Advent 3

Today's liturgy is the Divine Service, Setting Three, LSB pages 184ff.

344 On Jordan’s Bank the Baptist’s Cry

Text: Charles Coffin, 1676–1749; tr. composite
Tune: adapt. Michael Praetorius, 1571–1621
Text 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 184

P Beloved in the Lord! Let us draw near with a true heart and confess our sins unto God our Father, beseeching Him in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to grant us forgiveness.

P Our help is in the name of the Lord,

C who made heaven and earth.

P I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord,

C and You forgave the iniquity of my sin.

Confession of Sins LSB 184

P O almighty God, merciful Father,

C I, a poor, miserable sinner, confess unto You all my sins and iniquities with which I have ever offended You and justly deserved Your temporal and eternal punishment. But I am heartily sorry for them and sincerely repent of them, and I pray You of Your boundless mercy and for the sake of the holy, innocent, bitter sufferings and death of Your beloved Son, Jesus Christ, to be gracious and merciful to me, a poor, sinful being.

Absolution LSB 185

P Upon this your confession, I, by virtue of my office, as a called and ordained servant of the Word, announce the grace of God unto all of you, and in the stead and by the command of my Lord Jesus Christ I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the T Son and of the Holy Spirit.

C Amen.

Introit Psalm 85:1–2, 6, 8; antiphon: Philippians 4:4–5

Rejoice in the Lord always;
again I will say, Rejoice.
Let your reasonableness be known to everyone.
The Lord is at hand.
Lord, you were favorable to your land;
you restored the fortunes of Jacob.
You forgave the iniquity of your people;
you covered all their sin.
Will you not revive us again,
that your people may rejoice in you?
Let me hear what God the Lord will speak,
for he will speak peace to his people, to his saints; but let them not turn back to folly.
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.
Rejoice in the Lord always;
again I will say, Rejoice.
Let your reasonableness be known to everyone.
The Lord is at hand.

Gloria Patri LSB 186

Kyrie LSB 186

Gloria in Excelsis LSB 187

Salutation and Collect of the Day

P Lord Jesus Christ, we implore You to hear our prayers and to lighten the darkness of our hearts by Your gracious visitation; for You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Sit

Catechesis - Apostles' Creed - Third Article (Part 2)

P Today's catechetical reading is the Third Article of the Apostles' Creed and its meaning. What is the Third Article of the Creed?

C I believe in the Holy Spirit; The holy Christian Church, the communion of saints; The forgiveness of sins; The resurrection of the body; And the life everlasting.  Amen.

P What does this mean?

C I believe that I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to Him; but the Holy Spirit has called me by the Gospel, enlightened me with His gifts, sanctified and kept me in the true faith.

In the same way He calls, gathers, enlightens and sanctifies the whole Christian church on earth, and keeps it with Jesus Christ in the one true faith.

In this Christian church He daily and richly forgives all my sins and the sins of all believers.

On the Last Day He will raise me and all the dead, and give eternal life to me and all believers in Christ.

This is most certainly true. (3)

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

C [God our Savior] desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. –1 Timothy 2:4 (K)

Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. –Romans 8:9b (1)

[I]n Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them…  –2 Corinthians 5:19a (2)

“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits. –Matthew 7:15-16a (4)

[Christ] will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body. –Philippians 3:21a (4)

For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. –Romans 8:38-39 (5)

Old Testament Reading Isaiah 40:1–11

¹Comfort, comfort my people, says your God.
²Speak tenderly to Jerusalem,
and cry to her
that her warfare is ended,
that her iniquity is pardoned,
that she has received from the Lord’s hand
double for all her sins.
³A voice cries:
“In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord;
make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
⁴Every valley shall be lifted up,
and every mountain and hill be made low;
the uneven ground shall become level,
and the rough places a plain.
⁵And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed,
and all flesh shall see it together,
for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”

⁶A voice says, “Cry!”
And I said, “What shall I cry?”
All flesh is grass,
and all its beauty is like the flower of the field.
⁷The grass withers, the flower fades
when the breath of the Lord blows on it;
surely the people are grass.
⁸The grass withers, the flower fades,
but the word of our God will stand forever.

⁹Get you up to a high mountain,
O Zion, herald of good news;
lift up your voice with strength,
O Jerusalem, herald of good news;
lift it up, fear not;
say to the cities of Judah,
“Behold your God!”
¹⁰Behold, the Lord God comes with might,
and his arm rules for him;
behold, his reward is with him,
and his recompense before him.
¹¹He will tend his flock like a shepherd;
he will gather the lambs in his arms;
he will carry them in his bosom,
and gently lead those that are with young.

A This is the Word of the Lord.

C Thanks be to God.

Gradual Psalm 80:1–2

You who are enthroned upon the cherubim, shine forth.
Stir up your might and come to save us!
Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel,
you who lead Joseph like a flock!Rev. Jesse Kueker, Admissions Officer, STL Seminary

Epistle 1 Corinthians 4:1–5

¹This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. ²Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found trustworthy. ³But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. ⁴I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me. ⁵Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive his commendation from God.

A This is the Word of the Lord.

