The First Sunday in Lent - March 10, 2025. Matthew 4:1-11. Invocavit.

We had Holy Communion at Crown Point Sunday Morning. It seemed good to have the service also on Monday, March 10.

Bethany Lutheran Church

Pastor Gregory L. Jackson

 

 

The Hymn #462   I Love Thy Kingdom, Lord           

The Absolution
The Introit p. 16

 

Introit

He shall call upon Me, and I will answer Him: I will deliver him and honor him.

With long life will I satisfy him: and show him My salvation.

Psalm. He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High: shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

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

Collect

O Lord, mercifully hear our prayer and stretch forth the right hand of Thy majesty to defend us from them that rise up against us; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, who liveth, etc.

The Epistle 

6:1 We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain. 2 (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.) 3 Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed: 4 But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, 5 In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings; 6 By pureness, by knowledge, by long suffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned, 7 By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, 8 By honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and yet true;

9 As unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed; 10 As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.

      

Gradual

For He shall give His angels charge over thee: to keep thee in all thy ways. 

V. They shall bear thee up in their hands: lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.

Tract. He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High: shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

V. I will say of the Lord, He is my Refuge and my Fortress, my God: in Him will I trust.

V. He shall cover thee with His feathers: and under His wings shalt thou trust.

The Gospel              

Glory be to Thee, O Lord!

 

4:1 Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.

2 And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred.

3 And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. 4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

5 Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple, 6 And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. 7 Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. 8 Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; 9 And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. 10 Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. 11 Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.

 

                 Example of Jesus Christ

4:1 Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. 2 And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred.

 

    Fasting diets are currently popular, a parallel to Jesus' suffering in the desert 40 days. Fasting allows energy burning as long as water is available, but it requires moderation. People become extremely thin, such as from forced marches with water but little food. Hungry is a mild term in this case, because any human would be truly starving and feeling the torturous pain. 

3 And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. 4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

    This is a good lesson to teach us about what is the most important. As a former bread baker and yeast raised donut baker, I can vouch for how appealing bread is, for all occasions. The combination of food and swallowing it (becoming sweet) is great, especially with the texture, the flavor, and the aroma. In the greater sense, isn't it the most basic of satisfying our appetites? I could talk longer and make people want to find the nearest bakery. But what is bread when God issues His Word and accomplishes great miracles, heals people, drawing them into His path toward glory?

    Luther taught the efficacy of the Word, coming from the Holy Spirit. When God speaks, it is the Spirit, which can crush and drive away Satan, his works, his so-called dominion. Little children know more about this than adults do. Children know how Jesus loves and protects them. All the time we hear of - or experience - children coming back from being lost in the woods, fallen into water, and so far.

5 Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple, 6 And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. 7 Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.

    The devil took Him up where He would see the city from a very high place, but the Son of God already knew the great Temple would be pulled down by the pagan soldiers and the priests would be cursing Jesus, John 8.

56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.

 

57 Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham?

 

58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I AM.

 

59 Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.

8 Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; 9 And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. 10 Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. 11 Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.

 

    This is the ultimate challenge. Before that time, Julius Caesar was the greatest of all, though later than Alexander the Great. Both of them had short, violent lives. They both wanted to be worshiped too. There is only One God, no matter what they say in World Religion and in ELCA. There is no "Sparkle Creed" except for fools.

    The angels came and ministered to Jesus Christ. They minister to us as well. All we have to do is reject Satan and all his empty promises. Trusting in God comes from faith in Jesus Christ, no matter what. The Kingdom of God is not very glamorous on the surface, but God reaches into our souls and helps us in every possible way.

 

Praise be to Thee, O Christ!

The Nicene Creed p. 22
The Sermon Hymn #146    Lamb of God       

 

            

 

 

The Hymn #524        In Thee Lord I Have Put My Trust - Winkworth trans.                

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 #154        Alas and Did My Savior  

  

Prayers and Announcements

 

 

• Today is Amanda Oak's birthday.
• Saturday was Zach and Jayz wedding.
• Medical treatment -  Pastor Jim Shrader, Chris Shrader, Dr. Kermit Way, Sarah Buck.
• Pray for our country, our President, and those who honor the U.S. Constitution.
• Tuesday 10 AM Lecture

 

 

Daily Luther Sermon Quote - "This Gospel presents to us a true example of firm and perfect faith. For this woman endures and overcomes in three great and hard battles, and teaches us in a beautiful manner the true way and virtue of faith, namely, that it is a hearty trust in the grace and goodness of God as experienced and revealed through his Word."

 

Luther's Sermons - Matthew 15:21-28.
Reminiscere. Second Sunday in Lent.

REMINISCERE. SECOND SUNDAY IN LENT


TEXT:

Matthew 15:21-28. And Jesus went out thence, and withdrew into the parts of Tyre and Sidon. And behold, a Canaanitish woman came out from those borders and cried, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a demon. But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us. But he answered and said, I was not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel. But she came and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me. And he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children’s bread and cast it to the dogs. But she said, Yea, Lord: for even the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table. Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it done unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was healed from that hour.


1. This Gospel presents to us a true example of firm and perfect faith. For this woman endures and overcomes in three great and hard battles, and teaches us in a beautiful manner the true way and virtue of faith, namely, that it is a hearty trust in the grace and goodness of God as experienced and revealed through his Word. For St. Mark says, she heard some news about Jesus, Mark 7:25. What kind of news? Without doubt good news, and the good report that Christ was a pious man and cheerfully helped everybody. Such news about God is a true Gospel and a word of grace, out of which sprang the faith of this woman; for had she not believed, she would not have thus run after Christ etc. In like manner we have often heard how St. Paul in Romans 10:17 says that faith cometh by hearing, that the Word must go in advance and be the beginning of our salvation.

