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FIFTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
September 5, 2010 – 9:00 a.m.
For Pre-Service Reading: Psalm 85, Page 140 In Front Of Hymnal
The Opening Hymn 285 – “How Precious Is The Book Divine”
The Order Of Service ……………………………….. Hymnal, Page 15 – 19
(Substitute Hymn 244: 1-2 For “Gloria In Excelsis”, P 17-19)
Glory be to God the Father, Glory be to God the Son,
Glory be to God the Spirit: Great Jehovah, Three in One!
Glory, Glory, while eternal ages run!
Glory be to Him Who loved us, Washed us from each spot and stain;
Glory be to Him Who bought us, Made us kings with Him to reign!
Glory, Glory, To the lamb that once was slain!
The Old Testament Reading – 1 Kings 18: 17-46
God sent a drought upon Israel in judgment of their rebellion and the
wickedness of their king and queen – Ahab and Jezebel. The drought would
end after a dramatic demonstration on Mount Carmel showed who the true
God is. However, neither the Mount Carmel victory nor the rain from God’s gracious hand would change the hearts of Ahab and Jezebel (This reading is
the context for today’s sermon text.)
The Gospel Reading – Matthew 14: 22 – 33
Jesus invited Peter to “come and walk” on the water to Him. As long
as Peter trusted that Word of Jesus he too was walking on the water.However,
ever, when Peter became distracted by the storm and considered the danger
instead of His Savior’s Word, he began to sink.
The Nicene Creed (Hymnal, Page 22)
Hymn 477 -”Lord Jesus, Thou The Church’s Head”
The Sermon ………………………………………………… 1 Kings 19 : 1 – 18
And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, also how he had exe-
cuted all the prophets with the sword. Then Jezebel sent a messenger to
Elijah, saying, “So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I do not make
your life as the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time.”
And when he saw that, he arose and ran for his life, and went to Beer-sheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there. But he himself
went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he prayed he might die, and said, “It is enough! Now,
LORD, take my life, for I am no better than my fathers!”
Then as he lay and slept under a broom tree,suddenly an angel touched
him, and said to him, “Arise and eat.” Then he looked, and there by his
head was a cake baked on coals, and a jar of water. So he ate and drank,
and lay down again. And the angel of the LORD came back the second
time, and touched him and said, “Arise and eat, because the journey is too
great for you.” So he arose,and ate & drank; And he went in the strength
of that food forty days & forty nights as far as Horeb,the mountain of God.
And there he went into a cave, and spent the night in that place; And behold, the Word of the LORD came to him, and He said to him, “What
are you doing here, Elijah?” So he said, “I have been very zealous for the LORD God of hosts; For the children of Israel have forsaken Your cove-
nant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I
alone am left; and they seek to take my life.”
Then He said, “Go out and stand on the mountain before the LORD.”
And behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into
the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the LORD, but the
LORD was not in the wind; And after the wind, an earthquake, but the
LORD was not in the earthquake; And after the earthquake, a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; And after the fire, a still small voice.
So it was, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle
and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave. And suddenly a voice came to him, and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” So he said, “I
have been very zealous for the LORD God of hosts; Because the children
of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed
Your prophets with the sword.I alone am left;And they seek to take my life.”
Then the LORD said to him:“Go,return on your way to the Wilderness
of Damascus; And when you arrive, anoint Hazael as king over Syria.
Also you shall anoint Jehu the son of Nimshi as king over Israel. And
Elisha the son of Shaphat you shall anoint as prophet in your place. It shall
be that whoever escapes the sword of Hazael, Jehu will kill; And whoever
escapes from the sword of Jehu, Elisha will kill. Yet I have reserved seven
thousand in Israel, all whose knees have not bowed to Baal, and every
mouth that has not kissed him.”
WHAT ARE WE DOING HERE ?
1. Focus On Self Leads To Despair
2. Reliance On The Visible Leads To Emptiness
3. Trust In The Word Leads To Success
Our Gifts Of Faith And Love For The Lord’s Work
The Communion Liturgy (Hymnal: Pages 24 Middle – P 28)
The Distribution Of The Lord’ Supper (Hymn 305)
(Holy Scripture presents the reception of this Sacrament not only as a
great blessing for our personal faith, but also as an intimate expression of spiritual unity of faith and confession among those who are communing. We therefore ask that only those who have professed such unity by membership
at Berea or another CLC congregation come forward. Those having questions
or seeking a church home are invited to speak with the pastor.)
Our Prayer And The Lord’s Prayer
The Closing Hymn 775 (V 3-6) In Supplement – “Thy Strong Word”
Silent Prayer And Announcements