Thursday after Pentecost 9 Commemoration of Johann Sebastian Bach, Kantor July 28, 2010 The Lord be with you
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) is acknowledged as one of the most famous and gifted composers in the Western world. Orphaned at age ten, Bach was mostly self-taught in music. His professional life as conductor, performer, composer, teacher, and organ consultant began at age nineteen in the town of Arnstadt and ended in Leipzig, where for the last twenty-seven years of his life he was responsible for all the music in the city’s four Lutheran churches. In addition to being a superb keyboard artist, the genius and bulk of Bach’s vocal and instrumental compositions remain overwhelming. A devout and devoted Lutheran, he is especially honored in Christendom for his lifelong insistence that his music was written primarily for the liturgical life of the Church to glorify God and edify His people.
Thursday after Pentecost 9 Commemoration of Johann Sebastian Bach, Kantor July 28, 2010
The Lord be with you
Something we pretty much take for granted in the United States is the availability of high quality biblical literature. You have to be quite literally in the middle of nowhere to not be within easy driving distance of a Christian book store, and even then more Christian publishers than I care to count can be easily accessed on the internet. English translations of Luther’s Small Catechism, the Book of Concord, and other classic Lutheran works are plentiful. Plus there are countless great books of Lutheran theology that are written in English. But what if you don’t speak English? What if your language is Gujarati, Kusaal, Farsi, or Nyankore? What if you lived in Kenya or the Ukraine? Could you then give your child a Small Catechism or a book of Bible stories?
The mission of The Lutheran Heritage Foundation is to provide just such material to those who are not as blesses as we are with Lutheran Christian literature.
Right now they are seeking to get Sunday school children to participate in sending the book “One Hundred Bible Stories for Children” to churches in the Ukraine. (It is in their language, of course.) You can find out more by checking out their website.
Thursday after Pentecost 9 Commemoration of Johann Sebastian Bach, Kantor July 28, 2010
The Lord be with you
This coming Sunday is the Tenth Sunday after Pentecost. We will be using the Service of Prayer and Preaching for our liturgy (page 260). The appointed lessons are Ecclesiastes 1:2, 12-14; 2:18-26; Colossians 3:1-11, and Luke 12:13-21. The appointed Psalm is Psalm 100. The antiphon is verse 3. For the sermon, we will conclude our series based on Colossians. The text will be Colossians 3:1. The sermon title is: Be What You Are. The sermon will cover chapters three and four of Colossians.
The sermon hymn this week will be the one we are learning; By All Your Saints in Warfare (LSB 517). While there are a number of commemorations this week (Johann Sebastian Bach, Kantor (today); Mary, Martha, and Lazarus of Bethany (29th); Robert Barnes, Confessor and Martyr (30th), and Joseph of Arimathea (31st), none of them have a specific verse dedicated to their witness. Therefore we will be singing verse 4 as our second verse. Our opening hymn will be one we learned at the recommendation of the Hymnal Review Committee, “Water, Blood, and Spirit Crying” (LSB 597). Our closing hymn will be “All Christians Who Have Been Baptized” (LSB 596).
We will also be installing our new officers during the worship service.
I could find no videos of the hymns for this coming Sunday, however Better Noise does have the tunes for “All Christians Who Have Been Baptized” and “By All Your Saints in Warfare.” The link to Better Noise is on the right hand side bar of this page.
Preview of the Lessons
Ecclesiastes 1:2, 12-14; 2:18-26: Solomon speaks of the emptiness of a life apart from God.
Colossians 3:1-11: What difference does our baptismal faith make in our day to day lives? Paul spends chapters three and four of Colossians explaining. The quote from Colossians used in the verse for Sunday is from the ESV and has Greek word antapodosin translated "reward." While that is indeed a possible translation, in this context I think a better translation is "award." This reduces the possibility of viewing our treasures in heaven as someting we deserve.
Luke 12:13-21: With a parable, Jesus also speaks of the emptiness of a life apart from God.
Sunday’s Collect
O Lord, grant us wisdom to recognize the treasures You have stored up for us in heaven, that we may never despair but always rejoice and be thankful for the riches of Your grace; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Gradual (Romans 10:15b; Isaiah 52:7b, alt.)
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.
Verse (Colossians 3:23-24a)
Alleluia. Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. Alleluia.
Introit
Instead of an Introit we will be using the appointed Psalm, Psalm 100.
Adult Bible Study
We continue our series “Puzzlers and Questions about the Bible.” This week’s question is: “If God knows everything, and knows our every thought and act, how can we be said to have free will?” The study is titled: “Human Will and Divine Foreknowledge.”
