Bethany Lutheran Church
Sunday Worship, 10 AM Central
Pastor Gregory Jackson
The Hymn #175 When I Survey the Wondrous Cross
The Confession of Sins
The Absolution
The Introit p. 16
The Confession of Sins
The Absolution
The Introit p. 16
Introit
Mine eyes are ever toward the Lord:
for He shall pluck my feet out of the net.
Turn Thee unto me and have mercy upon me:
for I am desolate and afflicted.
Psalm. Unto Thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul:
O my God, I trust in Thee; let me not be ashamed.
The Gloria Patri
The Kyrie p. 17
The Gloria in Excelsis
The Salutation and Collect p. 19
The Kyrie p. 17
The Gloria in Excelsis
The Salutation and Collect p. 19
Collect
We beseech Thee, Almighty God, look upon the hearty desires
of Thy humble servants and stretch forth the right hand of Thy majesty
to be our defense against all our enemies; through Jesus Christ,
Thy Son, our Lord, who liveth, etc.
The Epistle and Gradual Ephesians 5:1-9
The Gospel Luke 11:14-28
Glory be to Thee, O Lord!
Praise be to Thee, O Christ!
The Nicene Creed p. 22
The Sermon Hymn #376 Rock of Ages
The Gospel Luke 11:14-28
Glory be to Thee, O Lord!
Praise be to Thee, O Christ!
The Nicene Creed p. 22
The Sermon Hymn #376 Rock of Ages
A Kingdom Divided
The Hymn #315:1-5 I Come O Savior To Thy Table
The Hymn #315:1-5 I Come O Savior To Thy Table
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 #568 We Praise Thee O God
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 #568 We Praise Thee O God
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Prayers and Announcements
- Treatment - Sarah Buck, Kermit Way.
- Tuesday and Thursday, 10 AM, Reformation Seminary Lectures
- Wednesday - Vespers at 7 PM.
- Psalms - after worship.
- Acts - lectures.
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| Norma A. Boeckler |
KJV Ephesians 5:1 Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; 2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour. 3 But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; 4 Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. 5 For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. 6 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. 7 Be not ye therefore partakers with them. 8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: 9 (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)
KJV Luke 11:14 And he was casting out a devil, and it was dumb. And it came to pass, when the devil was gone out, the dumb spake; and the people wondered. 15 But some of them said, He casteth out devils through Beelzebub the chief of the devils. 16 And others, tempting him, sought of him a sign from heaven. 17 But he, knowing their thoughts, said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and a house against a house falleth. 18 If Satan also be divided against himself, how shall his kingdom stand? because ye say that I cast out devils through Beelzebub. 19 And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your sons cast them out? therefore shall they be your judges. 20 But if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you.
21 When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace: 22 But when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him, he taketh from him all his armour wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils.
23 He that is not with me is against me: and he that gathereth not with me scattereth. 24 When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he saith, I will return unto my house whence I came out. 25 And when he cometh, he findeth it swept and garnished. 26 Then goeth he, and taketh to him seven other spirits more wicked than himself; and they enter in, and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first.
27 And it came to pass, as he spake these things, a certain woman of the company lifted up her voice, and said unto him, Blessed is the womb that bare thee, and the paps which thou hast sucked. 28 But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.
A Kingdom Divided
KJV Luke 11:14 And he was casting out a devil, and it was dumb. And it came to pass, when the devil was gone out, the dumb spake; and the people wondered. 15 But some of them said, He casteth out devils through Beelzebub the chief of the devils.
There is an assumption today that the world is fairly neutral, with only a few who believe in Christ, a few who know about Satan, and the rest neutral or indifferent. However, the situation is like this - the few know and believe Christ while the vast majority are in a slumber ready to oppose faith when it matters to them. Jesus - as the Teacher - saw that they wanted to make fun of Him and force His power and perhaps experience their own fear.
16 And others, tempting him, sought of him a sign from heaven. 17 But he, knowing their thoughts, said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and a house against a house falleth.
There can only be two Kingdoms. One Kingdom belongs to Christ alone. The other belongs to Satan. As Luther teaches in his sermon on this topic, there are no subtle variations, nuances, or divisions except for the two - Christ or Satan.
The quiet ones can imagine they are fine fellows because they do not belong to any side. But they are easily persuaded by their own wit to become hostile to the Savior - or those who talk about the Savior. Then the pitchforks get drawn out with great righteousness. One of the marks today are those who rail and scream about all the "injustice" when someone speaks about faith in Christ.
The last 50 years have seen the development of every Satanic device being used to make sure our society is "perfect." The treatment of the unborn, the babies, the children - all are Satanic in nature and well known to the elites (as they fool themselves). The stories of ancient paganism are no worse than what they promote today. We are worse because we have the instruments to be even more efficiently evil than the ancients.
18 If Satan also be divided against himself, how shall his kingdom stand? because ye say that I cast out devils through Beelzebub. 19 And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your sons cast them out? therefore shall they be your judges. 20 But if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you.
This is simple and clear. An individual is either with Christ or Satan. Those two verses above perfectly describe the denominations of today - mostly on Satan's side and crumbling fast. LCMS leader Matt Harrison is outraged that his sect would lose money from US.AID, as boasted through Thrivent and his "International" Center. Matt is gathering "his lawyers" now, to fight even harder for more causes of the Left. He is only echoing the threats and fury of Archbishop Liz Eaton (ELCA) who works with LCMS, Thrivent, and US.AID.
21 When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace: 22 But when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him, he taketh from him all his armour wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils.
Most people will agree that ancient times were bloodthirsty and horrible, just for starters. I had one book about the Roman Empire that was so vile I threw it away because of its content. Early Christians used the fish sign, scratched on the soil, to indicate the other pilgrim was a believer. One half alone meant nothing. Completing the fish sign meant in Greek - Jesus Christ Son of God Savior.
23 He that is not with me is against me: and he that gathereth not with me scattereth. 24 When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he saith, I will return unto my house whence I came out. 25 And when he cometh, he findeth it swept and garnished. 26 Then goeth he, and taketh to him seven other spirits more wicked than himself; and they enter in, and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first.
This is a warning from Jesus, that a person can be a believer and fall into even worse situations.
27 And it came to pass, as he spake these things, a certain woman of the company lifted up her voice, and said unto him, Blessed is the womb that bare thee, and the paps which thou hast sucked. 28 But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.
The Gospel of John warns readers about over-reaching Mary (at the Cana wedding and at the cross), and this passage is good example of that issue and Jesus' warning - "Blessed are those who hear the Word of God and guard it." Not all downfalls are dramatic. Many drift into errors, especially under dynamic efforts, and find it difficult to leave that special experience.
