October 10, 2021

St Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church

313 4th St, Manistee, MI 49660-2901

Kieth Bernard Kuschel, pastor

Pastor’s cell phone 262-765-2328

website: stpaulsmanistee.com

facebook.com/SPLCManistee

Pentecost 20 Theme– A Family Affair

Prayer Before Worship – Lord, please help me remember that I am a member of Your family because of what Jesus did for me. Use that to remind me what I am supposed to be doing as a member of an earthly family & as a member of a congregational family.

Hymn 505

Morning Praise, bottom of page 45, front of hymnal

Old Testament Lesson: Genesis 2:18-24

God lovingly provided Adam with a partner & then prescribes the roles for each. When He leads us to follow His directives, peace & good order are the resultant blessing.

(18) The LORD God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him." {19} Now the LORD God had formed out of the ground all the beasts of the field and all the birds of the air. He brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name. {20} So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds of the air and all the beasts of the field. But for Adam no suitable helper was found. {21} So the LORD God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man's ribs and closed up the place with flesh. {22} Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man. {23} The man said, "This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called 'woman, ' for she was taken out of man." {24} For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.

Psalm 139b, front of hymnal, page 117

We are products, not just of our fathers and mothers, but of the Lord’s creative powers and his precious thoughts

Gospel: Mark 10:2-16

Jesus teaches that it is a sin to break up a family. He also teaches that it is a sin to keep the little members of His family away from Him.

2 Some Pharisees came and tested him by asking, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?" {3} "What did Moses command you?" he replied. {4} They said, "Moses permitted a man to write a certificate of divorce and send her away." {5} "It was because your hearts were hard that Moses wrote you this law," Jesus replied. {6} "But at the beginning of creation God 'made them male and female.' {7} 'For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, {8} and the two will become one flesh.' So they are no longer two, but one. {9} Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate." {10} When they were in the house again, the disciples asked Jesus about this. {11} He answered, "Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her. {12} And if she divorces her husband and marries another man, she commits adultery." {13} People were bringing little children to Jesus to have him touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. {14} When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. {15} I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." {16} And he took the children in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them.

Hymn 501

Sermon Text: Epistle: Hebrews 2: 9-11

God loved us so much that he gave Jesus into death so we might be Jesus’ brothers. May His example of love & obedience motivate our lives in His family.

9But we look to Jesus (the one who was made lower than the angels for a little while, so that by God’s grace he might taste death for everyone), now crowned with glory and honor, because he suffered death. 10Certainly it was fitting for God (the one for whom and through whom everything exists), in leading many sons to glory, to bring the author of their salvation to his goal through sufferings. 11For he who sanctifies and those who are being sanctified all have one Father. For that reason, he is not ashamed to call them brothers.

Theme: Jesus is the Perfect Family Man

1. He humbly served His family members

(Eph 5:25) Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.”

Prayer after part one: Lord Jesus, thank You for being a perfect family man for me, giving up Your life to pay for my sins. Help me to strive to be a perfect family man by giving my life for the benefit of my family.

2. He is not ashamed to call us brothers & sisters

Prayer after part two: Lord Jesus, thank You for being a perfect family man for me, not being ashamed to call a sinner like me Your brother. Help me to have the courage to strive to be a perfect family man by being willing to call You my brother in every circumstance of my life.

Hymn 507 (replaces Te Deum pg 48-49)

Thank offering

Continue page 50

Prayer of the day Hymn 500; Special prayers

Continue with Prayer for Grace, bottom of page 50 -51

Hymn 504