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The Hymn # 452 The Son of God
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 Gospel
Glory be to Thee, O Lord!
Praise be to Thee, O Christ!
The Nicene Creed p. 22
The Sermon Hymn #528:10-15 If God Himself Be For Me
First Fruits of the Gospel
The Communion Hymn # 308 Invited Lord
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 # 651 Be Still My Soul
Prayers and Announcements
- Kermit Way, Pastor Jim and Chris Shrader,
- Sarah Buck and others in treatment.
- The Cruz Family is better.
KJV Romans 8:18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. 19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. 20 For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, 21 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. 23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.
KJV Luke 6:36 Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful. 37 Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven: 38 Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again. 39 And he spake a parable unto them, Can the blind lead the blind? shall they not both fall into the ditch? 40 The disciple is not above his master: but every one that is perfect shall be as his master. 41 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but perceivest not the beam that is in thine own eye? 42 Either how canst thou say to thy brother, Brother, let me pull out the mote that is in thine eye, when thou thyself beholdest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, cast out first the beam out of thine own eye, and then shalt thou see clearly to pull out the mote that is in thy brother's eye.
Lord God, heavenly Father, who art merciful, and through Christ didst promise us, that Thou wilt neither judge nor condemn us, but graciously forgive us all our sins, and abundantly provide for all our wants of body and soul: We pray Thee, that by Thy Holy Spirit Thou wilt establish in our hearts a confident faith in Thy mercy, and teach us also to be merciful to our neighbor, that we may not judge or condemn others, but willingly forgive all men, and, Judging only ourselves, lead blessed lives in Thy fear, through Thy dear Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, one true God, world without end. Amen.
First Fruits of the Gospel
KJV Romans 8:18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
We might as well assume that the early Christians were suffering under the burdens of the Roman Empire and unlimited hardships.The military threats were great and the medical problems were vast. More importantly, there were Jewish Christians, Jews who rejected the Gospel, and Gentiles new to the Old Testament only, with the New Testament being established and spread in Greek and translations.
The fish was used to let people know that the stranger was a Christian or merely another person making a mark in the ground. Believers also risked their own lives to rescue abandoned babies.
There are many kinds of suffering today, which we cannot see. And many are obvious and yet beyond the work of medicine. It is an honor to be in touch with people with special issues, major problems with no solutions but a great capacity for thought, faith in Christ, humor, and understanding of others.
Nothing on earth is equal to what God has created for us in eternal life.
19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.
5. And in the verse preceding our text he tells us that as our blissful inheritance through brotherhood and joint-heirship with Christ is not a mere fancy and false hope of the heart, but a real inheritance, so our sympathy must amount to real suffering, which we take upon ourselves as befitting joint-heirs. Now Paul comforts the Christian in his sufferings with the authority of one who speaks from experience, from thorough acquaintance with his subject. He seems to view this life as through obscurities, while beholding the life to come with clear and unobstructed vision. He says: “For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed to usward [in us].”
6. Notice how he turns his back to the world and his face to the future revelation, as if seeing no suffering anywhere, but all joy.
Luther - above - was selected by God and the printing press (grapes) to establish the Gospel again, after a thousand years of decay and popery. Printing from the grape-press created a new media for Europe. China already had it for paper money. However, Luther did all his theology by hand, a staggering thought in our day. The problems of today were abundant then. The issue was - and is - the Word of God.
20 For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,
Our situation is this - we are by human nature vain, self-centered, worried about ourselves. Many things happen that are genuinely hurtful. Humanity is like a ping-pong machine where one noisey collision bounces into another one and soon the money is gone. We can wonder how it can be so rowdy, confused, and difficult. Much of this is hidden from us but appears through the power of the Holy Spirit, through the Word of God. After a long journey in the confusion of life, we can easily say to ourselves, "How did we get this way?"
21 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
We cannot measure our lives by our current situation. As Luther says, we should be looking toward heaven rather than earth. It is curious how Luther lived only 63 years, like Melanchthon, and each Reformer had a son who was not physically strong. The sons could have been rulers of Europe, but other events took place.
Whatever happens now in America will be shaped far beyond our imaginations. Certainty only comes from the Promises of God and the guidance of the Son.
22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. 23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.
All this is true, and the apostle knew it well. The ultimate answers come through the Holy Trinity, far beyond anything here on earth.
