Trinity 8

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

 

Jesus Loves Me LSB #588

Text: Anna B. Warner, 1820–1915, alt.
Tune: William B. Bradbury, 1816–68
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 p. 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 p. 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 48:1, 3, 11, 14; antiphon: vv. 9–10

We have thought on your steadfast love, O God,
in the midst of your temple.
As your name, O God, so your praise reaches to the ends of the earth.
Your right hand is filled with righteousness.
Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised
in the city of our God, his holy mountain.
Within her citadels
God has made himself known as a fortress.
Let Mount Zion be glad!
Let the daughters of Judah rejoice because of your judgments!
This is God, our God forever and ever.
He will guide us 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.
We have thought on your steadfast love, O God,
in the midst of your temple.
As your name, O God, so your praise reaches to the ends of the earth.
Your right hand is filled with righteousness.

 

Kyrie LSB p. 204

 

Gloria in Excelsis LSB p. 204

Text: Stephen P. Starke

 

Salutation and Collect of the Day

P The Lord be with you.

C And also with you.

P Let us pray.

Grant to us, Lord, the Spirit to think and do always such things as are right, that we, who cannot do anything that is good without You, may be enabled by You to 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.

C Amen.

 

Sit

 

Catechesis - Nicene Creed - Second Article (Part 2)

P Today's catechetical reading is the Second Article of the Nicene Creed. What is the Second Article of the Creed?

C 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 shall come again with glory to judge both the living and the dead; Whose kingdom shall have no end. (4 & 5)

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

C For in [Christ] the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily...  –Colossians 2:9 (K)

For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus... –1 Timothy 2:5 (1)

[H]e whom God raised up did not see corruption. –Acts 13:37 (2)

For our sake [God] made Him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.  –2 Corinthians 5:21 (3)

 

Old Testament Reading Jeremiah 23:16–29

¹⁶Thus says the Lord of hosts: “Do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you, filling you with vain hopes. They speak visions of their own minds, not from the mouth of the Lord. ¹⁷They say continually to those who despise the word of the Lord, ‘It shall be well with you’; and to everyone who stubbornly follows his own heart, they say, ‘No disaster shall come upon you.’”

¹⁸For who among them has stood in the council of the Lord
to see and to hear his word,
or who has paid attention to his word and listened?
¹⁹Behold, the storm of the Lord!
Wrath has gone forth,
a whirling tempest;
it will burst upon the head of the wicked.
²⁰The anger of the Lord will not turn back
until he has executed and accomplished
the intents of his heart.
In the latter days you will understand it clearly.

²¹“I did not send the prophets,
yet they ran;
I did not speak to them,
yet they prophesied.
²²But if they had stood in my council,
then they would have proclaimed my words to my people,
and they would have turned them from their evil way,
and from the evil of their deeds.

²³“Am I a God at hand, declares the Lord, and not a God afar off? ²⁴Can a man hide himself in secret places so that I cannot see him? declares the Lord. Do I not fill heaven and earth? declares the Lord. ²⁵I have heard what the prophets have said who prophesy lies in my name, saying, ‘I have dreamed, I have dreamed!’ ²⁶How long shall there be lies in the heart of the prophets who prophesy lies, and who prophesy the deceit of their own heart, ²⁷who think to make my people forget my name by their dreams that they tell one another, even as their fathers forgot my name for Baal? ²⁸Let the prophet who has a dream tell the dream, but let him who has my word speak my word faithfully. What has straw in common with wheat? declares the Lord. ²⁹Is not my word like fire, declares the Lord, and like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces?”

A This is the Word of the Lord.

C Thanks be to God.

 

Gradual Psalm 31:2b, 1a

Be a rock of refuge for me,
a strong fortress to save me!
In you, O Lord, do I take refuge;
let me never be put to shame.

 

Second Reading Acts 20:27–38

²⁷[Paul said:] “For I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God. ²⁸Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood. ²⁹I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; ³⁰and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them. ³¹Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish everyone with tears. ³²And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified. ³³I coveted no one’s silver or gold or apparel. ³⁴You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my necessities and to those who were with me. ³⁵In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

³⁶And when he had said these things, he knelt down and prayed with them all. ³⁷And there was much weeping on the part of all; they embraced Paul and kissed him, ³⁸being sorrowful most of all because of the word he had spoken, that they would not see his face again. And they accompanied him to the ship.

A This is the Word of the Lord.

C Thanks be to God.

