St Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church
313 4th St, Manistee, MI 49660-2901
website: stpaulsmanistee.com
facebook.com/SPLCManistee
Telephone: 231-299-1022
Pentecost 16 - Sept 25, 2022
Theme: Christianity Costs
Prayer Before Worship - Lord, thank You for all the benefits of being a member of Your family. Lord, give me the wisdom to be open about my faith and to live my godliness even though I know it will cost me.
Hymn 464 (Gospel Lesson)
Service of Word, front of hymnal, page 38
Prayer: Let Your continual mercy, O Lord,/ cleanse & defend Your Church; & because it cannot continue in safety without Your help,/ protect & govern it always by Your goodness; for You live & reign with the Father & the Holy Spirit, / one God, now & forever. (Sing) Amen.
Old Testament Lesson: Proverbs 9: 8-12
True wisdom finds its beginning in respecting the one true God.
8 Do not rebuke mockers or they will hate you; rebuke the wise and they will love you. 9 Instruct the wise and they will be wiser still; teach the righteous and they will add to their learning.10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. 11 For through wisdom your days will be many, and years will be added to your life. 12 If you are wise, your wisdom will reward you; if you are a mocker, you alone will suffer.
Psalm 19, front of hymnal, page 70
We see God’s glory in the works of nature & in His Word.
Epistle: Philemon 1: 1, 10-21
Philemon would show his Christian faith by accepting Onesimus back, not as a slave, but as a brother.
1 Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, To Philemon our dear friend and fellow worker. 10 that I appeal to you for my son Onesimus who became my son while I was in chains. 11 Formerly he was useless to you, but now he has become useful both to you and to me. 12 I am sending him—who is my very heart—back to you. 13 I would have liked to keep him with me so that he could take your place in helping me while I am in chains for the gospel. 14 But I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that any favor you do would not seem forced but would be voluntary. 15 Perhaps the reason he was separated from you for a little while was that you might have him back forever— 16 no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a dear brother. He is very dear to me but even dearer to you, both as a fellow man and as a brother in the Lord. 17 So if you consider me a partner, welcome him as you would welcome me. 18 If he has done you any wrong or owes you anything, charge it to me. 19 I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand. I will pay it back—not to mention that you owe me your very self. 20 I do wish, brother, that I may have some benefit from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in Christ. 21 Confident of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I ask.
Hymn 428 (Gospel)
Sermon Text: Gospel: Luke 14: 25-33
25 Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said: 26 “If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple. 27 And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. 28 “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it? 29 For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you, 30 saying, ‘This person began to build and wasn’t able to finish.’31 “Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Won’t he first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand? 32 If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace. 33 In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples.
Theme: Following Jesus means
1. Hating
2. Committing
3. Fighting
Prayer: Lord help us to continue to hate what is necessary, commit what is necessary, and fight what is necessary so that we might continue to follow Jesus.
Apostles Creed, front of hymnal, page 41
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, pg 42
Lord’s Prayer, page 43
Hymn 550 (Gospel)
Continue page 43, front of hymnal
Hymn 510 (OT Lesson)