2. But how is it that many more have heard this good news concerning Christ, who have not followed him, and did not esteem it as good news?

Answer: The physician is helpful and welcome to the sick; the healthy have no use for him. But this woman felt her need, hence she followed the sweet scent, as is written in the Song of Solomon 1:3. In like manner Moses must precede and teach people to feel their sins in order that grace may be sweet and welcome to them. Therefore all is in vain, however friendly and lovely Christ may be pictured, if man is not first humbled by a knowledge of himself and he possesses no longing for Christ, as Mary’s Song says, “The hungry he hath filled with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away,” Luke 1:53. All this is spoken and written for the comfort of the distressed, the poor, the needy, the sinful, the despised, so that they may know in all times of need to whom to flee and where to seek comfort and help.

3. But see in this example how Christ like a hunter exercises and chases faith in his followers in order that it may become strong and firm. First when the woman follows him upon hearing of his fame and cries with assured confidence that he would according to his reputation deal mercifully with her, Christ certainly acts differently, as if to let her faith and good confidence be in vain and turn his good reputation into a lie, so that she could have thought: Is this the gracious, friendly man? or: Are these the good words, that I have heard spoken about him, upon which I have depended? It must not be true; he is my enemy and will not receive me; nevertheless he might speak a word and tell me that he will have nothing to do with me. Now he is as silent as a stone. Behold, this is a very hard rebuff, when God appears so earnest and angry and conceals his grace so high and deep; as those know so well, who feel and experience it in their hearts. Therefore she imagines he will not fulfill what he has spoken, and will let his Word be false; as it happened to the children of Israel at the Red Sea and to many other saints.

Name This Preus - Right! - Rolf the LutherQuester (Not Yet Found) But Also at the ALPB ELCA and Atheists Online Forum

 

Rolf Preus - ALPB ELCA Atheist Progressives

"I don't doubt that the progressives study the Scriptures as they come to their progressive opinions.  They study them carefully to see how they can evade the biblical condemnation of the position they are bound and determined to advocate.  They probably study the texts more carefully and thoroughly than the traditionalists do.  After all, it's harder to get a text not to say what it says that to explicate what the text clearly says." 

GJ - This proves that the ELCA/Unitarian stance is no different from the LCMS/ELS/WELS/CLC (sic). 

Deline (sp) of U.S. Christians may be leve...

 

Walther's circle made Stephan a bishop upon landing at New Orleans. They knew about his promiscuity and syphilis. Walther organized the riot in Perryville to take over the gold and land, becoming bishop soon enough and blaming Stephan who was forced to leave.

LutherQuest

Deline (sp) of U.S. Christians may be leve... - Spelling Too The Protestia website, "New Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod Survey Shows Majority Are Pro-Choice, Pro-LGBTQ," has additional information on the 2023-2024 Pew Research survey, including a graph of the Age distribution among members of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. In 2023-24, 47% of the members of LCMS congregations were 65 years or older. Only 5% were in the age range of 18-29. The corresponding numbers for 2014 were 30% and 10%. The corresponding numbers for 2007 were 26% and 11%.   Rolf David Preus (Rolf) Senior Member Username: Rolf Post Number: 11329 Registered: 5-2001 Posted on Wednesday, March 05, 2025 - 11:44 pm:       These statistics are depressing. I find it hard to believe that the LCMS has fallen so far as this.

"One does not simply absolve the whole world."

*** GJ

How do the LCMS-WELS-ELS sects cuddle up to ELCA, share in the loot of Thrivent, and embrace every doctrine but Luther's?  

The same sects glorified Marvin Schwan and took his money "to grow," but all they did was shrink, chase after the Fuller/Willow Creek gang, and condemn Justification by Faith.

ELCA (LCA/ALC) embraced women's ordination, though contrary to the Scriptures and the Confessions. Just to show one example - Jack Preus, the father of Rolf Preus, established a Church Growth Doctor of Ministry (laughable) degree at Concordia Seminary Ft. Wayne. Jack sent to Herman Otten a poster from WELS, writing, "WELS is worse than we are" on the poster. 

In fact, all the Lutheran sects were hotter than Georgia asphalt for Church Growth. Or more like the cheap candy that leaves everyone hyped up, then nauseous, then disgusted. Notice that the WELS Church Growth stars are fading away quickly.

Notice that Herman Otten's tabloid is no longer mentioned by anyone, if it is even printed or exposed to the light of computers. He played a card game with all the factions, and at least to air out their weaknesses on:

1. The phony Otten/Beck Bible - as bad as the RSV.
2. Pure political bunco jobs seated on the bishop's seat, destroying Justification by Faith.
3. Laughable dogma from the politicians of each sect. 
4. Clawing money into their pockets and failing in every way.

1. 

World missions people should beware that anything from the synods should be fumigated and rejected as utterly false. 

They lack the efficacy of God's Word.

They embrace the worst Bibles so they can make money but reject the precision and grace of the KJV. "Aiming at truth, they achieved what later generations recognized as beauty and elegance."

They fear the collapse all around them and have no spiritual resources to overcome their cowardice, greed, and larceny.

Holy Communion Service - Tomorrow - Monday - 7 PM Central Daylight

 

We had Holy Communion at Crown Point. It seemed good to have the service also on Monday, March 10.