The Lutheran Lecture Series is presenting a day of focusing on Medical Ethics. The theme for this year is: COME LET US PLAY GOD
Four outstanding Lutheran Scholars will be discussing critical issues on medical ethics. If you haven't already been faced with these issues, you certainly will be in the future. As Lutherans, we want to make sure our decisisons are God-pleasing. We hear much about abortion, assisted suicide, mercy-killing - what limits does God put on these and other life issues? The speakers include Dr. James Bachman who has produced numerous documents for our Synod's Commission on Theology and Church Relations (CTCR). The time you spend at this Lecture Series may be some of the most important time in your life. It will be held on October 30th at Augustana Lutheran Church (1523 16th St. SE, Hickory, NC, 28602). It will start at 11:00 AM and go until 4:30 PM. The schedule is:
SESSION I - A LUTHERAN UNDERSTANDING OF ETHICS (The Mind of the Maker)
Presenter: Rev. John T. Pless - Professor, Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, IN
SESSION II - THE RIGHT TO LIVE (It is good that you are here)
Presesnter: Dr. Robert Weise - Professor, Concordia Seminary, Saint Louis, MO
SESSION III - THE RIGHT TO DIE (The Considerate Hero)
Presentor Dr. James Bachman - Dean of Graduate Studies, Christ College, Irvine, CA
SESSION IV - A BRAVE NEW WORLD (Welcome to the Promised Land)
Presenter: Dr. Mark Mattes - Editor of LOGIA, Professor, Grand View University, Des Moines, IA
(The Lutheran Lecture Series is sponsored by Salem Lutheran Church (Taylorsville, NC, Pastor Ray Ohlendorf). For more information contact Rev. Ohlendorf at revxpistos@charter.net).
After the LCMS in convention passed resolution 6-07(A) voicing our synod's support for ending world slavery a letter from Linda Hartke, the director of Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service, was read (I guess she was pretty sure the resolution would pass). In some ways it is a wonderful letter. In other ways it is a sad letter, for she shares just how big a problem slavery is in the United States. I thought the readers of the blog would like to read what Linda had to say for themselves. Just click on the letter and it will become large enough for you to read.
The following article appeared in Saturday’s Herald-Journal (our local newspaper). I certainly feel good that this issue is continuing to receive attention in our paper.
Group endorses resolution began in Spartanburg
Delegates to the 64th Regular Convention of The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod recently endorsed a resolution to support efforts to end human trafficking/slavery, according to a news release.
The resolution is the "end result of the proposal" that began in a Spartanburg Bible study, according to a local pastor.
Lamb of God Lutheran Church in Spartanburg sponsored a resolution against human trafficking and slavery that received unanimous approval at an Aug. 2008 meeting of South Carolina pastors and laity in the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod.
Pastor John Rickert began researching human trafficking and slavery in preparation for a Sunday school class and was shocked by statistics he uncovered, the Herald-Journal reported.
Rickert wrote the resolution that was approved at the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod Southeastern District Circuit 18 Convocation.
"We were working through the book of Revelation and were at 18:13. That verse lead us to look at the state of slavery in the world today. This lead to the resolution approved by the South Carolina churches, and then the Southeastern District churches, and now finally by the churches of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod," Rickert wrote in an e-mail to the Herald-Journal.
More than 98 percent of voting delegates at 64th Regular Convention of The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod supported the resolution, which also "directs the LCMS president to write a letter to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime expressing support for that office's efforts to end trafficking/slave trade. It also directs the LCMS Board for National Mission to provide LCMS pastors and congregations with information about this practice in order to educate them and encourage them to become proactive in their response," according to a news release.
Thursday after Pentecost 8 Festival of St. Mary, Magdalene July 22, 2010
The Lord be with you
This coming Sunday is the Ninth Sunday after Pentecost. It is also the Festival of St. James the Elder, Apostle. We will be using the first setting of the morning service (page 151) for our liturgy. We will be celebrating the Lord’s Supper. To prepare you can read 1 Corinthians 11:17-34. The appointed lessons are Genesis 18:20-33, Colossians 2:6-15, and Luke 11:1-13. For the sermon, we will continue our series based on Colossians. The text will be Colossians 2:6. The sermon title is: Powered By Christ.
