Believers, Like Christ, Love the Lost


September 15, 2013Pentecost 17

Believers, Like Christ, Love the Lost

God chose Israel in grace to be his covenant people who would be privileged to bear the world’s Savior, and who were given the gospel to witness to the world. He asked them to believe all he said and worship only him as God. The Exodus 32 reading shows how that did not continue. In Christ, by grace, God has chosen to invite every person to be his covenant people with all the same privileges and responsibilities. We are to tell the World about the Savior of us all, and also to worship him alone, because he is the only true living God. That is why we are together right now. O Holy Spirit, fill our hearts with the respect, love, and trust in God alone so that our worship is pleasing to you, the Father and the Son.

“15 Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. 16 But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life.” 1 Timothy 1:15–16 (NIV84)

For you, our guest, we thank the Lord for making it possible for us to be together to worship him. May the Word from our living and loving God bring peace, joy, comfort and hope to our hearts as we "grow in the...knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" [2 Peter 3]. Then we are able to "spur one another on toward love and goods deeds" [Hebrews 10]. We welcome your response using the card in the pew pocket in front of you.

For our visitors wondering, “May I receive the Lord’s Supper here today?” The Lord’s Supper is a priceless medicine for the soul. When used properly the power of God’s gospel words brings to the instructed, repentant believer the forgiveness of sins, the power and will to live a Christian life, and the certainty of life in heaven. When used improperly, it causes serious spiritual harm. God’s Word tells us that this medicine is a prescription item (1 Corinthians 11:23-32), not one dispensed over-the-counter for anyone who desires to take it. In Christian love for every individual’s spiritual welfare, we try to insure that Communion will be properly used in the responsible way that follows Jesus’ will. We ask that if you have not taken the Lord’s Supper at Beautiful Savior in the past, please refrain from taking it until you have discussed taking the sacrament with the Pastor or an Elder beforehand. [There is a detailed explanation with Bible references which convince us of our Communion Practice on the inside cover of the red Christian Worship hymnal.]

The congregation is invited to stand for designated parts in our worship service symbolizing (as noted) a special emphasis. If standing is physically difficult for you, or not practical at the moment, feel free to participate from a seated position. We assure all that our God is pleased with either posture because he sees that our heart is devoted to him.

Chimes and Welcome

SERVICE OF WORD AND SACRAMENT

A large print copy of the bulletin/hymnal is available from an usher.

(The music can be found on pages 26ff in the front section of the Christian Worship hymnal. The material in the bulletin is reprinted by permission using OneLicense # A-715505 unless otherwise noted.)

 = item is sung without introduction (unless noted)

M = Minister; C = Congregation

Hymn 240...... Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise

  • PLEASE STAND

M:The grace of our Lord  Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you.

C:And also with you.

Confession and Absolution of Sins

M:God invites us to come into his presence and worship him with humble and penitent hearts. Therefore, let us acknowledge our sinfulness and ask him to forgive us.

C:Holy and merciful Father, I confess that I am by nature sinful, and that I have disobeyed you in my thoughts, words, and actions. I have done what is evil and failed to do what is good. For this I deserve your punishment both now and in eternity. But I am truly sorry for my sins, and trusting in my Savior Jesus Christ, I pray: Lord, have mercy on me, a sinner.

M:God, our heavenly Father, has been merciful to us and has given his only Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. Therefore, as a called servant of Christ and by his authority, I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the Son  and of the Holy Spirit.

C:Amen.

Prayer and Praise

M:For all that we need in life and for the wisdom to use all your gifts with gratitude and joy, hear our prayer, O Lord.

C:Lord, have mercy

M:For the steadfast assurance that nothing can separate us from your love and for the courage to stand firm against the assaults of Satan and every evil, hear our prayer, O Christ.

C:Christ, have mercy

M:For the well-being of your holy Church in all the world and for those who offer here their worship and praise, hear our prayer, O Lord.

C:Lord, have mercy

M:Merciful God, maker and preserver of life, uphold us by your power and keep us in your tender care:

C:Amen.

M:The works of the Lord are great and glorious; his name is worthy of praise.

C:O Lord, our Lord, how glorious is your name in all the earth.

Almighty God, merciful Father, you crown our life with your love.

You take away our sin; you comfort our spirit; you make us pure and holy in your sight.

You did not spare your only Son, but gave him up for us all.

O Lord, our Lord, how glorious is your name in all the earth.

O Son of God, eternal Word of the Father, you came to live with us; you made your Father known; you washed us from our sins in your own blood.

You are the King of glory; you are the Lord!

O Lord, our Lord, how glorious is your name in all the earth.

M:Let us pray. [PRAYER OF THE DAY] Lord, we pray that your mercy and grace may always go before and follow after us so that, loving you with undivided hearts, we may be ready for every good and useful work; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever..

C:Amen.

