St Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church
313 4th St, Manistee, MI 49660-2901
website: stpaulsmanistee.com
facebook.com/SPLCManistee
Telephone: 231-299-1022
January 22, 2023–Epiphany 3
Theme: Reflecting the Light of the World
Welcome to our visitors.
May the Lord bless you through His Word together with us today.
Prayer Before Worship – For Courage to Share the Gospel, page 136
Hymn 84
Service of the Word, front of hymnal, page 38-39
Prayer: Almighty God,/ You sent Your Son to proclaim Your Kingdom/ & to teach with authority. Anoint us with the power of Your Spirit,/ that, we too may bring good news to the afflicted,/ bind up the brokenhearted,/ & proclaim liberty to the captive; through Jesus Christ Your Son our Lord,/ who lives & reigns with You & the Holy Spirit,/ one God, now & forever. (Sing) Amen.
Old Testament Lesson: Isaiah 8:19- 9:2
The brilliant light of the Messiah will shine into every land & bring joy to all the people.
19 When someone tells you to consult mediums and spiritists, who whisper and mutter, should not a people inquire of their God? Why consult the dead on behalf of the living? 20 Consult God’s instruction and the testimony of warning. If anyone does not speak according to this word, they have no light of dawn. 21 Distressed and hungry, they will roam through the land; when they are famished, they will become enraged and, looking upward, will curse their king and their God. 22 Then they will look toward the earth and see only distress and darkness and fearful gloom, and they will be thrust into utter darkness. 1Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honor Galilee of the nations, by the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan— 2 The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.
Psalm 27, front of hymnal, page 75
Jesus is the Light who helps us see our salvation.
Gospel: Matthew 4:12-23
Jesus fulfilled the prophet’s words that in Galilee a Light would dawn.
12 When Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, he withdrew to Galilee. 13 Leaving Nazareth, he went and lived in Capernaum, which was by the lake in the area of Zebulun and Naphtali— 14 to fulfill what was said through the prophet Isaiah: 15 “Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles— 16 the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.” 17 From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” 18 As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. 19 “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” 20 At once they left their nets and followed him. 21 Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them, 22 and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him. 23 Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people.
Hymn 90
Sermon Text: Epistle - 1 John 2:3-11
The Light of the world Jesus is displayed by us His followers through the way that we live our lives of love toward others.
3 We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands. 4 Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person. 5 But if anyone obeys his word, God’s love is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him: 6 Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did. 7 Dear friends, I am not writing you a new command but an old one, which you have had since the beginning. This old command is the message you have heard. 8 Yet I am writing you a new command; its truth is seen in him and in you, because the darkness is passing and the true light is already shining. 9 Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates a brother or sister is still in the darkness. 10 Anyone who loves their brother and sister lives in the light, and there is nothing in them to make them stumble. 11 But anyone who hates a brother or sister is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness. They do not know where they are going, because the darkness has blinded them.
Theme: We Reflect the Light by Walking in the Light
1. We Know the Light
2. We see His truth
John 13:34: A new commandment I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 All men will know that you are my disciples if you love one another.”
Matt 5:16 “Let your light shine before men that they may see (something) and glorify your Father who is in heaven.”
3. We live in the Light
1 John 3:15 - Anyone who hates his brother is a murderer and you know that no murderer has eternal life in him.
1 John 3:16 - This is how we know what love is: Jesus laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.”
Romans 9:33 - See, I lay in Zion a stone(that is a reference to Jesus) that causes men to stumble and a rock that makes them fall, and the one who trusts in Him will never be put to shame.”
Prayer : Lord, Jesus, help me to speak so others get to know you. Help me obey so others get to see You. Help me live so others keep headed toward You.
Apostles Creed, front of hymnal, page 41
Thankoffering The members of St Paul's 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 church, page 42, Special Prayers, Lord's Prayer
Hymn 85
Continue page 43 & 44, front of hymnal
Hymn 94: 1,4,5