This week we will begin learning a new hymn that was selected by the hymnal review committee. The hymn commemorates many of the biblical saints. When you think of how many people in the Bible are worth commemorating, it is not surprising that this hymn has many verses. In fact, it has so many verses (twenty-eight!) that the editors of Lutheran Service Book divided it into two hymns (517 and 518). The name of the hymn is “By All Your Saints in Warfare.” The way the hymn is used is that you always sing verse one as your first verse and verse three as your last verse. Then you select which saint(s) you wish to remember and put their verse(s) between verses one and three. If you wish to commemorate someone who doesn’t have a verse, or just those who have gone before us in general, you use verse four as the second verse. As this coming Sunday is also the Festival of St. James the Elder, Apostle, and as verse twenty-one is about him, we will use that verse as our second verse on Sunday.
The opening hymn for Sunday is “By All Your Saints in Warfare” (LSB 518). We will sing verses 1, 21, and 3. The sermon hymn is “Christ, the Word of God Incarnate” (LSB 540). The distribution hymns are: “Baptized into Your Name Most Holy” (LSB 590); “Draw Near and Take the Body of the Lord” (LSB 637); and “My Faith Looks Up to Thee” (LSB 702). The closing hymn is “The Church’s One Foundation” (LSB 644). Each tune is well known at Lamb of God except, of course, the one we are starting to learn this week.
The following video is of the Communion Hymn “Draw Near and Take the Body of the Lord.” It can be traced back to the 7th century, though tradition attributes it to St. Sechnall (5th century), a nephew of St. Patrick. The video, in my opinion, is excellent. The melody for each of the other hymns we will be singing Sunday can be heard at Better Noise (the link is on the right hand side of this page).
Preview of the Lessons
Genesis 18:20-33: This lesson follows immediately on the heels of last weeks Old Testament lesson, where Abraham and Sarah meet three “visitors.” One of these beings was a pre-incarnation appearance of Christ. In this lesson the Lord reveals to Abraham his intention to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah due to their great iniquity. Abraham intercedes for the people in the cities and receives a pledge from God that if only ten believers are found the cities will not be destroyed. This pericope is often used to preach about prayer, and it is often thought that Abraham managed to talk God down to the number of ten. I think that God already would have spared the cities if only ten faithful were found and the text points to Abraham discovering just how merciful God is. Though we do not have it in this years appointed lessons, the story ends with the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, and yet God also spares the very few left in those cities who have faith. The story reminds me of the question Jesus once asked, “Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes [again], will he find faith on earth?” (Luke 18:8).
Colossians 2:6-15: As we continue our sermon series on Colossians, once again there is a gap in the lectionary between the readings appointed for this coming Sunday and the next Sunday. Omitted is Colossians 2:16-23. We will cover those verses Sunday as well as the appointed lesson. However the appointed reading is the heart and soul of the letter. Everything before leads up to them and everything after is based on them. The reading is very focused on Jesus and salvation. It has two peeks. The first peek deals with Christ in terms of his “fullness.” The second peek deals with our baptismal relationship with Jesus. On these two “peeks” Paul bases all he says in the remainder of the letter concerning Christian freedom (2:16-23) and his ethical instructions (3:1-4:6). To understand the rest of the letter you must remember it is built on the truths that in Christ all the fullness of Deity dwells bodily and Christians are buried and raised with Christ by means of their baptism.
Luke 11:1-13: In this pericope Jesus teaches concerning prayer. We have Luke’s form of the Lord’s Prayer. Those who use the words “debts” and “debtors” instead of “trespasses” and “trespass” are using Luke’s wording. (“Trespasses” and “trespass” is the wording in Mathew’s Gospel.) There is no question about which Gospel is right. Jesus taught in Aramaic. That was the common language of the people in Palestine. The Gospels are written in Greek. That was the common business language in the Roman Empire, and in many places also the common language of the people. So the Gospels are a translation of Jesus’ Aramaic words into Greek. The Holy Spirit, seeking to give us a greater depth of understanding, guided the writers to translate Jesus’ Aramaic words into different complementary Greek words.
Sunday’s Collect
O Lord, let Your merciful ears be attentive to the prayers of Your servants, and by Your Word and Spirit teach us how to pray that our petitions may be pleasing before You; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Gradual (Romans 10:15b; Isaiah 52:7b, alt.)
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.
Verse (Luke 11:9)
Alleluia. I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. Alleluia.
Call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me. With my whole heart I cry; answer me, O LORD! I will keep your statutes. I call to you; save me, that I may observe your testimonies. I rise before dawn and cry for help; I hope in your words. My eyes are awake before the watches of the night, that I may meditate on your promise. Hear my voice according to your steadfast love; O LORD, according to your justice give me life. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen. Call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me.
Adult Bible Study
We continue our series “Puzzlers and Questions about the Bible.” This week’s topic really isn’t a question. The biblical reference James 5:14-16 was submitted. I’m assuming the desire is a close look at the text, so that is what we will do. The text deals with asking your pastor to pray for you in specific situations. The study is titled “A Pastor’s Prayer.”
