St Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church
313 4th St, Manistee, MI 49660-2901
website: stpaulsmanistee.com
facebook.com/SPLCManistee
Telephone: 231-299-1022
Pentecost 9 - August 7, 2022
Sunday Theme: Listening to Jesus
Prayer Before Worship - Lord, thank You for teaching us in Your Word. Please help me to take time to listen to You as You teach me there. But also lead me to pass along what I learn to the people around me in my life.
Hymn 221 Word and Sacrament, front of hymnal, page 26
Prayer: Grant us, Lord, the spirit to think & do what is right/ that we, who cannot do anything that is good without You,/ may by Your help be enabled to live according to Your will;/ through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord,/ who lives & reigns with You & the Holy Spirit,/ one God, now & forever. (sing) Amen.
Epistle: Colossians 1:21-29
Paul’s task was to get people to listen to the Word of God
21 Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. 22 But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation— 23 if you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant. 24 Now I rejoice in what I am suffering for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church. 25 I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness— 26 the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the Lord’s people. 27 To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. 28 He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ. 29 To this end I strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me.
Psalm 119a, front of hymnal, page 109
We seek the Lord with all our hearts by listening to God’s Word
Gospel: Luke 10:38-42
Mary is an example for us of listening to the Word of Jesus.
38 As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. 39 She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. 40 But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” 41 “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, 42 but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”
Hymn 283
Sermon Text: Old Testament Lesson: Genesis 18:1-14
Abraham & Sarah listened to a wonderful promise of the Lord. How would we have reacted to such a promise?
18 The Lord appeared to Abraham near the great trees of Mamre while he was sitting at the entrance to his tent in the heat of the day. 2 Abraham looked up and saw three men standing nearby. When he saw them, he hurried from the entrance of his tent to meet them and bowed low to the ground. 3 He said, “If I have found favor in your eyes, my lord, do not pass your servant by. 4 Let a little water be brought, and then you may all wash your feet and rest under this tree. 5 Let me get you something to eat, so you can be refreshed and then go on your way—now that you have come to your servant.” “Very well,” they answered, “do as you say.” 6 So Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah. “Quick,” he said, “get three seahs of the finest flour and knead it and bake some bread.” 7 Then he ran to the herd and selected a choice, tender calf and gave it to a servant, who hurried to prepare it. 8 He then brought some curds and milk and the calf that had been prepared, and set these before them. While they ate, he stood near them under a tree. 9 “Where is your wife Sarah?” they asked him. “There, in the tent,” he said. 10 Then one of them said, “I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife will have a son.” Now Sarah was listening at the entrance to the tent, which was behind him. 11 Abraham and Sarah were already very old, and Sarah was past the age of childbearing. 12 So Sarah laughed to herself as she thought, “After I am worn out and my lord is old, will I now have this pleasure?” 13 Then the Lord said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Will I really have a child, now that I am old?’ 14 Is anything too hard for the Lord? I will return to you at the appointed time next year, and Sarah will have a son.”
Theme: When God wants to talk to us
1. Are we ready
(2 Tim 3:16)“All Scripture is God-breathed.”
LORD Jesus, please help us do whatever it takes to get ready to listen to You.
He asks questions
LORD Jesus, thank You for asking us tough questions
He gives promises
(Gen 12:7) “To your offspring I will give this land.”
(Gen 13:6)“I will make your offspring like the dust of the earth.”
(Gen 15:4) “A son coming from your own body will be your heir
(Gen 17:16)“I will give you a son by Sarah.”
LORD Jesus, lead us to be ready when You want to talk to us so we get to hear the questions and promises
Nicene Creed, front of hymnal, page 31
Thankoffering The members of St Pauls have joined together to do the Lord’s work in this area & around the world. Visitors need not feel obligated to participate in this offering which supports our church’s ministry
Prayer of the church, front of hymnal, page 32
Special prayers
Continue page 33 front of hymnal
Distribution of Lord’s Supper to the members of St Paul's & other WELS or ELS congregations who by their membership have indicated they are qualified to examine themselves (1 Cor 11:27-29) & to express oneness in faith (1 Cor 10:17). If you are a guest today & haven’t yet had the chance to express your agreement with us & would like to receive the Lord’s Supper together with us in the future, please speak with someone after worship We would be delighted to help you come to appreciate a “close” relationship with your Lord, with us and with our congregation
Hymn 288 during distribution
Continue page 36, front of hymnal, Hymn 333