Thursday after Pentecost 6
July 12, 2012
The Lord be with you
This coming Sunday will be the Seventh Sunday after
Pentecost. The appointed lesions are: Amos 7:7-15; Ephesians 1:3-14; Mark
6:14-29. Because we will be using Matins for our liturgy (page 219), we will be
using the appointed Psalm for the Day instead of the appointed Introit for the
Day, which is Psalm 85:1-13. The antiphon is verse 7. Our hymns will be
“Baptismal Waters Cover Me” (LSB 616)
(the hymn we are learning this month), “Speak, O Lord, Your Servant Listens” (LSB 589) and “Almighty God, Your Word Is
Cast” (LSB 577). The sermon text is
Mark 6:20 and the sermon title is “Words.”
In our prayers on Sunday we will remember The American
Association of Lutheran Churches (AALC) and their President, Rev. Franklin E.
Hays. The AALC is 25 years old and views themselves as continuing the tradition
of the American Lutheran Church (ALC), a
denomination with whom the LC-MS was in altar and pulpit fellowship but since
has been absorbed by the ELCA. The LC-MS is currently in altar and pulpit
fellowship with the AALC. We will remember our missionary, Emily Goddard, who
serves in South Africa.
Emily writes, “I would appreciate prayers for God to open the hearts of the
community where I serve and that He would use me as a tool to spread His love
and the Gospel to the people of South Africa.
I also ask for prayers to prepare me for all that lies ahead. And, please pray
for the school, including its teachers, administrators, students and families.”
We are grateful to God for the opportunity to support Emily by responding to
her request in our Sunday worship. We will remember the persecuted believers in
Nigeria. Nigeria
is in West Africa and is the nation on that content with
the most people. The northern part of Nigeria
is mainly Moslem and the southern part is mainly Christian. Radical Islamic
sects in the north, demanding a separate Islamic state, have greatly increased
the death total in recent years, though the government is trying to keep things
under control. These separatist groups attack and kill Christians as well as
Moslems who desire to maintain peace in the country. We will also remember our
sister SED congregations: St. Matthew, Meherrin, VA; St. Paul’s, Meherrin, VA;
New Hope, Midlothian, VA; Resurrection, Newport News, VA; Grace, Summerville,
SC. We will continue to remember those who have been misled by our cultures
acceptance of abortion and sexual immorality, asking God’s grace for their
lives that they may be healed and restored by the Holy Spirit. We will also
continue to remember those trapped in the modern practice of slavery and ask
God to bless all efforts that are pleasing in his sight to end this sinful
practice.
Below is a recording, on a harp, of “Speak, O Lord, Your
Servant Listens”. Only one verse, and no one is singing, but it is nice.
Our adult Bible class
meets at 9:00 Sunday morning. This Sunday
we will be in Matthew 23, walking with our Lord through Holy Week. While the
events in the chapter occur during the final week in the life of Jesus, they
are not the events of which we normally think. Those events typically are Palm
Sunday, Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter Sunday. Matthew 23 has our
Lord’s teaching on Monday through Wednesday. As always, everyone is invited to
come.
Preview of the
Lessons
Amos 7:7-15: Amos is one of the “minor” prophets. They are
called “minor” only because their books are short, not because their books are
unimportant. They are all grouped at the end of the Old Testament, not because
they all worked near the end of the Old Testament time period, but because all
twelve could fit onto one scroll. Amos lived and prophesied during the reign of
Jeroboam II (793-753 bc) (see
1:1), and he was active probably from around 760 to 750. His work was in the
northern kingdom of Israel,
which fell to the Assyrians in 722. Through him the Lord warned Israel
and called them back to Him, a warning and call the king and the majority of
the people ignored. In this vision Amos sees a wall and a plum line. Plum
lines are a string with a weight at the bottom. They are used to determine if a
wall is “true,” that is, straight. With different terrains and such, your eyes
can play tricks on you. But the weight makes sure the string is being pulled
straight down so if the wall doesn’t line up with the plum line, the wall isn’t
“true.” If the wall is “true,” it passes. If it doesn’t pass, you tear it down
and start again. The wall might represent the “house of Israel”
or the “house of Jeroboam.” It doesn’t matter because they are really one and
the same. The plum line is the word of God. The house is not true. Instead of
repenting, the religious leaders and king tell Amos to move to Judah,
where faith in the True God is more welcomed.
Ephesians 1:3-14: This is a wonderful passage to read if
you are feeling down or questioning your salvation. This passage speaks about
predestination. While this teaching troubles many, in the Bible it is always
used for our comfort. We are predestined, in Christ, for good. Predestination
is, in the New Testament, always associated with Jesus. The evidence of
predestination is our faith. Do you believe that Jesus died for you? That is
the mark of being predestined. So, if you have faith in Jesus, then you also
have “every spiritual blessing.” These blessings come in the manner God
chooses, and that manner is through word and sacrament. How frustrated some
Christians become by chasing after other ways to receive these great blessings
from God! The phrase “word of truth” is referring to the word of God. The
phrase “sealed with the Holy Spirit” refers Paul’s readers back to their
baptism. How do you know you have the Holy Spirit? Were you baptized in the
name of the Triune God? Then you have been sealed with the Holy Spirit. This
reading could be a whole book. For now, just read it and thank God for all the
great gifts he has for you.
Mark 6:14-29:
This reading picks up where last weeks reading ended. It is how Mark introduces
the death of John the Baptist. It is not a “current event” in this account. In
stead, Jesus’ popularity is growing and the news reaches Herod. In identifying
Herod, Mark tells how Herod speculated that John the Baptist had come back from
the dead, and about the how Herod had John beheaded. The stage is set for this
speculation by Herod by informing us that Herod knew John was a “righteous and
holy man” and that he heard John “gladly” even though the message of John
disturbed him. In contrast to those Paul wrote to, who received the word of
truth and the joy that such reception and trust brings, Herod rejected the word
of truth (like Israel
and Jeroboam) and so was troubled. Now his guilty conscience was kicking in. Of
course, Herod is not really the focus for Mark, but John the Baptist and how
John’s words about the importance of Jesus were fulfilled. John said, “After me
will come one more powerful than I, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy
to stoop down and untie. I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with
the Holy Spirit.” John had passed away. Jesus had arrived. Those who did not
attend to John were not going to easily understand who Jesus is and what he
came to do.
Tidbits
- There will be a voters’ meeting following our worship service Sunday. The focus of the meeting will be on reports. Kitty will tell us about the SED convention. Pastor will tell us about what the surveys reveled concerning the Stations of the Cross project on which he is working. Our Elders will tell us about some ideas concerning proposed worship services, and an upcoming survey to make it easier to plan for our future. Of course we will be given the latest information about our financial health. All boards and committees will have an opportunity to share.
Well, I pray I’ll see you Sunday.
Blessings in Christ,
Pastor John Rickert
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