When I was much younger I had friends that thought churches that used the historic liturgy were spiritually dead. They just couldn’t see any value in the “empty” ritual. Using the same words each week was often referred to as “vain repetition.” I have not spoken to anyone that spiritually naive in a long time. (Well, I guess that isn’t so. The people I talk to who think they can be “just as good a Christian” without regularly worshiping with the people of God would at least be close cousins, and I do meet such people.) But I digress. The topic I’m writing about is the value of the historic liturgy.
I have a class coming up this August at Gardner-Webb University. It is The Ministry as Life Long Learning. We have a few books we need to read before class begins, and I just finished one: How To Think Theologically by Howard Stone and James Duke. While I have my own experiences that support the positive spiritual value of the liturgy, a story in the last chapter of this book really grabbed me. I hope it strengthens your understanding of the value of liturgical services.
It is a mistake to underestimate the spiritual potential of repetition. Your mind may drift, but each time you repeat the words and acts of worship they become a part of you. The late Karl Rolvaag, a former governor of Minnesota, once preached a sermon at a country church near his cabin in the north woods. He told of his personal spiritual journey and of his recovery first from alcoholism and then from a near-fatal automobile accident. The pastor of that country church traveled over two hundred miles to his hospital bed, where he lay injured and in a coma from his accident. She offered the service of Holy Communion. His lips began to move along with hers as she read the ancient words. He wept, he spoke, he raised his hand to receive the bread and wine. His rote repetition of those words and actions over the course of many years had implanted them in his being, and they broke through the barrier to consciousness when nothing else could. Theology became life. (126)
I am delighted to share the following e-mail with the readers of this blog. It is from Rev. Sandeno, the pastoral delegate from our circuit to the LC-MS Synodical Convention sent to the pastors in our circuit.
Dear Brothers in Christ,
Well, we are now into the final day. Two of the floor committees have concluded their business, yet we have many resolutions that have not been presented. The floor is getting anxious to move things through quickly in order to accomplish as much as possible, but at the same time recognizes the need to discuss and debate the merits of the actions proposed.
I am pleased to announce that Resolution 6-07A "To Support Efforts to End Human Trafficking/Slavery" passed with resounding approval on Thursday. This resolution is a slightly changed version of what was first submitted by Lamb of God and received the endorsement of circuit 18 and the SED in convention. While she did not get to speak, Linda Hartke, president and CEO of Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service wrote a letter thanking our Synod for taking such action against "this degrading and sinful practice." I will share her letter in full upon my return.
Blessings to all in your final preparations for the Lord's Day.
Pax Christi, + Pastor Sandeno
If I get a copy of Linda Hartke’s letter I will share it with you. The resolution, as presented at the convention, removed some of the biblical support found in the original’s resolves but it is solid. Its wording can be found in an earlier post on this blog. I pray that this action will encourage our congregations to remember the enslaved in their Sunday morning worship services.
This coming Sunday is the Eighth Sunday after Pentecost. We will be using Matins (page 219) for our liturgy. The appointed lessons are Genesis 18:1-10a, Colossians 1:21-29, and Luke 10:38-42. We will continue or sermon series, based on Colossians. The text will be Colossians 1:28, but we will treat Colossians 1:21-2:5. The sermon is titled “Sweet Words or the Sweet Gospel”. The opening hymn is “O Jesus So Sweet, O Jesus So Mild” (LSB 546). This will be the last week we will use this hymn for a while for now it is firmly in the “known” category. The sermon hymn will be “Oh, for a Thousand Tongues to Sing” (LSB 528). Our closing hymn is “O Word of God Incarnate” (LSB 523). Each of these hymns have tunes that are well known at Lamb of God.
The following video is of “Oh, for a Thousand Tongues to Sing” played on the piano. It is a very nice arrangement of the tune Azmon. If you are unsure which tune we use at Lamb of God (and there are several tunes associated with this hymn by Charles Wesley) you can listen to this video and know which one we use. To hear the music of some of the other hymns go to Better Noise; the link is on the right hand side of this page.
Preview of the Lessons
Genesis 18:1-10a: This reading recounts a time when three visitors came to Abraham at the “oaks of Mamre.” Very early in the theology of the Church this was seen as a type of the Trinity and in the Church’s iconography this was so depicted. In fact the icon posted with these notes is the historic representation of this event as is called the “Old Testament Trinity.” Our reading is only a portion of the story, and we will read another portion of it on Pentecost 9. In this reading the Three Visitors suddenly arrive and Abraham prepares them a grand feast (which was not really unusually in that age and in that culture). In verse 10 the speaker is identified as Yahweh (LORD) (hence the identification with the Trinity). God promises the miraculous birth of Isaac (both Abraham and Sarah were physically beyond the point where they could produce children). This child, Isaac, would be the child of promise, the ancestor of Jesus Christ.
