This Sunday did not have a traditional sermon. The spiritual instruction for this day was about the structure of our traditional worship service (from Lutheran Worship, Divine Service II, pp. 158ff). Pastor Marrs provided a brief commentary about that section of the worship service after the Elders read pertinent Bible verses. Below are the Bible verses read. The commentary used for the day was based on one from Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Kansas City, MO. Anyone who wishes to receive a copy of the commentary may write Immanuel Lutheran Church at the address at our website or e-mail us at [email protected].
Bible Verses Elders & Deacon read about worship (4-6-03)
INTRODUCTION
John 4: 23 (Jesus said to the woman at the well) "But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him.
24 "God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth."
NKJ Hebrews 8:1 Now this is the main point of the things we are saying: We have such a High Priest, who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens,
2 a Minister of the sanctuary and of the true tabernacle which the Lord erected, and not man.
INVOCATION OF GOD'S NAME
1 Kings 8: 27 (Solomon spoke at the dedication of the 1st temple) "But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain You. How much less this temple which I have built!
28 "Yet regard the prayer of Your servant and his supplication, O LORD my God, and listen to the cry and the prayer which Your servant is praying before You today:
29 "that Your eyes may be open toward this temple night and day, toward the place of which You said, 'My name shall be there,' that You may hear the prayer which Your servant makes toward this place.
30 "And may You hear the supplication of Your servant and of Your people Israel, when they pray toward this place. Hear in heaven Your dwelling place; and when You hear, forgive.
Matthew 28: 18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.
19 "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
20 "teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."
CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION
1 John 1: 8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
9 If we confess our sins, (God) is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.
John 20: 21 So Jesus (after his resurrection) said to them again, "Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you."
22 And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit.
23 "If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.
INTROIT FOR THE DAY
Psalm 100, p. 339 in LW
KYRIE, HYMN OF PRAISE
Mark 10: 47 And when he (the blind man Bartimaeus) heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!"
48 Then many warned him to be quiet; but he cried out all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!"
49 So Jesus stood still and commanded him to be called. Then they called the blind man, saying to him, "Be of good cheer. Rise, He is calling you."
Luke 2: 13 (After announcing Jesus birth) suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:
14 "Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!"
SALUTATION AND COLLECT PRAYER
2 Timothy 4: 22 The Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Grace be with you.
Philippians 4: 6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;
Ephesians 4: 11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers,
WORD OF GOD READ AND PROCLAIMED FROM SCRIPTURE, HYMN, AND SERMON
Colossians 3: 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
John 6: 68 But Simon Peter answered Him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.
Joel 2: 12 " Now, therefore," says the LORD, "Turn to Me with all your heart, With fasting, with weeping, and with mourning."
13 So rend your heart, and not your garments; Return to the LORD your God, For He is gracious and merciful, Slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love; And He relents from doing harm.
Luke 10: 16 (Jesus said to the 70 disciple missionaries before sending them out) "He who hears you hears Me, he who rejects you rejects Me, and he who rejects Me rejects Him who sent Me."
CREED
Matthew 10: 32 (Jesus said) " Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven.
33 "But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.
PRAYER OF THE CHURCH
1 Timothy 2:1 Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men,
2 for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.
3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior,
4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
5 For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus,
6 who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time,
OFFERING AND OFFERTORY PRAYER
NIV 1 Corinthians 16:1 (Paul writes) Now about the collection for God's people: Do what I told the Galatian churches to do.
2 On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made.
Psalm 116: 12 What shall I render to the LORD For all His benefits toward me?
13 I will take up the cup of salvation, And call upon the name of the LORD.
14 I will pay my vows to the LORD Now in the presence of all His people.
17 I will offer to You the sacrifice of thanksgiving, And will call upon the name of the LORD.
18 I will pay my vows to the LORD Now in the presence of all His people,
19 In the courts of the LORD's house, In the midst of you, O Jerusalem. Praise the LORD!
SERVICE OF THE LORD'S SUPPER
PREFACE, SANCTUS, PRAYER, LORD'S PRAYER
Lamentations 3: 41 Let us lift up our hearts and our hands to God in heaven,
Luke 21: 27-28 Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. "Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near."
Isaiah 6: 3 And one (angel) cried to another and said: "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; The whole earth is full of His glory!"
Mark 11: 9 Then those who went before and those who followed cried out, saying: "Hosanna! 'Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!'
10 Blessed is the kingdom of our father David That comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!"
CONSECRATION OF THE ELEMENTS, PEACE, AGNUS DEI (LAMB OF GOD)
1 Corinthians 11: 23 For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread;
24 and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, "Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me."
25 In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me."
26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death till He comes.
27 Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.
28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. POST-COMMUNION CANTICLE, PRAYER Luke 2: 29 (In the temple Simeon said of the baby Jesus) "Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, According to Your word; 30 For my eyes have seen Your salvation 31 Which You have prepared before the face of all peoples, 32 A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, And the glory of Your people Israel." 33 And Joseph and (Jesus') mother marveled at those things which were spoken of Him. 1 Chronicles 16: 7 On that day David first delivered this psalm into the hand of Asaph and his brethren, to thank the LORD: 8 Oh, give thanks to the LORD! Call upon His name; Make known His deeds among the peoples! 9 Sing to Him, sing psalms to Him; Talk of all His wondrous works! 10 Glory in His holy name; Let the hearts of those rejoice who seek the LORD! BENEDICTION, HYMN Numbers 6: 22 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying: 23 "Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, 'This is the way you shall bless the children of Israel. Say to them: 24 "The LORD bless you and keep you; 25 The LORD make His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you; 26 The LORD lift up His countenance upon you, And give you peace." 27 "So they shall put My name on the children of Israel, and I will bless them." NIV Romans 12:1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God-- this is your spiritual act of worship. 2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is-- his good, pleasing and perfect will.