Tremendous Damage from Tornado in Rogers, Arkansas, Part of NW Arkansas, North of Springdale

 

Rogers, Arkansas tornado damage

Trinity Sunday 2024 - How Excellent Is Thy Name

 

Bethany Lutheran Church

Springdale, Arkansas 

Pastor Gregory L. Jackson

• The melody site is linked here.
• TLH Lyrics and artwork are here.

The Hymn # 476                              Ten Thousand Times Ten Thousand Ten              

The Confession of Sins
The Absolution
The Introit p. 16

Introit

Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts: 

of Him and through Him and to Him are all things.

Psalm. O Lord, our Lord: 

how excellent is Thy name in all the earth!

The Gloria Patri
The Kyrie p. 17
The Gloria in Excelsis
The Salutation and Collect p. 19

Collect

Almighty and everlasting God, who hast given unto us, Thy servants, grace, by the confession of a true faith, to acknowledge the glory of the eternal Trinity and in the power of the Divine Majesty to worship the Unity, we beseech Thee that Thou wouldst lump us steadfast in this faith and evermore defend us from all adversities; who liveth, etc.

The Epistle and Gradual   

Gradual

Blessed art Thou, O Lord, who beholdest the deep; 

and who dwellest between the cherubim.

V. Blessed art Thou, O Lord, in the firmament of heaven: 

and greatly to be praised forever. Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

V. Blessed art Thou, O Lord God of our fathers: 

and greatly to be praised and glorified forever. Hallelujah!

   

The Gospel               

Glory be to Thee, O Lord!
Praise be to Thee, O Christ!
The Athanasian Creed             p. 53
The Hymn # 246                              Holy, Holy, Holy       

How Excellent Is Thy Name

The Hymn #250                  Holy God We Praise Thy Name

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 #249  Isaiah Mighty Prophet

Prayers and Announcements

• Tomorrow marks the day in which we honor our soldiers who died in battle, and we honor all those who have served our country.
• Diagnosis and treatment - Sarah Buck, Pastor Jim Shrader and Chris, Kermit Way; Lori Howell. Doc Lito and his son were both in the hospital.
• Bible John will receive a Super Giant Print Bible with the cover inscription Bible John KJV.

     

KJV Romans 11:33 O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! 34 For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor? 35 Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again? 36 For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.

KJV John 3:1 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: 2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. 3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. 4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? 5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. 8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit. 9 Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be? 10 Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things? 11 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness. 12 If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things? 13 And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven. 14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: 15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

How Excellent Is Thy Name Psalm 8:1

KJV John 3:1 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: 2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.

This is a great discussion between Jesus and a Jewish leader. Nicodemus was just beginning to have faith, but he was still captive to Pharisaical Judaism, human reason, and living in a region occupied by Rome. There is plenty of fear in his visit to Jesus, because he came at night when he would not easily be identified by others and condemned.  He had some confidence in Jesus and spoke about the miracles, but he was still tentative.

3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

Instead of arguing Nicodemus into fellowship, Jesus began with His divinity majesty, not persuading but leaving Nicodemus confidence and bewildered. Saying truly truly for emphasis, Jesus lays down an absolute. "Born again" is literally "born from above." Nicodemus knows nothing, in spite of all his knowledge. He thinks he is very much in God's realm but his confusion reveals that he really knows nothing. The term "born from above" has a secondary meaning of "born again." Nicodemus is so stuck in reason and tradition that he cannot understand the divine meaning from Jesus, not only as a teacher, but The Teacher, the Son of God declaring - not explaining or persuading, as in sales. The power of the Gospel turns unbelief and shallow belief into being joined with the True Vine (John 15).

4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?

This shows that Nicodemus has made a small effort to connect with the Savior, but by asking such nonsense, he shows that he does not have the basics. The disciples were often stunned and confused, because Jesus was teaching what they needed to know and they could only imagine the future of being lords over the world. Nicodemus is an excellent example of those academics who speak very boldly in some respects but are dark in their own spiritual grasp, ashamed to become like a small child, trusting in the Savior. The academics offer some tidbits of faith, enough to show the importance of Jesus, but not enough to trust in Him. They do not want child-like faith but rest on (instead of wearing) the laurels of academe. They are filled with "problems, contradictions, and doubts." Nicodemus wants to make Jesus step back in suggesting something impossible, perhaps ask for a correction or modification. The term "from above" is very much like "a little while" - a simple term but filled with divine wisdom. Jesus is the example of being "from above," from heaven, the Son of God.

KJV James 3:17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.

KJV Romans 10: 6 But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:)

 

5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

This is where people brush right by Holy Baptism and deny infant baptism. When my neighbor unwrapped her newborn baby at Walmart, the little girl turned toward me, fixed her eyes on me and my voice, and responded with coos and smiles. The grammar of this passage means - A man must be water-born and Spirit-born to enter the Kingdom of God. Those people enchanted by all our earthly values (even though provided by God) often though Jesus teaches being Spirit-born, receiving the Word of God energized by the Spirit always, never apart from the Word.

7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. 8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit. 9 Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be? 10 Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?

The earth and all stars were created by the Lord, and the Spirit teaches us. We are the only country that has tornadoes and the prime areas for them form in the Great Plains (which were devoid of trees, even though the eastern states were packed with trees originally. Who figured that out?)

We know that the winds are powerful and yet invisible. We can see power of the winds, the debris, but not the wind itself. In Hebrew, wind and Spirit are the same, in Greek wind and Spirit are also the same. Even our human language reflects God's Creation.

Believers are the true Pentecostals because believe that the Holy Spirit is always at work in the Word. They also know the Spirit is very powerful and easily experienced through the Word.

11 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness. 12 If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?

Nicodemus represents the wise men of the world. Jesus is saying, "These are just the basics. There is so much more to learn, understand, and believe. If someone does not know the foundational truths, how can know anything about heaven, which is so far beyond us?"

13 And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven. 14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: 15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

I see the climax of the very next verse as proof of the planning of God, because John 3:16 depends on the metal serpents, and the bronze figures declared the future Christ teaching, healing, and rising to everlasting life.

KJV Numbers 21:6 And the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died. 7 Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, We have sinned, for we have spoken against the Lord, and against thee; pray unto the Lord, that he take away the serpents from us. And Moses prayed for the people. 8 And the Lord said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live. 9 And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived.

Always remember - the New Testament is a series of sermons about the Old Testament.  John's Gospel is very clear about the Five Books of Moses. The serpent story is very strange but it only made sense when Jesus explained it. John even called Jesus the Exegete (Explainer) of God, John 1.