Colossians 1:2-29: We continue our series on Colossians. The gap between last week’s reading and this week’s reading was covered in last week’s sermon. There is a similar gap between this week’s reading and next week’s reading, and I will cover it Sunday. In this week’s reading Paul delves into the main body of the letter. Even as the introduction to the letter (last weeks reading and sermon) ended on a note of cosmic reconciliation as a corollary to the reconciliation of mankind, so the main argument begins in this reading with a description of the reconciliation of the readers. The main themes of ministry, salvation now, at the Second Coming, and for all eternity, and the person and work of Christ (all which were introduced in last weeks reading) are here brought together. Paul first sets forth in a positive manner the work of Christ, the significance of the ministry of the Word, and the resulting life of faith (and faithfulness), before refuting the heresy in terms of three broad categories in which the false teachers felt they were superior to Paul and Paul’s Gospel: knowledge (2:1-5), fullness (2:6-15), and freedom (2:16-23).
Luke 10:38-42: This is the well know story about a visit Jesus pays to two sisters who were dear friends of his, Mary and Martha. During the evening Martha is very busy cooking, serving dinner, making the guests comfortable, and in short trying to make the party a success. Mary, on the other hand, joined the group that was listening to Jesus teach. Martha asks Jesus to tell Mary to help, but Jesus tells Martha she should sit down herself and listen to the word. Cooking, cleaning, and so on, are not even close to being as important as the word. Mary, then, becomes our model because she chose “the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.” May we always be found as ones who place the word of Christ above all the “distraction” of this world. This reading is reflected in the Collect we will pray on Sunday.
Sunday’s Collect
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. Amen.
Gradual (Romans 10:15b; Isaiah 52:7b, alt.)
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.
Verse (Colossians 2:6b-7a)
Alleluia. As you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him. Alleluia.
Introit
Because we are using the service of Matins this Sunday we will use the appointed Psalm for the day instead of the Introit. The appointed Psalm is Psalm 27. The antiphon is verse 4.
Adult Bible Study
We continue our series “Puzzlers and Questions about the Bible.” This week’s question is: “Does a Christian have to believe the literal story of creation? The triune God? The virgin birth? The Miracles of the Old Testament? The ones (miracles) of the New Testament? Consubstantiation during communion? In short, is it not enough to simply accept Christ as our Savior and our only hope of salvation—with the rest just being doctrinal differences which are unimportant in regard to eternal life?” I’ve titled the study: “A Minimalist Faith?”
On July 6, I published a post titled “Have You Ever Heard of …” In that post, I provided a list of groups that I said were Lutheran. I also said that I had not heard of all of them but would provide some information about each on this blog. I thought they were all Lutheran because I got the list from a Lutheran source. In researching the group titled “Alpha Course” I discovered that it comes from the Anglican Commune (starting at Holy Trinity Brompton). It is basically an Adult Instruction Course open to anyone. As I work through the list I will provide information about the groups that spring from Lutheran origins, and note those that do not.
Bethesda is a Recognized Service Organization of the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod that has been actively sharing the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord with people who have developmental disabilities and their families since 1904.
Bethesda's Mission
To enhance the lives of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities through services that share the good news of Jesus Christ.
Bethesda's Vision
To be the foremost provider of supports and services to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Bethesda's Values
Christ is preeminent in all that we do.
All people are inherently valuable to God and deserve to be treated with dignity and respect.
People are empowered to realize their personal goals through the discovery, development and use of their skills and talents.
People direct decisions that affect their lives, positively impact the communities in which they live, and are supported in living life to the full.
The Alaska Mission for Christ is a non-profit corporation organized and directed by the churches of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod in Alaska. Their goal is to reach the small and often remote settlements and villages of Alaska with the message of the Gospel. They are mission-oriented and Gospel centered. Nearly a hundred sites across Alaska are served by trained lay ministers and volunteer teams to provide worship services, summer Bible school and studies, basketball camps and service projects.
Their mission statement is:
"The mission of the Alaska Mission for Christ is to share Christ in the Last Frontier (Alaska), its neighboring areas in the LCMS, and throughout the world."
