The Fifteenth Sunday after Trinity, 2019
Pastor Gregory L. Jackson
The Confession of Sins
The Absolution
The Introit p. 16
The Gloria Patri
The Kyrie p. 17
The Gloria in Excelsis
The Salutation and Collect p. 19
The Epistle and Gradual
The Absolution
The Introit p. 16
The Gloria Patri
The Kyrie p. 17
The Gloria in Excelsis
The Salutation and Collect p. 19
The Epistle and Gradual
The Gospel
Glory be to Thee, O Lord!
Praise be to Thee, O Christ!
The Nicene Creed p. 22
Praise be to Thee, O Christ!
The Nicene Creed p. 22
Sowing and Reaping
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 #23 Hallelujah! Let Praises Ring
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 #23 Hallelujah! Let Praises Ring
- Andrea is doing very well.
- Carl Roper, who is being treated and tested. His wife Lynda fell and broke her shoulder.
- Elizabeth Mior is seeing the cancer depart.
- Pastor K and Doc Lito Cruz - diabetes.
- Those looking for work and a better income.
- Glen Kotten plans to visit the Philippines. We will meet him at the Shraders in early October. Pastor Shrader continues his battle with cancer. Pastor Jordan's wife and children are recovering from chicken pox.
Wednesday is our next service, instead of Greek, at 7 PM. It will also be available as a saved file for next Sunday.
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| Norma A. Boeckler's books of art. |
KJV Galatians 5:25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 26 Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another. 6:1 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. 2 Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. 3 For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself. 4 But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. 5 For every man shall bear his own burden. 6 Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things. 7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. 8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. 9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. 10 As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.
KJV Matthew 6:24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. 25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? 26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? 27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? 28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: 29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? 31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. 33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. 34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
FIFTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY
Lord God, heavenly Father, we thank Thee for all Thy benefits: that Thou hast given us life and graciously sustained us unto this day: We beseech Thee, take not Thy blessing from us; preserve us from covetousness, that we may serve Thee only, love and abide in Thee, and not defile ourselves by idolatrous love of mammon, but hope and trust only in Thy grace, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, one true God, world without end. Amen.
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| Norma A. Boeckler's books of art.
Background for the Sermon, Galatians 5:25-6:10
KJV Galatians 5:25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
Spirit and Word are joined together in the Bible, so the Word always has divine energy, the Spirit always works with the Word, never apart from the Word.
Living in the Spirit means living in the Word of God and conducting our lives according to that Word. He also says something that should encourage sincere believers and terrify unbelievers.
"7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. 8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting."
Those who spread the seeds of greed, coveting, and revenge will harvest the same, just as sowing weed seeds will only result in growing healthy, large, aggressive weeds. But planting the Gospel seeds of forgiveness, mercy, and peace will give a harvest of eternal life. The Spirit conveys Jesus, brings Him to us, and no one can come before the Savior without His influence. Some become even more blind, mocking, and scornful, but others see in His atonement their sin and in His face His grace.
 Sowing and Reaping
KJV Galatians 5:25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 26 Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.
25 ει ζωμεν πνευματι, πνευματι και στοιχωμεν (not the normal verb for walk, peripateo, but the word for marching in line, stoicheo) If we live in Spirit, let us also march in Spirit. verse 25 is an asyndeton - If by Spirit we live, by Spirit also we march. The eyes see the Greek as
If we live Spirit, Spirit also we march.
