). The Lord wants His followers to enjoy the fullness of life. All that God created is good. However, if any part of us or any habit or behavior causes us to sin, we are to get rid of it.

E. We are still in the clutch of our passions. (James 4:3) When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.

F. The results can be disastrous (hell is described in our text as an unquenchable fire.). It would be better to abstain and deny ourselves certain pleasures and privileges than to allow one pleasure to ruin the whole.


Transition: By our own reason or strength not only can we come to God on our own terms we have not the strength or will to do what He would require of us. What shall we do? Where shall we go? What shall become of us?

III. Therefore, seek God’s strength, for He offers it freely, as a gift, according to His gracious will.
A. In the “name” of Jesus. God’s great plan of salvation through the vicarious suffering and death and the resurrection of His Son. He breaks the power of sin. He chains Satan.

B. He has made it so accessible in the Word and Sacraments – the means by which God’s grace comes to us. Delivered to us freely as His gift to us.

C. Hence, we can be more than conquerors. He offers the “help of His grace.”

Time in the Word - Pentecost 17 - Proper 21

Sunday’s Theme is Tolerance. In the Old Testament lesson Moses tolerates the giving of the Spirit. In the Epistle, James calls for intolerance of wickedness. In the Gospel, Jesus approves a non-follower’s use of His name. Coupled with tolerance is an underlying theme of resistance. Jesus urges to get rid of anything that causes us to sin while in the Old Testament lesson the Israelites complain about the monotony of daily manna. James condemns the sin of arrogance and persecution of the poor.

Collect for Proper 21 – Everlasting Father, source of every blessing, mercifully direct and govern us by Your Holy Spirit that we may complete the works You have prepared for us to do; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Monday, 21 September 2009—Psalm 135:1-3, 13-14, Antiphon, Psalm 135:13 –Your Name, O Lord, endures forever, Your renown, O Lord, throughout all ages. Psalm 135 is a call to praise the Lord – the one and only true God, the Lord of all creation, the Lord over all the nations, Israel’s redeemer. The Psalmist reminds us that the Lord and His redeeming work will be remembered throughout time. Thus we praise Him for His marvelous deeds.

Tuesday, 22 September 2009—Psalm 104:27-35; key verse v24—. How many are Your works, O Lord! In wisdom You made them all; the earth is full of Your creatures. The psalmist recalls the fifth day of creation. (Genesis 1:20-23) The realm of the sea is structurally balanced with the celestial realm, (see Vv. 2-4) as the other boundary to the realm of earth. And the Lord orders each day of your life as He has promised to guide and sustain you.

Wednesday, 23 September 2009— Numbers 11:4-6; 10-16, 24-29 – Moses tolerates the giving of the Spirit. The Lord provides seventy elders to assist Moses in meeting the needs of the people and gives his spirit to others than the seventy. The Israelites are in the wilderness and complain to Moses that they have only manna and no meant. Moses takes the complaint to God who orders Moses to bring seventy elders to the meeting place outside the camp. Some of Moses’ spirit was given to the elders and they began to prophesy. Two men, Eldad and Medad, were not invited to the meeting of the seventy. While in the camp, they received the Spirit and prophesied. Joshua was jealous for Moses and asked him to stop the two. Moses refused and wished that all of the people had the spirit and were prophets.

Thursday, 24 September 2009— James 5: (1-12) 13-20 – James calls for intolerance of wickedness and a return to God for the avoidance of evil. This lesson continues where last Sunday’s Epistle has stopped. James urges his readers to turn to God and away from wickedness. Among the evils we are to avoid are judging others, boasting, and injustice to the poor.

Friday, 25 September 2009—Mark 9:38-50 – Jesus approves a non-follower’s use of His name to cast our demons. He urges the extermination of those sins that result in hell. The first part of the Gospel (Vv. 38-41) obviously parallels the Old Testament lesson. It deals with Jesus’ approval of a non-disciple casting out demons in Jesus’ name. The next section (Vv.42-48) deals with Jesus’ “little ones” – not children but his disciples or new converts. The point is that any sacrifice is worth eternal life rather than going to hell forever which is described as eternal torment. A third section of the reading deals with salt. It is a call to radical obedience rather than to accommodation to the world.

In Christ you are free. There is much Christian liberty and freedom the child of God can experience in this life. The Lord wants His followers to enjoy the fullness of life. All that God created is good. However, if any part of us or any habit causes us to sin, we are to get rid of it. It would be better to abstain and deny ourselves certain pleasures and privileges than to allow one pleasure to ruin the whole. When should we allow our Christian liberty to be exercised? When might you deny yourself certain “freedoms” for the sake of someone else? How might we better live balanced lives?

Saturday, 26 September 2009— John 14:2; 1 John 4:19; John 8:12 - Sunday’s hymn of the day, Thee Will I Love, My Strength, My Tower. (LSB 694) Having seen what the Lord has done, having experienced His goodness and mercy, having entered into His presence we are now called to praise the Name of the Lord which is expressed in this wonderful hymn.

