3rd Sunday In Lent

 

Today's Service Leader and Speaker - Rev. Michael Mohr

 

 

Today's liturgy is the Divine Service, Setting Four, LSB pages 205ff.

 

908 Lord, Open Now My Heart to Hear

Text: Johann Olearius, 1611–84; (sts. 1, 3): tr. Matthias Loy, 1828–1915, alt.; (st. 2): tr. Mark A. Jeske, 1952
Tune: Geistliche Lieder auffs new gebessert, 1543, Wittenberg, ed. Joseph Klug
Text (st. 2): © 1993 Mark A. Jeske. Used by permission: LSB Hymn License no. 110001518
Text (sts. 1, 3) and tune: Public domain

 

Stand

 

The sign of the cross may be made by all in remembrance of their Baptism.

 

Invocation

P In the name of the Father and of the T Son and of the Holy Spirit.

C Amen.

 

Exhortation LSB 203

P Our help is in the name of the Lord,

C who made heaven and earth.

P If You, O Lord, kept a record of sins, O Lord, who could stand?

C But with You there is forgiveness; therefore You are feared.

P Since we are gathered to hear God’s Word, call upon Him in prayer and praise, and receive the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ in the fellowship of this altar, let us first consider our unworthiness and confess before God and one another that we have sinned in thought, word, and deed, and that we cannot free ourselves from our sinful condition. Together as His people let us take refuge in the infinite mercy of God, our heavenly Father, seeking His grace for the sake of Christ, and saying: God, be merciful to me, a sinner.

 

Confession of Sins LSB 203

C Almighty God, have mercy upon us, forgive us our sins, and lead us to everlasting life. Amen.

 

Prayer for Forgiveness

P Almighty God, merciful Father, in Holy Baptism You declared us to be Your children and gathered us into Your one, holy Church, in which You daily and richly forgive us our sins and grant us new life through Your Spirit. Be in our midst, enliven our faith, and graciously receive our prayer and praise; through Your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord.

C Amen.

 

 

Introit Psalm 25:1–2, 17–18, 20; antiphon: vv. 15–16

My eyes are ever | toward the Lord,*
for he will pluck my feet out | of the net.
Turn to me and be gra- | cious to me,*
for I am lonely and af- | flicted.
To you, | O Lord,*
I lift | up my soul.
O my God, in you I trust; let me not be | put to shame;*
let not my enemies exult | over me.
The troubles of my heart | are enlarged;*
bring me out of my dis- | tresses.
Consider my affliction and my | trouble,*
and forgive | all my sins.
Oh, guard my soul, and de- | liver me!*
Let me not be put to shame, for I take ref- | uge in you.
Glory be to the Father and | to the Son*
and to the Holy | Spirit;
as it was in the be- | ginning,*
is now, and will be forever. | Amen.
My eyes are ever | toward the Lord,*
for he will pluck my feet out | of the net.
Turn to me and be gra- | cious to me,*
for I am lonely and af- | flicted.

 

Kyrie

A For the peace from above and for our salvation let us pray to the Lord.

A For the peace of the whole world, for the well-being of the Church of God, and for the unity of all let us pray to the Lord.

A For this holy house and for all who offer here their worship and praise let us pray to the Lord.

A Help, save, comfort and defend us, gracious Lord.

 

The "Gloria in Excelsis" is omitted during the Gesimatide and Lent.

 

Salutation and Collect of the Day

P The Lord be with you.

C And also with you.

P Let us pray.

O God, whose glory it is always to have mercy, be gracious to all who have gone astray from Your ways and bring them again with penitent hearts and steadfast faith to embrace and hold fast the unchangeable truth of Your Word; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

C Amen.

 

Sit

 

Catechesis - Holy Baptism (Part 2)

P Today's catechetical reading is the second portion under the Sacrament of Holy Baptism.

What benefits does Baptism give?

C It works forgiveness of sins, rescues from death and the devil, and gives eternal salvation to all who believe this, as the words and promises of God declare. (2)

P Which are these words and promises of God?

C Christ our Lord says in the last chapter of Mark:  “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.” (Mk. 16:16) (3)

P What passages of Holy Scripture inform us and convince us of this truth?