Recently they announced a new member of their team. David Grosz has accepted Alaska Mission for Christ's invitation to serve as Missionary to Southwest Alaska. David and his family have served as missionaries with World Mission Prayer League in Nepal and Mongolia. David is presently serving with World Vision. Praise God for leading David to serve in Alaska. They ask for our prayers for him as he and his family start the transition to Alaska.
This coming Sunday is the Seventh Sunday after Pentecost. The epistle lessons for the next four Sundays all come from Colossians. This short letter of Paul’s (only 95 verses) is packed with great spiritual treasure. For each of the next four Sundays I will be using the Colossians’ readings for my text, making this a “series.” The “Preview of the Lessons” will provide information that I will not be able to cover in the sermons. Even then this “series” will be more like skimming the cream off the top of Colossians.
We will be using the third setting of the morning service (page 184) for our liturgy. We will be celebrating the Lord’s Supper. The appointed lessons are Leviticus 19:9-18, Colossians 1:1-14, and Luke 10:25-37. The sermon text is Colossians 1:13. The sermon is titled “You’re in the Son’s Kingdom.” The opening hymn is “Open Now Thy Gates of Beauty” (LSB 901). The sermon hymn is “I Love Your Kingdom, Lord” (LSB 651). The distribution hymns are “O Jesus So Sweet, O Jesus So Mild” (LSB 546), “Jesus Comes Today with Healing” (LSB 620), and “Lord, Keep Us Steadfast in Your Word” (LSB 655). Our closing hymn is “Sent Forth by God’s Blessing” (LSB 643).
The following video is of a church as its members are leaving. The tune being played is our closing hymn, “Sent Forth by God’s Blessings.” The words of the first verse are included. To hear the music of some of the other hymns go to Better Noise; the link is on the right hand side of this page.
Preview of the Lessons
Leviticus 19:9-18: If one took a survey to determine which book in the Bible was the favorite in America, I am quite certain Leviticus would not win. In some ways, that is a shame. Sunday’s reading is an example of why. This text is an application of loving your neighbor as yourself. As such we see a picture of Jesus, who indeed loved his neighbor as himself, even being willing to die for his neighbor, as we are willing to die for ourselves. Here we see modeled in the Old Testament compassion, fairness, honesty, and forgiveness in concrete ways. Often we need concrete examples. It is easy to give lip-service to compassion, fairness, honesty, and forgiveness, without actually demonstrating these traits in our lives. God calls us to not only honor such things with our words, but also with our lives.
Colossians 1:1-14: Colossae was in Asia Minor (modern Turkey). The church there was founded by Epaphras (co-worker of Paul’s) while Paul was in Ephesus. Paul felt responsible for them like a bishop feels responsible for all the churches under his care. While the church at Colossae had a good beginning and a good pastor, it was troubled by false teachers. What they taught today is called the “Colossian Heresy.” Scholars identify it as “proto-Gnosticism” or “insipient-Gnosticism.” “Gnosticism” (meaning “knowledge”) is a second and third century heresy. It denied most of the fundamental teachings of the Bible (the Trinity, the incarnation, the resurrection, the substitutionary death of Jesus, salvation by grace through faith, the goodness of God’s creation, to name a few). Salvation was obtained by acquiring knowledge of the convoluted spiritual world they imagined. Key terms for the Colossian heretics, like “light,” “darkness,” “knowledge,” “wisdom,” “understanding,” and “power,” are found throughout the letter. Because they were leading the people away from Christ by the supposed authority of the Holy Spirit, and because Paul seeks to point the Colossians squarely to Jesus, the only clear reference to the Holy Spirit is found in verse 7. Nonetheless, this reference firmly grounds the letter in Trinitarian doctrine. The heretics were promising more, but what the people were getting was just smoke and mirrors.
Luke 10:25-37: Jesus tells the now well known story of the Good Samaritan in answering a “lawyer’s” question, “Who is my neighbor?” The Samaritan shows a Christ-like love, even though he was an outsider. So Christ, who is the ultimate outsider, shows his unsurpassed love for us in dieing for us. Luke doesn’t tell us how the lawyer responded. Certainly he felt the demands of the Law and saw that he fell short. Hopefully he came to trust in he to whom the Good Samaritan pointed, Jesus Christ. Jesus did what we could not. Not only in paying for our sins on the cross, but also by keeping the Law perfectly for us. His righteousness is “imputed” to us (that is, assigned, ascribed, attributed, accredited to us) when we come to faith in him.
Sunday’s Collect
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 neibhbors as ourselves; for You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Gradual (Romans 10:15b; Isaiah 52:7b, alt.)
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.
Verse (Luke 10:27)
Alleluia. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself. Alleluia.