  • PLEASE BE SEATED

 The Word 

 Exodus 32:7-14The Lord relents and does not destroy Israel

7 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Go down, because your people, whom you brought up out of Egypt, have become corrupt. 8 They have been quick to turn away from what I commanded them and have made themselves an idol cast in the shape of a calf. They have bowed down to it and sacrificed to it and have said, ‘These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt.’ 9 “I have seen these people,” the Lord said to Moses, “and they are a stiff-necked people. 10 Now leave me alone so that my anger may burn against them and that I may destroy them. Then I will make you into a great nation.” 11 But Moses sought the favor of the Lord his God. “O Lord,” he said, “why should your anger burn against your people, whom you brought out of Egypt with great power and a mighty hand? 12 Why should the Egyptians say, ‘It was with evil intent that he brought them out, to kill them in the mountains and to wipe them off the face of the earth’? Turn from your fierce anger; relent and do not bring disaster on your people. 13 Remember your servants Abraham, Isaac and Israel, to whom you swore by your own self: ‘I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and I will give your descendants all this land I promised them, and it will be their inheritance forever.’ ” 14 Then the Lord relented and did not bring on his people the disaster he had threatened.

M:[verse of the day ] Alleluia. Everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. Alleluia. (Romans 15:4)

C:[Intro] Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! These words are written that we may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

  • PLEASE STAND to honor Jesus, our Savior, whose life on earth to redeem us is recorded in the Gospel readings.

 Luke 15:1-10God is like a shepherd seeking

and a woman sweeping ... looking for the lost.

1 Now the tax collectors and “sinners” were all gathering around to hear him. 2 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”

3 Then Jesus told them this parable: 4 “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? 5 And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders 6 and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ 7 I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.

8 “Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Does she not light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? 9 And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.’ 10 In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

M:This is the word of the Lord.

C:Praise be to you, O Christ!

  • PLEASE BE SEATED

Hymn 304...... Jesus Sinners Does Receive

[All children are invited to come forward during the second to last verse for a Children’s sermon, and then return as the last verse is sung.]

 Sermon Luke 15:1-10

LOVE SPEAKS PASSIONATELY

  1. It is willing to seek.
  2. Jesus lived and worked among tax collectors and sinners.
  3. Jesus explains the passion for the spiritually lost.
  4. The sin against which Jesus is strengthening us is...
  5. We were lost helpless lambs whom Jesus had to find.
  6. It rejoices to find.
  7. The parables focus on the similar reaction: ______
  8. The reason for such reaction is because of repentance.
  9. “Repents” =
  10. “Repents” happens because...
  11. The opposite of rejoice is: ______
  12. We express our joy by...
  • PLEASE STAND as “we” profess our Christian belief for all the world to hear

The Nicene Creed

C:We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one being with the Father. Through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation, he came down from heaven, was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the virgin Mary, and became fully human. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate. He suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who in unity with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets. We believe in one holy Christian and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen.

  • PLEASE BE SEATED

Offering

  • PLEASE STAND

PRAYER OF THE CHURCH spoken by the minister

Special Prayer Requests:

ALL:Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses,

as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever and ever. Amen.

The Sacrament of Holy Communion

M:The Lord be with you.

C:And also with you.

M:Lift up your hearts.

C:We lift them up to the Lord.

M:Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

C:It is right to give him thanks and praise.

M:Praise to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In love he has blessed us with every spiritual blessing.

He sends the Holy Spirit to testify that we are his children and to strengthen us when we are weak.

Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ. To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and thanks and honor and glory forever and ever.

C:Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts. The whole earth is full of your glory. You are my God, and I will exalt you. I will give you thanks, for you have become my salvation. Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts. The whole earth is full of your glory.

Words of Institution.

Note: We recite the words that Jesus spoke at the event when he instituted the sacrament of Holy Communion for two purposes. One, we are designating the bread and fruit of the vine on the altar today as the earthly elements to be distributed to each Communicant in the special faith-strengthening meal. A term chosen to describe this action is “consecration.” Two, we are declaring our belief that in the sacrament each person is receiving bread and fruit of the vine in a physical way, and receiving Jesus’ body and blood in a miraculous way for the forgiveness of sins. This is called “Real Presence.”

M:Our Lord Jesus Christ, on the night he was betrayed, took bread; and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”

Then he took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you; this is my blood of the new covenant, which is poured out for you for the forgiveness of sins. Do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.”

The peace of the Lord be with you always.

C:Amen.

O CHRIST, LAMB OF GOD

 O Christ, Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world;
have mercy on us.

O Christ, Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world;
have mercy on us.

O Christ, Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world;
grant us your peace. Amen.

  • PLEASE BE SEATED for the distribution of Holy Communion

Hymns (Sung while the people are receiving the Sacrament)

385...... Chief of Sinners Though I Be

316 (if needed)...... O Jesus, Blessed Lord, to Thee

Thanksgiving

  • PLEASE STAND

C:[Intro] Thank the Lord and sing his praise.

Tell ev-‘ry-one what he has done.

Let all who seek the Lord rejoice and proudly bear his name.

He renews his promises and leads his people forth in joy with shouts of thanksgiving. Alleluia! Alleluia!

M:Hear the prayer of your people, O Lord, that the lips which have praised you here may glorify you in the world, that the eyes which have seen the coming of your Son may long for his coming again, and that all who have received in his true body and blood the pledge of your forgiveness may be restored to live a new and holy life, through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

C:Amen.

M:Brothers and sisters, go in peace. Live in harmony with one another. Serve the Lord with gladness.

The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you. The Lord look on you with favor and  give you peace.