St Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church
313 4th St, Manistee, MI 49660-2901
website: stpaulsmanistee.com
facebook.com/SPLCManistee
Telephone: 231-299-1022
January 29, 2023–Epiphany 4
Reflecting Jesus’ Humility
Welcome to our visitors.
May the Lord bless you through His Word together with us today.
Prayer Before Worship –
Read A PERSONAL CONFESSION OF SIN,
front of hymnal, pg 10. Put “condescension” in the blank..
Hymn 556 (Reflects epistle - “boast in the Lord”)
Common Service, front of hymnal, page 15-17
Prayer: Lord God,/ You know that we are surrounded by many dangers/ & that we often stumble & fall. Strengthen us in body & mind,/ & bring us safely through all temptations; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord,/ who with You & the Holy Spirit lives & reigns,/ one God, now & forever. (Sing) Amen.
Old Testament Lesson: Micah 6:1-8
The Lord brings a case against His people. They have forgotten His mighty acts on their behalf. How should they respond to the Lord’s goodness? With lives of justice, mercy & humility.
1 Listen to what the LORD says: “Stand up, plead my case before the mountains; let the hills hear what you have to say. 2 “Hear, you mountains, the LORD’s accusation; listen, you everlasting foundations of the earth. For the LORD has a case against his people; he is lodging a charge against Israel. 3 “My people, what have I done to you? How have I burdened you? Answer me. 4 I brought you up out of Egypt and redeemed you from the land of slavery. I sent Moses to lead you, also Aaron and Miriam. 5 My people, remember what Balak king of Moab plotted and what Balaam son of Beor answered. Remember your journey from Shittim to Gilgal, that you may know the righteous acts of the LORD.” 6 With what shall I come before the LORD and bow down before the exalted God? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? 7 Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousand rivers of olive oil? Shall I offer my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? 8 He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.
Hymn 475 paraphrase of Psalm 1
Epistle: 1 Corinthians 1:26-31
Paul asks us to remember in humility that we cannot claim a place before God because of our worldly stature or wisdom. God has called us weak and lowly to Himself. No one may boast before Him.
26 Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 28 God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, 29 so that no one may boast before him. 30 It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. 31 Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.”
Hymn 346 (reflects the Gospel lesson)
Nicene Creed, front of hymnal, p age 18
Sermon Text: Gospel: Matthew 5:1-12
Blessed are we who glorify Jesus with our lives of humility.
1 Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, 2 and he began to teach them. He said: 3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the
kingdom of heaven. 4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. 5 Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. 6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. 7 Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. 8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. 9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. 10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Sermon Theme: Christians show Jesus to others
1 By their character
2 Because of their Blessedness
Prayer: Thank you Jesus. Keep the Holy Spirit coming
Sing: Create in me....., page 20, front of hymnal
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 the church, front of hymnal, page 124
Special Prayers, Lord's Prayer
Hymn 79
Continue pages 25, front of hymnal
Hymn 81(God’s invitation is to all - epistle lesson)