Introit
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever. It is he who remembered us in our low estate, for his steadfast love endures forever. and rescued us from our foes, for his steadfast love endures forever. he who gives food to all flesh, for his steadfast love endures forever. Give thanks to the God of heaven, for his steadfast love endures forever. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen. Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever.
Adult Bible Study
We continue our series “Puzzlers and Questions about the Bible.” This week’s question is: “I might be wrong, but I think Lutheran beliefs do not demonize the use of alcoholic beverages – only the “over-use” of them. Yet, they don’t seem to have the same sense of moderation regarding gambling, marijuana, or pornography. Why or why not? Couldn’t these three be no more harmful than a glass of wine, if enjoyed moderately?” As a theme verse I’ve selected 1 Corinthians 10:23.
There is good news in Circuit 18 of the Southeastern District of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. Rev. Larry Eckart has accepted the Divine Call from our Lord through Island Lutheran Church (Hilton Head Island, SC) to be their called and ordained pastor. He will probably not arrive until August and be installed in September. By the grace of our Lord Pastor Eckart will be a part of an exciting future as Island reaches out with the saving Gospel. Please keep in your prayers Pastor Eckart, Island Lutheran, and Pastor Eckart’s current congregation of Hope Lutheran in Linden, Michigan.
Commemoration of Isaiah July 6, 2010 The Lord be with you
July 6 is set aside on our Liturgical Calendar to remember the prophet Isaiah. He was the son of Amoz and considered to be the greatest of the writing prophets. He is quoted in the New Testament more than any other Old Testament prophet. Isaiah means “Yahweh [the LORD] saves.” He prophesied to the people of Jerusalem and Judah form about 740 BC to 700 BC and was a contemporary of the prophets Amos, Hosea, and Micah. Isaiah was a fierce preacher of God’s Law, condemning the sin of idolatry. He was also a comforting proclaimer of the Gospel, repeatedly emphasizing God’s grace and forgiveness. For this he is sometimes called the Evangelist of the Old Testament. No prophet more clearly prophesized about the coming Messiah and His saving kingdom. Isaiah foretold not only the Messiah’s miraculous birth (Isaiah 7:14; 9:6), His endless reign (Isaiah 2:1-5; 11:1-16), and His public ministry (Isaiah 61:1-3), but most notably his Suffering Servant role and atoning death (Isaiah 52:13-53:12). The apostle John’s description of Isaiah, that Isaiah saw Jesus’ glory and spoke of Him (John 12:41), is an apt summary of his prophetic ministry.
The picture is of Isaiah as depicted on the fresco at the Sistine Chapel ceiling by Michelangelo in 1509.
Lutherans, it seems, by nature are modest people. The American way of “blowing your own horn” just doesn’t seem to fit with giving God all the glory, at least for us. What this means is that what is accomplished by the Lord through Lutherans often goes unnoticed, even by other Lutherans. Let me give you a list of Lutheran groups to substantiate my point. Some you may well have heard about. Many, I suspect, you have not. All are reaching out with the love of Christ Jesus to a sin-damaged world.
Alaska Mission for Christ ALPHA Course (opps, this group is Anglican, not Lutheran) Apple of His Eye Bethesda Lutheran Homes and Services Bible Outreach ACTS Center for Asian Missions & Evangelism Can-Do Missions Creator’s Praise Ministries Christian Friends of New Americans Crossways International Cross Country Mission Society Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch Evangelgram God’s Word to the Nations Groups Ablaze! Harvest Mission International International Student Ministry Japanese Mission Society Koinoneo Independent Mission Agency Lift High the Cross Ongoing Ambassadors for Christ Lutheran Blind Mission Society Lutheran Lay Renewal Lutheran Association of Missionaries and Pilots U.S. Lutheran Laymen’s League (Lutheran Hour Ministries) Lutheran Women’s Missionary League Lutheran Deaf Mission Society Lutheran Association of Missionaries Pilots, Canada LATINO Mission Society Lutheran Braille Workers Lutheran Campus Mission Association Lutheran City Ministries The Lutheran Evangelism Association Lutheran Mission of the Good Shepherd Lutheran Prison Ministry Lutheran Society for Missiology Lutherans in Jewish Evangelism Mill Neck Family of Organizations MOST Ministries Open Door Ministries of the High Plains Orphan Grain Train Oswald Hoffmann School of Christian Outreach Peace Officer Ministries People of the Book Lutheran Outreach The Missio Dei Network Recovery Assistance, Inc. Ministries Transorming Churches Network World Mission Prayer League 72 – Partners on the Road
How many do you recognize?