C Thanks be to God.

Stand

Alleluia and Verse

LSB 190

Psalm 80:2b

Stir up your might and come to save us.

Holy Gospel Matthew 11:2–11

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

²When John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word by his disciples ³and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?” ⁴And Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: ⁵the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them. ⁶And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.”

⁷As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? ⁸What then did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Behold, those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses. ⁹What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. ¹⁰This is he of whom it is written,

“‘Behold, I send my messenger before your face,
who will prepare your way before you.’

¹¹Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.”

P This is the Gospel of the Lord.

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

345 Hark! A Thrilling Voice Is Sounding

Text: Latin, c. 5th–10th cent.; tr. Edward Caswall, 1814–78, alt.
Tune: William H. Monk, 1823–89
Text and tune: Public domain

Sermon - "Are You The One!" - Rev. Jesse Kueker, Admissions Officer, STL Seminary

Stand

Offertory LSB 192

Prayer of the Church

P In peace, let us pray to the Lord:

C Lord, have mercy.

P For joy at all times and reasonableness of word and deed, that all may recognize our Christian confidence in Christ’s advent, let us pray to the Lord:

C Lord, have mercy.

P For our pastors, that they would regard themselves as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God; and that they may be found trustworthy as they carry out their duties, let us pray to the Lord:

C Lord, have mercy.

P For persecuted Christians everywhere, that they would be comforted in their hardships and emboldened to persevere in confessing the blessed and saving Word of God, which stands forever, let us pray to the Lord:

C Lord, have mercy.

P For Congress and the justices of our nation; Joseph, our president; _____________, our governor; and all others in positions of civil authority, that they may diligently administer their duties in all godly wisdom, justice, compassion and contentment for the well-being of our nation, let us pray to the Lord:

C Lord, have mercy.

P For the sick and grieving, [especially _____________,] that as the day draws near when blind eyes see, deaf ears hear, lame legs leap and mute tongues sing for joy, God would grant them healing according to His gracious will, let us pray to the Lord:

C Lord, have mercy.

P For faith to believe Christ’s blessed testament, seek His Holy Supper for the forgiveness of our sins, and confess His truth with honest hearts in the communion of this altar, let us pray to the Lord:

C Lord, have mercy.

P Hear us, heavenly Father, for the sake of Christ Jesus, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

C Amen.

Sit

The offering is gathered.

Stand

Preface LSB 194

P The Lord be with you.

P Lift up your hearts.

P Let us give thanks unto the Lord, our God.

Proper Preface

P It is truly meet, right, and salutary that we should at all times and in all places give thanks to You, holy Lord, almighty Father, everlasting God, through Jesus Christ, our Lord, whose way John the Baptist prepared, proclaiming Him the promised Messiah, the very Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, and calling sinners to repentance that they might escape from the wrath to be revealed when He comes again in glory. 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 LSB 195

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 LSB 197

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 LSB 197

P The peace of the Lord be with you always.

Agnus Dei LSB 198

Sit

Distribution

347 Comfort, Comfort Ye My People

Text: Johann Olearius, 1611–84; tr. Catherine Winkworth, 1827–78, alt.
Tune: Trente quatre Pseaumes de David, 1551, Geneva, ed. Louis Bourgeois
Text and tune: Public domain

602 The Gifts Christ Freely Gives

5 The gifts are in the feast,
    Gifts far more than we see;
Beneath the bread and wine
    Is food from Calvary.
The body and the blood
    Remove our ev’ry sin;
We leave His presence in
    His peace, renewed again.

6 All glory to the One
    Who lavishes such love;
The triune God in love
    Assures our life above.
His means of grace for us
    Are gifts He loves to give;
All thanks and praise for His
    Great love by which we live!

Text: Richard C. Resch, 1947
Tune: Charles J. Dale, 1842–1912, alt.
Text: © 2001 Richard C. Resch. Used by permission: LSB Hymn License no. 110001518
Tune: Public domain

349 Hark the Glad Sound

Text: Philip Doddridge, 1702–51
Tune: Thomas Haweis, 1734–1820
Text and tune: Public domain

343 Prepare the Royal Highway

Text: Frans Mikael Franzén, 1772–1847; tr. Lutheran Book of Worship, 1978, alt.
Tune: Swedish, 17th cent.
Text: © 1978 Lutheran Book of Worship. Used by permission: LSB Hymn License no. 110001518
Tune: Public domain

Stand

Nunc Dimittis LSB 199

Thanksgiving LSB 200

A O give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good,

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.

Salutation 201

P The Lord be with you.

Benedicamus LSB 202

A Bless we the Lord.

Benediction LSB 202

P The Lord bless you and keep you.

The Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious unto you.

The Lord lift up His countenance upon you and T give you peace.

346 When All the World Was Cursed

Text: Johann Gottfried Olearius, 1635–1711; tr. Paul E. Kretzmann, 1883–1965, alt.
Tune: Ahasverus Fritsch, 1629–1701
Text: © 1941 Concordia Publishing House. Used by permission: LSB Hymn License no. 110001518
Tune: Public domain

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 © 2022 Concordia Publishing House.