Faith and conduct are to be in harmony. Living in the Spirit means living in the Gospel Word, which is all grace and forgiveness for those who meditate on the Teaching of God night and day (Psalm 1). The atonement is universal, because Christ died for all people. However, without knowledge of God's universal Law, embedded in Creation, people have no concept of sin or their need for forgiveness through Christ. Verse 26 explains the exhortation to walk in the Spirit, by teaching what is wrong about not marching in the Spirit - Let's not be puffed up with our importance, finding fault with others because we envy them. Vainglory means "empty glory" or in today's lingo - faking the resume. Examples in church life are - I was elected, I was invited, I was honored...but the real truth is - I politicked for, I pushed myself into this role, I made sure they praised me and gave me the honors I wanted for myself. It is true that what works in our secular world can also work temporarily in the Christian Church. However, the difference is vast in how that turns out. When Christians elbow each other aside and insist on their own way, they impede so much that can be done. If people wanted to see what could be done in the Christian Church, they would eliminate all the corporate structures and costs that bottle up human effort and finances. When NPH accepted Liberalism: Its Cause and Cure for publication, a couple of clergy made sure it was stalled for a long, long time. When it was finally published, the losers got even by getting rid of the editors in favor of the book. Much more could be said about that book alone. In contrast, since the world of publishing is almost completely free of restrictions and background costs, someone can produce a book of enormous size and send it around the world for free, using Dropbox and the link for it. For no extra charge, it can be made available in print form, and then for a marginal cost. And that is being done. What Paul promised in the human body analogy is this - we each have spiritual gifts and functions as part of the Body of Christ. Like human organ systems (breathing, circulation, digestion) these are linked by the Divine plan to work His will. Each person is very much needed and employed in carrying out His will. For example, it is no small matter that we pray for one another. Each person can do this with prayer, and the recipients experience the difference. 6:1 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. The Stephanite cult did not do this. The clergy leaders knew their bishop was an adulterer. They made him a bishop anyway. When it was convenient, they stole his land, threatened his life, robbed him of everything, and forced him (a felony also) to Illinois, where he might have died of starvation. Ever since, the Stephanites (LCMS-WELS-ELS) have been brutal and dishonest in dealing with people, just the opposite of what God commands here. Lest you be tempted also The temptation is to continue to conduct church life in the same brutal way. I have talked to or written to many who have suffered from abuse in their congregations or synods. As someone wrote, churches like precedents, which become habits, and then sacred traditions, even though they are often anti-Scriptural. Mythologies do not change the truth. 2 Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. There are two ways to fulfill the Law. One is out of fear or even the righteousness of the Law (which is a righteousness but not the correct one). That is is found in the Pharisee-publican parable and the rich young ruler, who had obeyed the Law from youth. But the Christian does not see the Law as the minimum. The love of Christ moves people to do the most they can for their neighbors, for people they will probably not even meet on this side of eternal life. 3 For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself. 4 But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. 5 For every man shall bear his own burden. Dickens the novelist had a great knack for describing people. In one novel, a rich factory owner had no sympathy for anyone because he was "born in a ditch and abandoned by his mother." He used that line to tell people they should follow his example, starting from nothing. In fact, that was not true and he was born with quite a bit of money and luxuries. As Lenski observed, when someone thinks he is self-made, he is delusional. God gives opportunities and burdens alike, and we should see how we are helped and how to help others. The success of others should be our greatest satisfaction. Verse 5 seems to contradict "bear one another's burdens" but they go together. We have our own responsibilities and we share in the responsibilities of others. No one is self-made, and no one should feel that others must do his share instead of him. We see that often with grown men who stay at home to get free food and lodging as if it is a constitutional right, without sharing the cost or even helping out. If you want a hint about society crumbling - parents have expressed shock they their adult children should pay rent, help with all the housework, help buy the food, etc while saying "You treat me like a child!" My advice has been, "I was wrong. You are right. As an adult, you will pay your share from now on." 6 Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things. The early Church had little in property or income, so the pastors and evangelists were supported to some extent, based on the situation. Some think this verse has to do with pay, but Lenski points out that this means the learner ought to be in fellowship - in communion - a joint appreciation of the Gospel treasures of the teacher. That is really the greatest source of satisfaction, knowing that others realize and practice the Gospel. Most of the "conservatives" are working hoof-in-hoof with ELCA in promoting blatant false doctrine and evil practices. But it is still true that the post-college generation is
7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. 8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
This should be a terror to the guilty and a comfort to believers. God reigns supreme in His Creation through the Word. It is impossible to plant what is evil and harvest what is good. There are several plants promoted by the US Department of Agriculture - with good aims and hopes - that are so vile that the same government fines people for planting them now. One is the kudzu vine, which can cover up and destroy a house. The other is the Chinese mutliflora rose, which is just as hard to eradicate and wrecks thousands of acres.
The current generation of Lutheran leaders (ELCA-WELS-ELS-LCMS-CLC sic) have themselves to blame for being devoured by Church Growth dogma and stigmatized by the fall of their favorite gurus: Schuller, Cho, Driscoll, Hybels, Bell, etc.
The comfort of these verses is just as powerful as the terror. No matter how small and fragile, no matter how seemingly weak and vulnerable, whatever is planted in the Word/Spirit will thrive and do God's work. So we do not look for specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, time-bound goals. (S.M.A.R.T., get it?) Instead, we look for and trust in - the immense power of the divine Word.
9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. 10 As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.
These verses are called Gospel admonitions. Because of what God has done for us through Christ, and knowing we have everything from God, we should not get tired of helping others , because eternal life awaits - if we do not grow tired of the Gospel.
Opportunities are all around us to do what is good and useful for others. It goes beyond definitions or sets of rules. A little bit of kindness, a little bit of time - they matter so much in loveless and rushing-around world.
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