St Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church

313 4th Street, Manistee, MI 49660

www.StPaulsManistee.com

facebook.com/SPLCManistee

Lent 4

Rethinking the Solution to Sin

WELCOME

HYMN 108 “Jesus, Refuge of the Weary”

(stand for last stanza)

SERVICE OF THE WORD - pages 38-44

PRAYER OF THE DAY:

M: Almighty God, we confess that we deserve to be punished for our evil deeds. But we ask you graciously to cleanse us from all sin and to comfort us with your salvation; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. C: (Sing) Amen.

FIRST LESSON: Numbers 21:4-9

The LORD promised a solution for the bite of venomous snakes. That solution perhaps seemed nonsensical. Yet, all those who trusted God’s promise lived.

4 They traveled from Mount Hor along the route to the Red Sea, to go around Edom. But the people grew impatient on the way; 5they spoke against God and against Moses, and said, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? There is no bread! There is no water! And we detest this miserable food!” 6 Then the LORD sent venomous snakes among them; they bit the people and many Israelites died. 7The people came to Moses and said, “We sinned when we spoke against the LORD and against you. Pray that the LORD will take the snakes away from us.” So Moses prayed for the people. 8 The LORD said to Moses, “Make a snake and put it up on a pole; anyone who is bitten can look at it and live.” 9So Moses made a bronze snake and put it up on a pole. Then when anyone was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake, they lived.

SECOND LESSON: Ephesians 2:1-10

God’s solution to sin is offered by grace and received through faith.

1 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. 4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

VERSE OF THE DAY:

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

The Alleluia response is omitted during Lent

GOSPEL: John 3:14-21

Christ is the solution to sin. Whoever believes in Christ shall not perish but have eternal life.

14 Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, 15 that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.” 16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. 19 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 20 Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. 21 But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.

HYMN 391 “God Loved the World So That He Gave”

SERMON: Numbers 21:4-9

Rethinking the Solution to Sin

APOSTLES’ CREED - page 41

RESPONSIVE PRAYER FOR LENT- page 125

LORD’S PRAYER

HYMN 106 “Come to Calvary’s Holy Mountain”

PRAYER - page 43

C: Amen. (sung)

BLESSING - page 443

C: Amen. Amen. Amen. (sung)

HYMN 388 “Redeemed”, Restored, Forgiven”

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.

MIDWEEK LENTEN WORSHIP: at Redeemer in Scottville this Wednesday at 1:30pm. There is no meal before this service. The next meal will be on March 20.

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