 

Stand

 

Alleluia and Verse Psalm 78:1

 

P Give ear, O my people, to my teaching; incline your ears to the words of my mouth!

 

 

Holy Gospel Matthew 7:15–23

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

C Glory to You, O Lord.

¹⁵[Jesus said:] “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. ¹⁶You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? ¹⁷So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. ¹⁸A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. ¹⁹Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. ²⁰Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.

²¹“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. ²²On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ ²³And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’”

P This is the Gospel of the Lord.

C Praise to You, O Christ.

 

Ordinarily, we confess the Nicene Creed during the Divine Service. During these summer months, we confess the creed of our baptism, the Apostles' Creed, to help keep it fresh in our minds throughout our lives as God's baptized children.

 

Apostles’ Creed

C I believe in God, the Father Almighty,

     maker of heaven and earth.

And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord,

     who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,

     born of the virgin Mary,

     suffered under Pontius Pilate,

     was crucified, died and was buried.

     He descended into hell.

     The third day He rose again from the dead.

     He ascended into heaven

     and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty.

     From thence He will come to judge the living and the dead.

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 T everlasting. Amen.

 

Sit

 

Fruitful Trees, the Spirit’s Sowing LSB 691

Text: Timothy Dudley-Smith, 1926
Tune: Ralph C. Schultz, 1932
Text: © 1984 Hope Publishing Co. Used by permission: LSB Hymn License no. 110001518
Tune: © 1980 Concordia Publishing House. Used by permission: LSB Hymn License no. 110001518

 

Sermon - Meet Fruit - Matthew 7:15-23

Stand

 

Offertory LSB #956

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

 

Prayer of the Church

 

The offering is presented.

 

Preface LSB p. 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.

In Your righteous judgment You condemned the sin of Adam and Eve, who ate the forbidden fruit, and You justly barred them and all their children from the tree of life. Yet, in Your great mercy, You promised salvation by a second Adam, Your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord, and made His cross a life-giving tree for all who trust in Him.

We give You thanks for the redemption You have prepared for us through Jesus Christ. Grant us Your Holy Spirit that we may faithfully eat and drink of the fruits of His cross and receive the blessings of forgiveness, life, and salvation that come to us in His body and blood.

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 p. 210

Text: Stephen P. Starke

 

Sit

 

Distribution

 

Draw Near and Take the Body of the Lord LSB #637

Text: Latin, 7th cent.; tr. John Mason Neale, 1818–66, alt.
Tune: Trente quatre Pseaumes de David, 1551, Geneva, ed. Louis Bourgeois
Text and tune: Public domain

 

“As Surely as I Live,” God Said LSB #614

 

5 The words which absolution give
Are His who died that we might live;
The minister whom Christ has sent
Is but His humble instrument.

 

6 When ministers lay on their hands,
Absolved by Christ the sinner stands;
He who by grace the Word believes
The purchase of His blood receives.

 

7 All praise to You, O Christ, shall be
For absolution full and free,
In which You show Your richest grace;
From false indulgence guard our race.

 

D 8 Praise God the Father and the Son
And Holy Spirit, Three in One,
As was, is now, and so shall be
World without end, eternally!

Text: Nicolaus Herman, c. 1480–1561; tr. Matthias Loy, 1828–1915, alt.
Tune: Jeremiah Clarke, c. 1674–1707
Text and tune: Public domain

 

At the Name of Jesus LSB #512

 

5 In your hearts enthrone Him;
    There let Him subdue
All that is not holy,
    All that is not true:
Crown Him as your captain
    In temptation’s hour;
Let His will enfold you
    In its light and pow’r.

 

6 Christians, this Lord Jesus
    Shall return again
In His Father’s glory,
    With His angel train;
For all wreaths of empire
    Meet upon His brow,
And our hearts confess Him
    King of glory now.

 

D 7 Glory then to Jesus,
    Who, the Prince of light,
To a world in darkness
    Brought the gift of sight;
Praise to God the Father;
    In the Spirit’s love
Praise we all together
    Him who reigns above.

Text: Caroline M. Noel, 1817–77, alt.
Tune: Ralph Vaughan Williams, 1872–1958
Text and tune: Public domain

 

Stand

 

Nunc Dimittis LSB p. 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 p. 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.

 

Almighty God, Your Word Is Cast LSB #577

Text: John Cawood, 1775–1852, alt.
Tune: The Whole Booke of Psalmes, 1562, London
Text and 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.