St Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church
313 4th St, Manistee, MI 49660-2901
website: stpaulsmanistee.com
facebook.com/SPLCManistee
Telephone: 231-299-1022
Oct 16, 2022 Pentecost 19 - Theme: The Good Fight
Prayer Before Worship - Lord, so many things try to distract me from You. Help me to fight against them.
Hymn 281 (reflects the punch line in the Gospel lesson)
Common Service, pg 15, front of hymnal
Prayer: Mercifully grant, O God,/ that Your Holy Spirit may in all things direct & rule our hearts,/ for without Your help/ we are unable to please You; through Your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord,/ who lives & reigns with You & the Holy Spirit,/ one God, now & forever. (Sing) Amen.
Epistle: 1 Timothy 2:1-8
As sinful human beings we tend to focus on our own little corner of the world instead of being concerned about "all people" and to be quiet about the truth that Jesus is the only way to be right with God so people don't think we are intolerant. We need to fight against both of those attitudes.
I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— 2 for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. 3 This is good, and pleases God our Savior, 4 who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave himself as a ransom for all people. This has now been witnessed to at the proper time. 7 And for this purpose I was appointed a herald and an apostle—I am telling the truth, I am not lying—and a true and faithful teacher of the Gentiles. 8 Therefore I want the men everywhere to pray, lifting up holy hands without anger or disputing.
Verse: At the name of Jesus every knee should bow, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Alleluia! (Sing) Alleluia.........page 40
Gospel Lesson: Luke 16:19-31
It's easy to focus on the good life. It's also easy to think that the Bible is just a book and something else would work better to bring people to Jesus. We need to fight against both of those attitudes.
19 “There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. 20 At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores 21 and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores. 22 “The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. 23 In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. 24 So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’ 25 “But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. 26 And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been set in place, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.’ 27 “He answered, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my family, 28 for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’ 29 “Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets(=the Old Testament Scriptures); let them listen to them.’ 30 “‘No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’ 31 “He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets(=the Old Testament Scriptures), they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’”
Nicene Creed, front of hymnal, page 18
Hymn 235 (replacement for the Psalm of the day 146)
Sermon Text: Old Testament Lesson: Amos 6:1-7
Attachment to worldly things makes us spiritually complacent. We must fight against that.
1 Woe to you who are complacent in Zion, and to you who feel secure on Mount Samaria, you notable men of the foremost nation, to whom the people of Israel come! 2 Go to Calneh and look at it; go from there to great Hamath, and then go down to Gath in Philistia. Are you better than those kingdoms? Was their land larger than yours? 3 You put off the evil day, and bring near a reign of terror. 4 You lie on beds inlaid with ivory and lounge on your couches. You dine on choice lambs and fattened calves. 5 You strum away on your harps like David and improvise on musical instruments. 6 You drink wine by the bowlful and use the finest lotions, but you do not grieve over the ruin of Joseph. 7 Therefore you will be among the first to go into exile; your feasting and lounging will end.
Theme: God's tremendous blessings for this life may lead to
Lack of Appreciation
Prayer: LORD, thank You for filling our lives with earthly blessings. Please don’t allow us to become complacent. Don’t let us take things for granted. Most importantly,/ don’t ever let our feeling of security lead us to a lack of appreciation toward You/ in spite of all that You have given to us.
2. Refusal to Repent
Prayer: LORD, thank You for filling our lives with earthly blessings. Please don’t allow us to refuse to listen to You as You call us to repent.
3. Lack of Spirituality
Prayer: LORD, please don’t let all these earthly blessings push our relationship with You into the back seat. Please don’t let us focus on them and abandon You. Don’t let the abundance of Your earthly blessings lead to a lack of spirituality in our lives.
Sing: "Create in me....." pg. 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, page 131, Lord’s Prayer, page 20
Hymn 457
Continue on page 25 front of hymnal
Hymn 293 (We need to fight to keep the Word correctly presented)