Bethany Lutheran Church
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Lyrics from the Bethany Hymn Blog are embedded in the hymn numbers.
The melody is linked in the hymn title.
The Confession of Sins
The Absolution
The Introit p. 16
The Absolution
The Introit p. 16
Be Thou my strong Rock: for an house of defense to save me.
Thou art my Rock and my Fortress: therefore for Thy name’s sake lead me and guide me.
Psalm. In Thee, O Lord, do I put my trust; let me never be ashamed: deliver me in Thy righteousness.
The Kyrie p. 17
The Gloria in Excelsis
The Salutation and Collect p. 19
O Lord, we beseech Thee, mercifully hear our prayers and, having set us free from the bonds of sin, defend us from all evil; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, who liveth, etc.
The Epistle and GradualV. Thou hast with Thine arm redeemed Thy people: the sons of Jacob and Joseph.
Tract. Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands: serve the Lord with gladness.
V. Enter into His gates with thanksgiving.
V. Know ye that the Lord, He is God.
V. It is He that hath made us and not we ourselves: we are
His people and the sheep of his pasture.
The Gospel
Glory be to Thee, O Lord!
Praise be to Thee, O Christ!
The Nicene Creed p. 22
The Sermon Hymn #148 Lord Jesus Christ, My Life
Praise be to Thee, O Christ!
The Nicene Creed p. 22
The Sermon Hymn #148 Lord Jesus Christ, My Life
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 #657 Beautiful Savior
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 #657 Beautiful Savior
Prayers and Announcements
- Treatment and recovery - Mary Howell's scan was clear!
- Medical issues - Callie and her mother Peggie; C. Pastor Jim Shrader and his wife Chris; Doc Lito; Pastor K; Norma Boeckler.
- The new KJV book is completed; readers are welcome to view the PDF and offer corrections.
- Wednesday is Ash Wednesday, 7 PM.
The Epistle. 1 Corinthians 13
Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.
3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.
4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;
6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;
7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
8 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.
9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.
10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.
11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.
The Gospel. St. Luke 18:31-43
Luke 18 31 Then he took unto him the twelve, and said unto them, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of man shall be accomplished.
32 For he shall be delivered unto the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and spitefully entreated, and spitted on:
33 And they shall scourge him, and put him to death: and the third day he shall rise again.
34 And they understood none of these things: and this saying was hid from them, neither knew they the things which were spoken.
35 And it came to pass, that as he was come nigh unto Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the way side begging:
36 And hearing the multitude pass by, he asked what it meant.
37 And they told him, that Jesus of Nazareth passeth by.
38 And he cried, saying, Jesus, thou son of David, have mercy on me.
39 And they which went before rebuked him, that he should hold his peace: but he cried so much the more, Thou son of David, have mercy on me.
40 And Jesus stood, and commanded him to be brought unto him: and when he was come near, he asked him,
41 Saying, What wilt thou that I shall do unto thee? And he said, Lord, that I may receive my sight.
42 And Jesus said unto him, Receive thy sight: thy faith hath saved thee.
43 And immediately he received his sight, and followed him, glorifying God: and all the people, when they saw it, gave praise unto God.
The Biblical Concept of Love
1 Corinthians 13:1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
Love (agape) is the first fruit of the Spirit, so we can see that love is not something generated by us but by the Gospel Word, conveyed by the Spirit.
We have denatured that word so much that it is used for every possible product. QVC set a record by escalating from "love, love, love" to "love, love, love, love, love." Or Dean Martin - "When the moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie, that's amore."
So the Apostles words, which are from the Holy Spirit, tell us the nature of love as God teaches us, not as man distorts. Back in the 19th century, people used love as an excuse for tolerating false doctrine. It was not loving to stick to Biblical doctrine, but it was loving to accept all kinds of attacks on the Bible as God's unique an infallible revelation.
One pastor was called "Loveless Leonard" because he insisted on following the Scriptures and Confessions. He also had a large, healthy congregation.
Love as a fruit of the Spirit is correctly seen as a product of the Gospel, which means that all other measures are empty and void of meaning. For example, I collect photos of enormous, empty churches because something went wrong and the proof of its glory had become a paradox - the "largest church in our denomination" - empty and abandoned.
Verse 1 tells me - No matter what I brag about, if I do not have love as a response to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, nothing matters. As many know, the meaning of this love - agape - is self-giving, the love of God the Father for God the Son, the love of Jesus Christ for His flock.
This is easily expressed and noticed with the love of a mother for her children, even for children not her own. I went to an elementary school where the teachers routinely spoke of their students as "my children." These teachers had a great concern for the future of their children often maintained that connection far into their adult lives. I hear from those who had my mother as a teacher - "She literally saved my life." - and I know the same about other teachers of that era. I know what they did to keep their classrooms interesting for 9 months, too. Without prompting they decorated the room for every event and season.
Mothers of their own children are so disposed to care for them that a loveless mother is difficult to comprehend, though it happens.
2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.
Paul was addressing those who flaunted their superiority in the church, comparing their excellent with others who might lack various qualities. Corinth was always in turmoil, and this was one of the reasons. One would claim superiority about this or that, and that would lead to conflict and alienation. Lacking self-giving love, the fruit of faith in Jesus Christ, the member is nothing. So Paul was really handing humility out to the congregation.
Paul’s purpose in this chapter is to silence and humble haughty Christians, particularly teachers and preachers. The Gospel gives much knowledge of God and of Christ, and conveys many wonderful gifts, as Paul recounts in Romans 12 and in 1 Corinthians 12. He tells us some have the gift of speaking, some of teaching, some of Scripture exposition; others of ruling; and so on. With Christians are great riches of spiritual knowledge, great treasures in the way of spiritual gifts. Manifest to all is the meaning of God, Christ, conscience, the present and the future life, and similar things. But there are to be found few indeed who make the right use of such gifts and knowledge; who humble themselves to serve others, according to the dictates of love. Each seeks his own honor and advantage, desiring to gain preferment and precedence over others.
I have often told people that the greatest problem is the bullying done by clergy and professors, trying to be top dog instead of being faithful to the Word.
3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.
We know the rich who make their virtues known by being named on buildings. Their activities flaunt their lawlessness and they let everyone know their importance. One such person had his name chiseled off the building at Fuller Seminary, because he was so lawless as a professor of psychology. The outward signs are not to be compared to or equal to what the Spirit does in the Gospel.
That is our great blessing, to experience God's Spirit at work in the Gospel. All comparisons then are related directly to Jesus and how He conducted Himself in His earthly ministry. He did not tolerate false doctrine and defied His opponents to deal with Him. His miracles only made them angrier.
But Jesus was just the opposite of His opponents. He welcomed, the poor, the needy, and the outcasts. That was - and is - just the opposite of vainglory.
4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;
6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;
These are great negative statements defining what we should avoid. So much of what is discussed now are the examples of people being obnoxious, self-centered, quick to anger, seeing evil in everything yet rejoicing in what is bad or destructive.
This is what gave the Christian Faith so much peace in the earliest days, and had an influence on the rich nobles of the Roman Empire. Persecution did not result in war. They were peaceful and humble, trusting in God and seeing Christ as the example. All the virtues expressed are a reflection of Jesus Himself.
7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
8 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.
9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.
10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.
A Christ-like love describes the Christian life, being mature in looking to Jesus as the answer.