Some of these groups are Recognized Service Organizations (RSO) of the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod, some are sponsored by a District of the LC-MS, still others are Lutherans in a specific area that have banded together, and some are efforts made by an individual local congregation. Some of these groups have a global focus, others have a regional focus, and still others have a specific slice of the demographic pie in mind. Some of these groups I am rather well informed about, others I know very little about. Due to the modest nature of Lutherans I mentioned earlier, I’m rather sure that I have only a small percentage of Lutheran groups that are reaching out with the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
To help us become better acquainted with what Lutherans are doing, and perhaps even provide my readers with volunteer opportunities, I plan to post reviews of each of these groups on my blog. If you know of a Lutheran group sharing Christ that is not on the above list, you can post their name in a comment on this post, and I will see what I can do to post a review of them. Each of the above groups does have an internet presence and it is from that internet presence that I will draw most of my information.
This coming Sunday is the Sixth Sunday after Pentecost. It also happens to be Independence Day (Fourth of July). Independence Day is a strictly American national holiday and does not appear on liturgical calendars (which are used by Christians around the world). The appointed lessons in the liturgical year reflect the liturgical calendar and not any given nation’s special days. Consequently this Sunday’s service will not be a glorification of being American. That being said, government is a gift from God (Romans 13:1) to which we owe obedience and for which we should thank and praise God. This will be reflected in the sermon (“So Many Blessings!”) as well as our opening hymn, “Before You, Lord, We Bow” (LSB 966).
We will be using the service of Prayer and Preaching (page 260) for our liturgy. The appointed lessons are Isaiah 66:10-14; Galatians 6:1-10, 14-18; and Luke 10:1-20. The appointed Psalm is Psalm 66:1-7, the antiphon is verses 8 and 9. The sermon text is Luke 10:20. Aside from singing “Before You, Lord, We Bow” as our opening hymn, we will also be singing “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross” (LSB 425) and “O Jesus So Sweet, O Jesus So Mild” (LSB 546).
Following the worship service we will have an ice-cream social, a traditional way of celebrating our nation’s birth.
Preview of the Lessons
Isaiah 66:10-14: Some people say they take the Bible “literally,” by which they mean that they think the Bible has no symbolic use of language. While some people say this, no one really approaches the Bible this way. This passage is a perfect example of what I mean. Literally Jerusalem is a city. However in this passage Jerusalem is described as having breasts on which children nurse, bouncing her children on her knee and carrying her children on her hip. Clearly this is a symbolic description. Jerusalem is not to be thought of as a place with stone and mortar, but where you find true believers; in other words, the Church. The Church gives birth, so to speak, through the word and sacraments. Through those same means believers are nurtured and comforted.
Galatians 6:1-10, 14-18: Paul’s letters can generally be divided into two parts. Part A is the foundational theology of the letter. Part B is the application of that theology. If you don’t “get” part A you will never “get” part B. In fact you will probably draw conclusions that are the opposite of what Paul intended. In Galatians the key theological message and guiding principle in understanding the letter is found in 2:15-16. It is salvation by grace through faith in Jesus. So this reading from Galatians 6 is not so much a list of dos and don’ts, but application of salvation by grace through faith. How will we see it working out in the lives of people? We see compassion for those who are not saved, we see support for the spreading of the Gospel, we see humility, we see the exaltation of the cross of Christ, and we see a freedom from legalism and a life lived as a new creation.
Luke 10:1-20: Jesus sends seventy-two disciples ahead of him as he travels to Jerusalem. They are to proclaim the Gospel and minister to the people as they prepare the people for Jesus' arrival. Jesus assures them that they speak with his authority. Those who reject their message reject Christ. Jesus then laments over cities that have rejected him and therefore rejected eternal life. The seventy-two return, rejoicing because of all that has happened. Jesus, though, directs them to the real reason we rejoice.
Sunday’s Collect
Lord of all power and might, author and giver of all good things, graft into our hearts the love of Your name and nourish us with all goodness that we may love and serve our neighbor; through Jesus Christ, Your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Gradual (Romans 10:15b; Isaiah 52:7b, alt.)
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.
Verse (Luke 9:51)
Alleluia. When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem. Alleluia.
Introit
We will be using the appointed Psalm instead of the appointed Introit this coming Sunday.
Adult Bible Study
We continue our series “Puzzlers and Questions about the Bible.” This week’s question was not really submitted as a question. It is: “Genesis 32:22 Jacob wrestle with God”. I assume what is desired is a careful treatment of the text/story. The whole story is found in Genesis 32:22-32, and we will examine it Sunday.
