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The Hymn #578 Before the Lord We Bow - Francis S. Key
The Confession of Sins
The Absolution
The Introit p. 16
The whole world is in Thy power, O Lord, King Almighty:
there is no man that can gainsay Thee.
For Thou hast made heaven and earth and all the wondrous things under the heaven:
Thou art Lord of all.
Psalm. Blessed are the undefiled in the way:
who walk in the Law of the Lord.
The Gloria Patri
The Kyrie p. 17
The Gloria in Excelsis
The Salutation and Collect p. 19
Lord, we beseech Thee to keep Thy household, the Church, in continual godliness, that through Thy protection it may be free from all adversities and devoutly given to serve Thee in good works, to the glory of Thy name; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Our Lord, who liveth, etc.
The Epistle and Gradual
Lord, Thou hast been our Dwelling Place: in all generations.
V. Before the mountains were brought forth or ever
Thou hadst formed the earth and the world: even from everlasting to everlasting, Thou art God. Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
V. They that trust in the Lord shall be as Mount Zion: which cannot be removed, but abideth forever. Hallelujah!
The Gospel
Glory be to Thee, O Lord!
Praise be to Thee, O Christ!
The Nicene Creed p. 22
The Sermon Hymn #447 Fight the Good Fight
Faith and Miracles
The Communion Hymn #321 O Faithful God - by the Concordist Selnecker
The Preface p. 24
The Sanctus p. 26
The Lord's Prayer p. 27
The Words of Institution
The Agnus Dei p. 28
The Nunc Dimittis p. 29
The Benediction p. 31
The Hymn #209 Who Is This That Comes from Edom?
Prayers and Announcements
- In our prayers - Lito Cruz and his grandson, Sarah Buck, Pastor Shrader and Chris.
- Birthday and Anniversary - Alec Satin, Alec and Lorie's anniversary.
- John Popp's birthday is this Friday.
- Pastor Jackson's 76th birthday, blood panel, lowest weight since Joe Montana played for Notre Dame.
- The parsonage has been repeatedly burglarized, and the police are investigating. Unopened postal mail was stolen. Do not send checks until we have a P.O. box.
KJV Ephesians 6
10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; 15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
KJV John 4:46 So Jesus came again into Cana of Galilee, where he made the water wine. And there was a certain nobleman, whose son was sick at Capernaum. 47 When he heard that Jesus was come out of Judaea into Galilee, he went unto him, and besought him that he would come down, and heal his son: for he was at the point of death. 48 Then said Jesus unto him, Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe. 49 The nobleman saith unto him, Sir, come down ere my child die. 50 Jesus saith unto him, Go thy way; thy son liveth. And the man believed the word that Jesus had spoken unto him, and he went his way. 51 And as he was now going down, his servants met him, and told him, saying, Thy son liveth. 52 Then enquired he of them the hour when he began to amend. And they said unto him, Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him. 53 So the father knew that it was at the same hour, in the which Jesus said unto him, Thy son liveth: and himself believed, and his whole house. 54 This is again the second miracle that Jesus did, when he was come out of Judaea into Galilee.
Twenty-First Sunday After Trinity
Almighty and everlasting God, who by Thy Son hast promised us the forgiveness of sins, righteousness, and everlasting life: We beseech Thee, do Thou by Thy Holy Spirit so quicken our hearts that we in daily prayer may seek our help in Christ against all temptations, and, constantly believing His promise, obtain that for which we pray, and at last be saved, through Thy Son Jesus Christ, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, one true God, world without end. Amen.Background for the Epistle Sermon, Ephesians 6:10-16
This famous passage often includes a drawing of the Roman soldier, who was far more powerful than the soldiers of other armies. Like American warriors of today, in special operations, he was equipped both offensively and defensively. Enemy weapons did not harm him easily, but his weapons were useful in defense and in attacking the foe. The Roman soldiers worked best when united and were only defeated when Herman the German tricked them into moving along a narrow pass where their normal advantages did not help them.