Collect for Pentecost 17— O God, without whose blessing we are not able to please You, mercifully grant that Your Holy Spirit may in all things direct and govern our hearts; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

A prayer for God to guide us – Direct us, O Lord, in all our doings with Your most gracious favor, and further us with Your continual help, that in all our works begun, continued, and ended in You we may glorify Your holy name and finally, by Your mercy, obtain eternal salvation; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

A prayer for steadfast faith– Almighty God, our heavenly Father, of Your tender love towards 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 come to life everlasting; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

For the Hope of Eternal life in Christ –Almighty, everlasting God, whose Son has assured forgiveness of sins and deliverance from eternal death, strengthen us by Your Holy Spirit that our faith in Christ increase daily and we hold fast to the hope that we shall not die but fall asleep and on the last day be raised to eternal life; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

For those in distressed - Almighty and everlasting God, the consolation of the sorrowful and the strength of the weak, may the prayers of those who in any tribulation or distress cry to You graciously come before You, so that in all their necessities they may mark and receive Your manifold help and comfort; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

A Prayer for Peace: O God, from whom all holy desires, all good counsels, and all just works proceed, give to Your servants that peace which the world simply cannot give that our hearts may be set to obey Your commandments and also that we, being defended by You, may pass our time in rest and quietness; through the merits of Jesus Christ our Lord.
Prayers from Lutheran Service Book © 2006 and Lutheran Worship © 1980 Concordia Publishing House and from Lutheran Worship © 1980 Concordia Publishing House.
Schnorr Von Carolsfeld woodcuts © WELS permission granted for personal and congregational use
Lectionary Preaching Workbook Series B – John Brokhoff © 1981 CSS Publishing, Lima, OH

Pentecost 16 - Proper 20

Respect. Arethra Franklyn the queen of soul sang about giving it. Rodney Dangerfield the comedian complained that he never got it. Often we too, may feel that we get no respect – from our peers, from our parents, from our teammates, and from others around us. People often resort to bizarre means to get respect from others, but so often they end up as fools, still crying for – respect.

We are so concerned about getting respect from other people. What about respect from God? God respects all people in the sense that we all are important to Him. After all, He created us in still preserves us. Are we respectable enough by God’s standards to be in heaven one day with Him? How do we get from God the respect that makes us worthy of eternal life? Today our lesson asks the question how we get respect in God’s sight.

1. God’s respect is not earned.
A. Our humility and service do not measure up to God’s perfect standard.
1. Like the disciples, we would rather be served then serve.
2. Even when we serve, our motive is often self-serving.
3. We make comparisons: “I have served more than you have.” Pride creeps in to stain our service.
B. We labor under the false pretense if we think we can earn God’s respect by our humble serving.
1. Jesus refused to seek people’s respect under a false pretense. They went on from there and passed through Galilee. He did not want anyone to know it (v.30)
2. The way to God’s respect is opened by honest admission that in ourselves we are not respectable people.

2. God’s respect is a gift.
A. Christ earned it for us.
1. He humbled Himself all the way to death on a cross to atone for our pride. for he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, ‘The Son of Man is to be betrayed into human hands, and they will kill him, and three days after being killed, he will rise again. (vs.31)
2. His rising from the dead guaranteed our respectability before God.
B. When we believe that Christ died and rose for us, we can be sure that God respects us as heaven-worthy people.
1. Christ has given us His humility in exchange in exchange for our smallness.
2. Christ has bestowed on us His greatness in exchange for our smallness.

3. God’s respect is demonstrated by us.
A. When we serve people who do not deserve our respect.
1. Willing to place ourselves last. He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, ‘Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all (v.35)
2. Willing to serve without recognition or praise and thereby foregoing greatness as the world sees it. But they were silent, for on the way they had argued with one another about who was the greatest (vs.34)
B. When we serve people who are not in a position to reward us for our service.
1. Little children are not in a position to reciprocate our service to them any more than we are able to pay God back for having served us in His Son. Then he took a little child and put it among them; and taking it in his arms, he said to them, ‘Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me.’ (Vv.36-37)
2. Yet, when we serve even the least of God’s children, God respects our service for Jesus’ sake and graciously rewards us. (v.37)

A woman of some means gifted a great sum of money to charities and missions in her church. One day she decided to take a trip to visit some of the mission projects her money had so generously endowed. She visited a hospital where wonderful help was afforded to needy natives. She stopped at an orphanage where little children of the street were cared for. She went to a leper colony where a loving nurse was treating those who were suffering from the putrefying disease. She commented, more to herself then to the host, “My, I wouldn’t do that for a million dollars.” The nurse who was treating a patient answered, “Neither would I.” In the service of Christ to us, exemplified in the nurses’ service, we find the secret of greatness and the way to get respect in God’s sight.

