St Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church

313 4th Street, Manistee, MI 49660

www.StPaulsManistee.com

facebook.com/SPLCManistee

Pastor Dennis Himm (810) 252-5821

September 13, 2026 Pentecost 15

UNEXPECTED TRUTHS: I Am My Brother’s Keeper

WELCOME – We will be using the Blue Hymnal today

HYMN 839 “Rock of Ages, Cleft for Me” (Please stand for the last stanza) THE SERVICE: Setting 2 – page 172 ff

PRAYER OF THE DAY:

O Lord Jesus Christ, preserve the congregation of believers with your never-failing mercy. Help us avoid whatever is wicked and harmful, and guide us in the way that leads to our salvation; for you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. C: Amen.

FIRST LESSON: Ezekiel 33:7-11

The Lord told Ezekiel if he didn’t warn the Israelites about their sin, he was going to hold Ezekiel accountable.

67 But I have appointed you, son of man, to be a watchman for the house of Israel. So whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you are to warn them from me. 8 When I say to a wicked man, “Wicked man, you shall surely die,” if you do not speak to warn the wicked man against his way, that wicked man will die because of his guilt, but I will also hold you responsible for his blood. 9 But if you do warn the wicked man to turn from his way, and he does not turn from his way, he will die because of his guilt, but you will have saved your life. 10 So you, son of man, say the following to the house of Israel. This is what you people are saying: “Certainly our rebellion and our sins weigh us down, and because of them we are rotting away. How then can we live?” 11 Say to them, “As I live, declares the Lord God, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that the wicked turn from their way and live. Turn back, turn back from your evil ways, for why should you die, O house of Israel?”

P: The Word of the Lord.

C: Thanks be to God.

PSALM OF THE DAY – Psalm 51

Be Merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.

SECOND LESSON: Galatians 2:11-16

Paul wins his brother Cephas (Peter) over to the truth of the gospel.

11 But when Cephas(Peter) came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he was clearly wrong. 12 For before some people came from James, he ate with the Gentiles. But when those people came, he drew back and separated himself, because he feared those from the circumcision group. 13 And the rest of the Jews joined him in his hypocrisy, with the result that even Barnabas was carried away by their hypocrisy. 14 But when I saw that they were not acting according to the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas in front of all of them, “If you, a Jew, live like the Gentiles and not like the Jews, why do you compel the Gentiles to live like the Jews?” 15 “We are Jews by birth and not Gentile sinners. 16We know that a person is not justified by the works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ. So we also believed in Christ Jesus that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law, because no one will be justified by the works of the law.

P: The Word of the Lord.

C: Thanks be to God.

VERSE OF THE DAY:

P: Alleluia. God wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. Alleluia.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION: God’s Word (sung)

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

Your words – are – my – joy

And my – heart’s – de – light.

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

GOSPEL: Matthew 18:15-20

Jesus teaches us how to practice Christian discipline lovingly.

15 “If your brother sins against you, go and show him his sin just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have regained your brother. 16 But if he will not listen, take one or two others along with you, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ 17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And, if he refuses to listen even to the church, then treat him as an unbeliever or a tax collector. 18 Amen I tell you: Whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. 19 Amen I tell you again: If two of you on earth agree to ask for anything, it will be done for them by my Father who is in heaven. 20 In fact where two or three have gathered together in my name, there I am among them.”

P: The Gospel of the Lord.

C: Praise be to you, O Christ!

HYMN 654 “Jesus Sinners Does Receive”

SERMON: “Be Your Brother’s Keeper” Matthew 18:15-20 APOSTLES’ CREED - page 181

PRAYER FOR THE CHURCH - page 182

HYMN 653 “Lord, to You I Make Confession:

PRAYER & LORD’S PRAYER (Traditional)

BLESSING C: Amen.

HYMN 570 "God Loved the World so that He Gave"

ANNOUNCEMENTS

THANKOFFERING BASKET BY DOOR

The members of St Paul's & the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS) have joined together to do the Lord’s work here and around the world. Our guests may but are not expected to participate in this offering which supports our church’s ministry. The basket is located next to the water dispenser.

PLEASE SIGN OUR GUEST BOOK IF YOU ARE VISITING.

It’s located in the entryway by the stairs going to the basement.

SERVING US TODAY is Pastor John Eich. Pastor Eich recently retired after serving in the public ministry for 41 years at Good Shepherd, in Alma. He also served as our Circuit Pastor for 14 years. He and his wife, Sue, now live in St. Charles where they are members of Hope Lutheran Church. John enjoys remodeling, fishing, and spending time with his sons and grandchildren. We thank Pastor Eich for his faithful service.

COUNCIL MEETING today after worship and refreshments. If you have anything you want the Council to consider, please talk to Russ Wrzesinski.

SUNDAY SCHOOL & ADULT BIBLE CLASS: Will begin next Sunday. Join us at 9 am before worship for studying God’s Word. You’ll grow in your faith and be better prepared for worship.

CATECHISM CLASS will meet Tuesdays from 5:15-6:30 pm. This class is open to all 7th & 8th grade students.

TUESDAY ADULT BIBLE CLASS: Please join us his Tuesday as we will focus on Romans 14. The class meets at Pastor Himm’s house at 7 pm. All are welcome.

WOMEN’S BOOK STUDAY: The ladies will start a new book study on “The Narrow Lutheran Middle” by Professor Daniel Deutchlander. It will be held at the parsonage on Tuesdays at 10 am beginning September 22. Please let Kay Himm know if you would like to attend so that you can get a copy of the book.

Scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, Evangelical Heritage Version ® (EHV ®)