C One Lord, one faith, one baptism. –Ephesians 4:5 (K)

Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins. –Acts 22:16b  (1)

He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Saviour, so that, having been justified by His grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.  This is a trustworthy saying. –Titus 3:5-8a (NIV) (4)

[F]or in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. –Galatians 3:26-27 (5)

Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. –Acts 2:38 (5)

But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. –1 Corinthians 6:11 (5)

 

 

Old Testament Reading Jeremiah 26:1–15

¹In the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, this word came from the Lord: ²“Thus says the Lord: Stand in the court of the Lord’s house, and speak to all the cities of Judah that come to worship in the house of the Lord all the words that I command you to speak to them; do not hold back a word. ³It may be they will listen, and every one turn from his evil way, that I may relent of the disaster that I intend to do to them because of their evil deeds. ⁴You shall say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord: If you will not listen to me, to walk in my law that I have set before you, ⁵and to listen to the words of my servants the prophets whom I send to you urgently, though you have not listened, ⁶then I will make this house like Shiloh, and I will make this city a curse for all the nations of the earth.’”

⁷The priests and the prophets and all the people heard Jeremiah speaking these words in the house of the Lord. ⁸And when Jeremiah had finished speaking all that the Lord had commanded him to speak to all the people, then the priests and the prophets and all the people laid hold of him, saying, “You shall die! ⁹Why have you prophesied in the name of the Lord, saying, ‘This house shall be like Shiloh, and this city shall be desolate, without inhabitant’?” And all the people gathered around Jeremiah in the house of the Lord.

¹⁰When the officials of Judah heard these things, they came up from the king’s house to the house of the Lord and took their seat in the entry of the New Gate of the house of the Lord. ¹¹Then the priests and the prophets said to the officials and to all the people, “This man deserves the sentence of death, because he has prophesied against this city, as you have heard with your own ears.”

¹²Then Jeremiah spoke to all the officials and all the people, saying, “The Lord sent me to prophesy against this house and this city all the words you have heard. ¹³Now therefore mend your ways and your deeds, and obey the voice of the Lord your God, and the Lord will relent of the disaster that he has pronounced against you. ¹⁴But as for me, behold, I am in your hands. Do with me as seems good and right to you. ¹⁵Only know for certain that if you put me to death, you will bring innocent blood upon yourselves and upon this city and its inhabitants, for in truth the Lord sent me to you to speak all these words in your ears.”

A This is the Word of the Lord.

C Thanks be to God.

 

 

Gradual Psalm 9:19, 3

C Arise, O Lord! Let not man prevail;
let the nations be judged before you!
When my enemies turn back,
they stumble and perish before your presence.

 

Epistle Ephesians 5:1–9

¹Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. ²And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

³But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. ⁴Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. ⁵For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. ⁶Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. ⁷Therefore do not associate with them; ⁸for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light ⁹(for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true).

A This is the Word of the Lord.

C Thanks be to God.

 

Stand

 

Alleluias being omitted during the Gesimas and Lent, the Tract is used in place of the Verse.

 

Tract Psalm 123:1–3a

C To you I lift | up my eyes,*
O you who are enthroned in the | heavens!
Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their | master,*
so our eyes look to the Lord our God, till he has mercy up- | on us.
Have mercy upon us, | O Lord,*
have mercy up- | on us.

 

Holy Gospel Luke 11:14–28

P The Holy Gospel according to St. Luke, the eleventh chapter.

C Glory to You, O Lord.

¹⁴Now [Jesus] was casting out a demon that was mute. When the demon had gone out, the mute man spoke, and the people marveled. ¹⁵But some of them said, “He casts out demons by Beelzebul, the prince of demons,” ¹⁶while others, to test him, kept seeking from him a sign from heaven. ¹⁷But he, knowing their thoughts, said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and a divided household falls. ¹⁸And if Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you say that I cast out demons by Beelzebul. ¹⁹And if I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. ²⁰But if it is by the finger of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. ²¹When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are safe; ²²but when one stronger than he attacks him and overcomes him, he takes away his armor in which he trusted and divides his spoil. ²³Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.

