St Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church

313 4th Street, Manistee, MI 49660

website: StPaulsManistee.com

facebook: SPLCManistee

Pastor Dennis Himm (810) 252-5821

September 7, 2025 Pentecost 12

THOSE WHO EXALT THEMSELVES WILL BE HUMBLED

WELCOME – We will be using the red hymnal today.

HYMN 477 “What Is the World to Me”

– please stand for last stanza

SERVICE OF WORD & SACRAMENT - page 26

PRAYER OF THE DAY:

Almighty and everlasting God, you are always more ready to hear than we to pray, and to give more than we either desire or deserve. Pour upon us the abundance of your mercy, forgiving us those things of which our conscience is afraid, and giving us those good things for which we are not worthy to ask, except through the merits and mediation of your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. (Sung) Amen.

FIRST LESSON: Proverbs 25:6,7

Solomon provides common sense about humility and pride.

6 Do not honor yourself in a king’s presence. Do not stand in a place reserved for great people, 7because it is better to be told, “Come up here,” than for you to be humiliated before a ruler whom your eyes have seen.

P: The Word of the Lord.

C: Thanks be to God.

SECOND LESSON: James 2:1-13

James teaches that showing favoritism to those we think can provide us with upward mobility shows a lack of mercy and puts us at risk of God’s judgment.

1 My brothers, have faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ without showing favoritism. 2For example, suppose a man enters your worship assembly wearing gold rings and fine clothing, and a poor man also enters wearing filthy clothing. 3If you look with favor on the man wearing fine clothing and say, “Sit here in this good place,” but you tell the poor man, “Stand over there” or “Sit down here at my feet,” 4have you not made a distinction among yourselves and become judges with evil opinions? 5Listen, my dear brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and to be heirs of the kingdom, which he promised to those who love him? 6 But you dishonored the poor man. Don’t the rich oppress you, and don’t they drag you into court? 7Aren’t they the ones who blaspheme the noble name that was pronounced over you? 8 How-ever, if you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well. 9 But if you show favoritism, you are committing a sin, since you are convicted by this law as transgressors. 10 In fact, whoever keeps the whole law but stumbles in one point has become guilty of breaking all of it. 11 For the one who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not commit murder.” Now if you do not commit adultery, but you do commit murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. 12 So speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law of freedom. 13 For there will be judgment without mercy on the one who has not shown mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

P: The Word of the Lord.

C: Thanks be to God.

VERSE OF THE DAY:

Alleluia. Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. Alleluia. (Sung) Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

These words are written that we may believe

that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God.

Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

GOSPEL: Luke 14:7-14

Jesus teaches some ways to demonstrate humility and promises that those who humble themselves will be exalted.

7When he noticed how they were selecting the places of honor, he told the invited guests a parable. 8“When you are invited by some-one to a wedding banquet, do not recline in the place of honor, or perhaps someone more distinguished than you may have been invited by him. 9 The one who invited both of you may come and tell you, ‘Give this man your place.’ Then you will begin, with shame, to take the lowest place. 10 “But when you are invited, go and recline in the lowest place, so that when the one who invited you comes, he will tell you, ‘Friend, move up to a higher place.’ Then you will have honor in the presence of all who are reclining at the table with you. 11 “Yes, everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.” 12 He also said to the one who had invited him, “When you make a dinner or a supper, do not invite your friends, or your brothers, or your relatives, or rich neighbors, so that perhaps they may also return the favor and pay you back. 13 “But when you make a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, 14 and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. Certainly, you will be repaid in the resurrection of the righteous.”

P: The Gospel of the Lord.

C: (sung) Praise be to you, O Christ!

HYMN 492 “Son of God, Eternal Savior”

SERMON: Proverbs 25:6,7

Christians are to be Humble

NICENE CREED – page 31

PRAYER OF THE CHURCH

LORD’S PRAYER – page 32

COMMUNION LITURGY - pages 33-35

Because God’s Word clearly teaches us about the Real Presence and the fellowship connected with the Lord’s Supper, we kindly ask that only WELS and ELS repented communicant members come forward to receive the Lord’s body and blood in this Sacrament. Pastor Himm offers a free class so you can become a communicant member.

COMMUNION DISTRIBUTION

THANK THE LORD & PRAYER - pages 36

BLESSING pages 37 (sung) Amen. Amen. Amen.

HYMN 316 “O Jesus, Blessed Lord, to Thee”

WELS CONNECTION

ANNOUNCEMENTS & REFRESHMENTS

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.

IF YOU ARE VISITING FOR THE FIRST TIME,

PLEASE SIGN OUR GUEST BOOK

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

THE WONDERS OF GOD – There is no Thursday Bible Class this week.

SUNDAY SCHEDULE

Sunday School & Adult Bible Class – 9 AM

WORSHIP – 10 AM

All Scripture readings are from the NIV 2011. Used by permission.