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 21 Theme: Accountability October 17, 20201
Prayer Before Worship – Lord, please help me remember that I am accountable to You. Then lead me to repent of my sins. Point me to Yourself as the source of forgiveness for my sins. Help me to implement Your demands in the Law as my way of thanking You.
Hymn 441 based on the Psalm; Service of Word and Sacrament, page 26
Prayer: O merciful Lord, grant to Your faithful people pardon & peace/ that we may be cleansed from all our sins/ & serve You with a quiet mind; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord/ who lives & reigns with You & the Holy Spirit,/ one God, now & forever. (Sing) Amen.
Old Testament Lesson: Amos 5:6,7,10-15
God takes His law seriously. Woe to anyone who does not. Wicked works come from wicked hearts which love evil. God gives a hint of His judgment in this life when He frustrates the plans of those who live only according to “What's in it for me?” When we are reproved by the Law, we go to the Lord for pardon so we don’t have to experience eternal anger. We are accountable to Him.
6 Seek the Lord and live, or he will sweep through the tribes of Joseph like a fire; it will devour them, and Bethel will have no one to quench it. 7 There are those who turn justice into bitterness and cast righteousness to the ground. 10 There are those who hate the one who upholds justice in court and detest the one who tells the truth. 11 You levy a straw tax on the poor and impose a tax on their grain. Therefore, though you have built stone mansions, you will not live in them; though you have planted lush vineyards, you will not drink their wine. 12 For I know how many are your offenses and how great your sins. There are those who oppress the innocent and take bribes and deprive the poor of justice in the courts. 13 Therefore the prudent keep quiet in such times, for the times are evil. 14 Seek good, not evil, that you may live. Then the Lord God Almighty will be with you, just as you say he is. 15 Hate evil, love good; maintain justice in the courts. Perhaps the Lord God Almighty will have mercy on the remnant of Joseph.
Psalm 90, front of hymnal, page 99
We are products, not just of our fathers and mothers, but of the Lord’s creative powers and his precious thoughts.
Epistle: Hebrews 3: 1-6
We have been unfaithful. Jesus was faithful in all. He has chosen to make us members of His household. Let us hold fast to Him.
Therefore, holy brothers and sisters, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, whom we acknowledge as our apostle and high priest. 2 He was faithful to the one who appointed him, just as Moses was faithful in all God’s house. 3 Jesus has been found worthy of greater honor than Moses, just as the builder of a house has greater honor than the house itself. 4 For 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. 6 But 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.
Hymn 477 (Reflects the Gospel)
Sermon Text: Gospel: Mark 10:17-27
17As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. "Good teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?" 18"Why do you call me good?" Jesus answered. "No one is good——except God alone. 19You know the commandments: 'Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, do not defraud, honor your father and mother.' 20"Teacher," he declared, "all these I have kept since I was a boy." 21Jesus looked at him and loved him. "One thing you lack," he said.
"Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." 22At this the man's face fell. He went away sad, because he had great
wealth. 23Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, "How
hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!" 24The
disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said again,
"Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! 25It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." 26The disciples were even more amazed, and said to each other, "Who then can be saved?" 27Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God."
Sermon Theme: Three views of God’s Law
1.What must I do
Prayer after part one: Lord, don’t let us get taken in by the “I am a pretty nice person based on my outward actions” attitude
2.Who can be saved?
3. All things are possible
Catechism section: “I cannot by my own thinking or choosing believe in Jesus Christ my Lord nor come to him. But the Holy Ghost has called me by the Gospel, enlightened me with His gifts, and sanctified me.”
Prayer after sermon: Lord God Holy Spirit, lead us to three proper views of Your law. Lead us to ask: What must I do?” Then on the basis of the demands of the Law lead us to ask :”Who then can be saved?” And then on the basis of Jesus’ words to realize “All things are possible with God.”
Nicene Creed, front of hymnal, page 31
Thankoffering
Prayer of the church, front of hymnal, page 32,
Continue page 33
Distribution of Lord’s Supper to the members of St Paul’s & other WELS or ELS congregations who by their membership have indicated they are qualified to examine themselves (1 Cor 11:27-29) & to express oneness in faith ( 1 Cor 10:17). If you are a guest today & haven’t yet had the chance to express your agreement with us & would like to receive the Lord’s Supper together with us in the future, please speak with Pastor after worship or during the week. We would be delighted to help you come to appreciate a “close” relationship with your Lord, with us and with our congregation.
Hymn 390
Continue, page 36, front of hymnal
Hymn 401