²⁴“When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, and finding none it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ ²⁵And when it comes, it finds the house swept and put in order. ²⁶Then it goes and brings seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there. And the last state of that person is worse than the first.”

²⁷As he said these things, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said to him, “Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts at which you nursed!” ²⁸But he said, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!”

P This is the Gospel of the Lord.

C Praise to You, O Christ.

 

Nicene Creed

C I believe in one God,

     the Father Almighty,

     maker of heaven and earth

          and of all things visible and invisible.

And in one Lord Jesus Christ,

     the only-begotten Son of God,

     begotten of His Father before all worlds,

     God of God, Light of Light,

     very God of very God,

     begotten, not made,

     being of one substance with the Father,

     by whom all things were made;

     who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven

     and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary

     and was made man;

     and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate.

     He suffered and was buried.

     And the third day He rose again according to the Scriptures

          and ascended into heaven

     and sits at the right hand of the Father.

     And He will come again with glory to judge both the living and the dead,

     whose kingdom will have no end.

And I believe in the Holy Spirit,

     the Lord and giver of life,

     who proceeds from the Father and the Son,

     who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified,

     who spoke by the prophets.

     And I believe in one holy Christian and apostolic Church,

     I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins,

     and I look for the resurrection of the dead

     and the life T of the world to come. Amen.

 

Sit

 

 

659 Lord of Our Life

Text: Matthäus Apelles von Löwenstern, 1594–1648; tr. Philip Pusey, 1799–1855, alt.
Tune: Antiphoner, 1746, Poitiers
Text and tune: Public domain

 

 

Sermon - The Awkward and Uncomfortable Word of Repentance

 

 

Stand

 

956 Create in Me

Text: Psalm 51:10–12
Tune: Johann Georg Winer, 1583–1651, adapt.
Text and tune: Public domain

 

Prayer of the Church

P Heavenly Father, guard the souls of Your people against the devil and his angels who afflict the world. Arm Your Christians with spiritual weapons, sharpen their tongues with the words of Christ, and overthrow all the power of the devil. Lord, in Your mercy,

C hear our prayer.

P Almighty God, Pharaoh refused to heed Your judgments against Egypt and repent of his evil. Give Your Church godly patience to hear Your words of rebuke in faith, to repent of our sins and to seek the forgiveness You eagerly extend. Lord, in Your mercy,

C hear our prayer.

P Father in heaven, You call mothers and fathers to imitate You and to lead their children in the way of light. Strengthen them to flee all immorality. Instill in their families a repentant spirit and a lively hope. Lord, in Your mercy,

C hear our prayer.

P Lord God, direct the hearts of our leaders and teach them to respond faithfully to the dangers and disasters that arise. Lead them to humble themselves under Your hand and serve their people sacrificially. Lord, in Your mercy,

C hear our prayer.

P Almighty God, Creator of all things, You govern our world for the good of Your people. Provide seasonable weather, preserve us from plague and famine, and enrich us by the fruitfulness of the earth according to Your gracious design. Lord, in Your mercy,

C hear our prayer.

P Holy Father, You have given us Your own Spirit in our Baptism into Christ. Defend us from all spiritual attacks. Guard us in body and soul. Help those afflicted by any adversity, [especially _____________,] and lead them to renewed strength and peace. Lord, in Your mercy,

C hear our prayer.

P Blessed Lord, You join Your Word to the bread and wine and so invite us to eat and drink. Grant that we may hear and keep Your Word in faith, that we may worthily receive the true body and blood of our Savior and so be given Your eternal blessing. Lord, in Your mercy,

C hear our prayer.

P Into Your hands, O Lord, we commend all for whom we pray, trusting in Your mercy; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

C Amen.

 

The offering is presented.

 

Preface LSB 208

P The Lord be with you.

C And also with you.

P Lift up your hearts.

C We lift them to the Lord.

P Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

C It is right to give Him thanks and praise.