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Time in the Word - Penecost 16, Proper 20

Sunday’s Theme: The Christian and his opposition can be clearly seen in the three main readings for this coming week. In the Old Testament lesson, [Jeremiah 11:18—20] Jeremiah asks vengeance upon his enemies. In the Epistle, [James 3:13-4:10] Opposition has its source in worldly wisdom. In the Gospel, [Mark 9:30-37] Jesus goes to Jerusalem to face his oppressors. Christians live in a hostile world, for friendship with the world is enmity to God.

Collect for Proper 20 – O God, whose strength is made perfect in weakness, grant us humility and childlike faith that we may please You in both will and deed; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, One God, now and forever. Amen.

Monday, 14 September 2009—Psalm 37:5-7, Antiphon, Psalm 37:4 – Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart. No matter what you are up against, trust in the Lord and He will sustain you. He will prove Himself worthy as you read the rest of the appointed readings for the coming week.

Tuesday, 15 September 2009—Psalm 54; key verse v4— It is the Lord who sustains my life. The Psalmist finds his life is threatened, as were Jesus’ and Jeremiah’s, and he finds God as his helper who rescues him from death. In our opposition God does not forsake those who trust in Him.

Wednesday, 16 September 2009— Jeremiah 11:18-20— Jeremiah asks vengeance upon his enemies. Jeremiah feels like a lamb led to the slaughter by his enemies and he asks to see God’s vengeance upon them. Jeremiah cries out for vengeance upon those seeking his life. God informs Jeremiah that his enemies were out to destroy him. Jeremiah felt like a “lamb led to the slaughter.” His enemies were offended by his preaching of judgment, doom, and the captivity of the nation. Like other prophets (Elijah and Amos), Jeremiah experienced persecution: beaten, threatened with lynching, imprisoned, and thrown into a pit to die. Even his family was a part of a plat to kill him. Jeremiah calls upon God not only for protection but for vengeance upon his enemies.

Thursday, 17 September 2009—James 3:13-4:10 — Opposition has its source in worldly wisdom. James says the wars, quarrels, dissension and strife have their source in earthly wisdom. It is a bad spirit that causes opposition. James will contrast earthly and heavenly wisdom. In this lesson James distinguishes between the types of wisdom. Earthly wisdom is characterized by ambition, rivalry, and selfishness. This kind of wisdom provides disorder and confusion. Heavenly wisdom comes from God. This wisdom is “pure, peaceable, gentle,” etc. The heavenly side; do not boast of themselves, but promote peace and reap a harvest of righteousness. The source of fighting and killing each other is the heart which is full of selfish desire.

Friday, 18 September 2009—Mark 9:30-37 — Jesus goes to Jerusalem to face his oppressors. Jesus again announces His approaching passion and teaches the disciples the meaning of greatness. On His way to Jerusalem, Jesus announces a second time that He is going there to suffer, die, and rise on the third day. To avoid being detained, he travels incognito. Unlike the first announcement, the disciples do not understand it and are afraid to ask Him the meaning of it. When the group reaches Capernaum, Jesus asked them what they were discussing during the walk. They were too embarrassed to answer, for they had discussed who would be Number One in the coming Kingdom. Jesus taught that the one ot be first must be last as a servant. To illustrate He takes a child in His arms, for in that day women and children were considered second-class citizens. Jesus makes the point that the greatest will minister to one like a child in His name, and when He does, He serves both Christ and God.

Saturday, 19 September 2009— Exodus 20:1-17 - Sunday’s hymn of the day, These Are the Holy Ten Commandments (LSB 581) Recall the Lord’s requirement of faithfulness to His Law.

Collect for Pentecost 16— Grant, merciful Lord, to Your faithful people pardon and peace that they may be cleansed from all their sins and serve You withy a quiet mind; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, 0our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, One God, now and forever.

A Prayer for grace to use our gifts – O Lord God Almighty, since You bless Your servants with various and unusual gifts of the Holy Spirit, grant us grace to use them always to Your honor and glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

A prayer for God to guide us – Direct us, O Lord, in all our doings with Your most gracious favor, and further us with Your continual help, that in all our works begun, continued, and ended in You we may glorify Your holy name and finally, by Your mercy, obtain eternal salvation; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

A prayer for steadfast faith– Almighty God, our heavenly Father, of Your tender love towards 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 come to life everlasting; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

For the Hope of Eternal life in Christ –Almighty, everlasting God, whose Son has assured forgiveness of sins and deliverance from eternal death, strengthen us by Your Holy Spirit that our faith in Christ increase daily and we hold fast to the hope that we shall not die but fall asleep and on the last day be raised to eternal life; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

For those in distressed - Almighty and everlasting God, the consolation of the sorrowful and the strength of the weak, may the prayers of those who in any tribulation or distress cry to You graciously come before You, so that in all their necessities they may mark and receive Your manifold help and comfort; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

Prayers from Lutheran Service Book © 2006 and Lutheran Worship © 1980 Concordia Publishing House and from Lutheran Worship © 1980 Concordia Publishing House.
Schnorr Von Carolsfeld woodcuts © WELS permission granted for personal and congregational use
Lectionary Preaching Workbook Series B – John Brokhoff © 1981 CSS Publishing, Lima, OH