St Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church

313 4th Street, Manistee, MI 49660

www.StPaulsManistee.com

facebook.com/SPLCManistee

January 28, 2024 4th Sunday after Epiphany

May God bless your worship as see once again that Jesus has absolute authority.

WELCOME

HYMN 353 “Praise the One

Who Breaks the Darkness” (stand for last stanza)

SERVICE OF THE WORD - pages 38-44

PRAYER OF THE DAY:

Almighty and everlasting God, look with mercy on our weaknesses, and in all our dangers and needs stretch out the right hand of your majesty to help and defend us; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

(Sing) Amen.

FIRST LESSON: Deuteronomy 18:15-20 Moses prophesies that the LORD would raise up another prophet who would speak with all the authority of God himself.

15The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your fellow Israelites. You must listen to him. 16For this is what you asked of the LORD your God at Horeb on the day of the assembly when you said, “Let us not

hear the voice of the LORD our God nor see this great fire anymore, or we will die.” 17The LORD said to me: “What they say is good. 18I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their fellow Israelites, and I will put my words in his mouth. He will tell them everything I command him. 19I myself will call to account anyone who does not listen to my words that the prophet speaks in my name. 20But a prophet who presumes to speak in my name anything I have not commanded, or a prophet who speaks in the name of other gods, is to be put to death.”

SECOND LESSON: Hebrews 3:1-6

As great as Moses was, Jesus is worthy of infinitely greater honor. For only Jesus has absolute authority.

1Therefore, holy brothers and sisters, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, whom we acknowledge as our apostle and high priest. 2He was faithful to the one who appointed him, just as Moses was faithful in all God’s house. 3Jesus has been found worthy of greater honor than Moses, just as the builder of a house has greater honor than the house itself. 4For every house is built by someone, but God is the builder of everything. 5“Moses was faithful as a servant in all God’s house,” bearing witness to what would be spoken by God in the future. 6But Christ is faithful as the Son over God’s house. And we are his house, if indeed we hold firmly to our confidence and the hope in which we glory.

VERSE OF THE DAY:

Alleluia. The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority. Alleluia.

(Sing) Alleluia.....page 40

GOSPEL: Mark 1:21-28

Jesus demonstrates absolute authority. Even his enemies, the demons, have to obey him.

21They went to Capernaum, and when the Sabbath came, Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach. 22The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law. 23Just then a man in their synagogue who was possessed by an impure spirit cried out, 24“What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!” 25“Be quiet!” said Jesus sternly. “Come out of him!” 26The impure spirit shook the man violently and came out of him with a shriek. 27The people were all so amazed that they asked each other, “What is this? A new teaching—and with authority! He even gives orders to impure spirits and they obey him.” 28News about him spread quickly over the whole region of Galilee.

HYMN 556 “Rise, Shine, You People”

SERMON: Mark 1:21-28 Teaching We Can Trust

APOSTLES’ CREED - page 41

RESPONSIVE PRAYER - page 42

LORD’S PRAYER

HYMN 362 “Lord, Jesus Christ, My Savior Blest”

PRAYER - page 43

C: Amen. (sung)

BLESSING - page 443

C: Amen. Amen. Amen. (sung)

HYMN 82 “Songs of Thankfulness and Praise”

ANNOUNCEMENTS & REFRESHMENTS

THANKOFFERING BASKET BY DOOR

The members of St Paul's have joined together to do the Lord’s work in this area and around the world. Our guests may but are not expected to participate in this offering which supports our church’s ministry.

Guests, please sign the Guest Book in the entryway.

PASTOR ON CALL: Pastor Richard Miller, in Hart, stands ready to assist you and St. Paul’s during Pastor Himm’s absence. His phone number is (231) 742-0989.

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