P It is truly good, right, and salutary that we should at all times and in all places give thanks to You, O Lord, holy Father, almighty and everlasting God, for the countless blessings You so freely bestow on us and all creation. Above all, we give thanks for Your boundless love shown to us when You sent Your only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ, into our flesh and laid on Him our sin, giving Him into death that we might not die eternally. Because He is now risen from the dead and lives and reigns to all eternity, all who believe in Him will overcome sin and death and will rise again to new life. Therefore with angels and archangels and with all the company of heaven we laud and magnify Your glorious name, evermore praising You and saying:

 

Sanctus 208

Text: Stephen P. Starke

 

 

Prayer of Thanksgiving

P Blessed are You, O Lord our God, king of all creation, for You have had mercy on us and given Your only-begotten Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.

At Your command, Abraham prepared to offer his son Isaac as a sacrifice on the mountain; yet, in mercy You provided a ram as a substitute. We give You thanks that on Calvary You spared not Your only Son but sent Him to offer His life as a ransom for many.

As we eat and drink His body and blood, grant us, like Abraham our father, to trust in Your promise now fulfilled in Christ, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.

Hear us as we pray in His name and as He has taught us:

 

Lord’s Prayer

C Our Father who art in heaven,

     hallowed be Thy name,

     Thy kingdom come,

     Thy will be done on earth

          as it is in heaven;

     give us this day our daily bread;

     and forgive us our trespasses

          as we forgive those

          who trespass against us;

     and lead us not into temptation,

     but deliver us from evil.

For Thine is the kingdom

     and the power and the glory

     forever and ever. Amen.

 

The Words of Our Lord

P Our Lord Jesus Christ, on the night when He was betrayed, took bread, and when He had given thanks, He broke it and gave it to the disciples and said: “Take, eat; this is My T body, which is given for you. This do in remembrance of Me.”

In the same way also He took the cup after supper, and when He had given thanks, He gave it to them, saying: “Drink of it, all of you; this cup is the new testament in My T blood, which is shed for you for the forgiveness of sins. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”

 

Pax Domini

P The peace of the Lord be with you always.

C Amen.

 

Agnus Dei LSB 210

Text: Stephen P. Starke

 

Sit

 

 

Distribution

 

616 Baptismal Waters Cover Me

Text: Kurt E. Reinhardt, 1969
Tune: Sammlung alter und neuer . . . Melodien, 1742
Text: © 2003 Kurt E. Reinhardt. Used by permission: LSB Hymn License no. 110001518
Tune: Public domain

 

594 God’s Own Child, I Gladly Say It

Text: Erdmann Neumeister, 1671–1756; tr. Robert E. Voelker, 1957
Tune: Johann Caspar Bachofen, 1695–1755, alt.
Text: © 1991 Robert E. Voelker. Used by permission: LSB Hymn License no. 110001518
Tune: Public domain

 

620 Jesus Comes Today with Healing

 

5 Let me praise God’s boundless favor,
Whose own feast of love I savor,
    Bidden by His gracious call.
Wedding garments He provides me,
With a robe of white He hides me,
    Fits me for the royal hall.

 

6 Now have I found consolation,
Comfort in my tribulation,
    Balm to heal the troubled soul.
God, my shield from ev’ry terror,
Cleanses me from sin and error,
    Makes my wounded spirit whole.

Text: Heinrich Puchta, 1808–58; tr. David W. Rogner, 1960
Tune: Johann Löhner, 1645–1705; adapt. Johann Balthasar König, 1691–1758
Text: © David W. Rogner. Used by permission: LSB Hymn License no. 110001518
Tune: Public domain

 

Stand

 

Nunc Dimittis LSB 211

 

Post-Communion Collect

A Let us pray.

We give thanks to You, almighty God, that You have refreshed us through this salutary gift, and we implore You that of Your mercy You would strengthen us through the same in faith toward You and in fervent love toward one another; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

C Amen.

 

Benedicamus LSB 212

A Let us bless the Lord.

C Thanks be to God.

 

Benediction

P The Lord bless you and keep you.

The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you.

The Lord look upon you with favor and T give you peace.

C Amen.

 

 

411 I Want to Walk as a Child of the Light

Text and tune: Kathleen Thomerson, 1934
Text and tune: © 1970, 1975 Celebration. Used by permission: LSB Hymn License no. 110001518

 

 

Acknowledgments

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from the ESV^® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version^®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Created by Lutheran Service Builder © 2023 Concordia Publishing House.