Faith and Miracles
KJV John 4:46 So Jesus came again into Cana of Galilee, where he made the water wine. And there was a certain nobleman, whose son was sick at Capernaum.
Each miracle story has at least one specific meaning in the Gospels. The setting is quite clear. Jesus was back in Cana, which reminds readers of the miracle of ordinary water being turned into exquisite wine, causing consternation because the best wine is always first, not last. The sub-text (as they say nowadays) - Jesus did not touch the water or the wine, nor did He move His arms or do anything to make that a heavenly miracle except to say a few words about what to do with the water. The entire wedding group learned and that miracle- we can assume - spread around Cana, so people knew this and believed.
Now miracle is often used as something unusual and caused by us as a surprise. "You passed the physics test? It's a miracle."
47 When he [the nobleman] heard that Jesus was come out of Judaea into Galilee, he went unto him, and besought him that he would come down, and heal his son: for he was at the point of death. [heal in Greek is used for medicine, in the physician's lingo iatrogenic - treatments that harm the patient, a term I use to unsettle doctors when they are talking]
Immediately the nobleman begged Jesus to come down to his home so that his son could be cured miraculously and live. This is very emotional for anyone who has lost a friend, child, or family member. Life is full of happiness and wonders until this dark reality sets in. What can anyone do? The nobleman is used to being in charge, so why not greet the Savior who has already something so extraordinary?
48 Then said Jesus unto him, Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe.
This turned into Signs and Wonders among modern Pentecostals. Some people designated this as the key part of their congregations. Someone we knew, long ago, said at the nursing home, "We have a special group that will come and anoint your little girl and pray for her." Christina said, "You think we have not...many times more than a visit?" I could imagine the Pentecostal pastor saying, "We paid for our building. It's a miracle."
At the wedding, previously, John 2, no one knew what was going on - except Mary - even though they saw the actions of drawing the water and taking it to the manager of the feast. Why Mary? She did not know exactly what would happen, but she knew something would happen. "Whatever He says, do it."
Now we know such things or should know them. Jesus' rebuke is for all - not out of anger and despair but casting the great net (like the fishing surprise) across everyone. The Sacraments of Baptism and Communion give us the physical reality of the effective Word, which begins to act before we even start to pray and ask.
49 The nobleman saith unto him, Sir, come down ere my child die. 50 Jesus saith unto him, Go thy way; thy son liveth. And the man believed the word that Jesus had spoken unto him, and he went his way.
The Roman army officer described his situation as one of orders. (Luke 7) Anything he ordered came true. Jesus did not need to visit the servant. A divine command would be effective/efficacious. The nobleman humbly believed the Word spoken by Jesus, who went away (more to teach and heal). Jesus already knew - it happened right there.
51 And as he was now going down, his servants met him, and told him, saying, Thy son liveth. 52 Then enquired he of them the hour when he began to amend. And they said unto him, Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him. 53 So the father knew that it was at the same hour, in the which Jesus said unto him, Thy son liveth: and himself believed, and his whole house. 54 This is again the second miracle that Jesus did, when he was come out of Judaea into Galilee.
Luther -
"This parable is a sign and picture of true faith. Thus, faith first consists in this, that we may be not secure and presumptuous, but remain in fear. By the grace of God we are rich in the Word of God and have been brought out of deep and great darkness; but we forget the Word, become weak, continue unconcerned about the matter and have no taste for it."
Faith is precious because God
plants this trust in us
through the effective Word,
which always works with the Spirit.
plants this trust in us
through the effective Word,
which always works with the Spirit.
Luther pointed out in his sermon that even the greatest ones in the Bible failed. King David is one of the clearest examples in the Old Testament. The disciples certainly lost faith when they were locked in the room after the resurrection of Christ.
The Word builds our trust through the Scriptures and Sacraments, through mutual encouragement, and through prayer.
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