Good morning and welcome to the broadcast of the Divine Service at Zion Lutheran Church in Chippewa Falls.
To help you follow along, the Order of Worship for today's service is available under the radio tab on our website, ZionLCMSCF.org.
The Lord bless you today through the hearing of his word.
worship this 8th Sunday after Trinity will begin with their opening hymn 578 thy strong word
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Beloved in the Lord, let us draw near with a true heart and confess our sins unto God our Father, beseeching him in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to grant us forgiveness.
Our help is in the name of the Lord.
Amen.
I said I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord.
O Almighty God, merciful Father, I, a poor, miserable sinner, confess unto you all my sins and iniquities, with which I have ever offended you, and just deserve your temple and eternal punishment.
But I am heartily sorry for them, and sincerely repent of them, and I pray you of your boundless mercy.
and for the sake of the holy, innocent, bitter sufferings and death of your beloved son, Jesus Christ, to be gracious and merciful to me, the poor, sinful being.
Upon this, your confession, I, by virtue of my office, as a called and ordained servant of the word, announce the grace of God unto all of you.
And in the stead and by the command of my Lord Jesus Christ,
I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
We turn to the yellow insert and sing together the intro.
Glory be to God.
Grant to us, Lord, the Spirit to think and do always such things that are right.
That we, who cannot do anything that is good without you, may be enabled by you to live according to your will.
Through Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you in the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Don't estimate reading for this Sunday after the Trinity is from Jeremiah chapter 23 Thus says the Lord of hosts Do not listen to the words of prophets who prophesy to you filling you with vain hopes They speak visions of their own minds not from the mouth of the Lord They say continually to those who despise the word of the Lord It shall be
with you and everyone who stubbornly follows his own heart.
They say
No disaster shall come upon you.
For who among them has stood in the counsel of the Lord to see and hear his word?
For who has paid attention to his word and listened?
Behold the storm of the Lord.
Wrath has gone forth a whirling tempest.
It will burst upon the head of the wicked.
The anger of the Lord will not turn back until he has executed and accomplished the intents of his heart.
In the latter days, you will understand it clearly.
I did not send the prophets, yet they ran.
I did not speak to them, yet they prophesied.
But if they had stood in my counsel, then they would have proclaimed my words to my people, and they would have turned them from their evil way and from the evil of their deeds.
Am I a God at hand, declares the Lord, and not a God afar off?
Can a man hide himself in secret places so that I cannot see him, declares the Lord?
Do I not feel heaven and earth declares the Lord?
I have heard what the prophets have said, who prophesied lies in my name, saying, I have dreamed.
I have dreamed.
Along shall there be lies in the heart of the prophets, who prophesied lies, and who prophesied the deceit of their own heart, who think to make my people forget my name by their dreams, that they tell one another, even as their fathers forgot my name for by all.
Let the prophet who has a dream tell the dream, but let him who has my word speak my word faithfully.
But as straw and common with wheat declares the Lord, it's not my word like fire declares the Lord, and like a hammer that breaks the rock and pieces.
This is the word of the Lord.
Return to the yellow inserts and sing together the song.
All right.
The epistle is from Romans chapter eight.
Abba, father.
The spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.
And if children then heirs, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.
This is the word of the Lord.
Stand.
The Holy Gospel, according to Saint Matthew, the seventh chapter.
Jesus said, beware of false prophets who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves.
You will recognize them by their fruits.
Our grapes gathered from thorn bushes or fakes from thistles.
So every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit.
A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit.
Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire, thus you will recognize them by their fruits.
Not everyone who says to me, Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father, who is in heaven, on that day many will say to me, Lord, Lord,
Did we not prophesy in your name and cast out demons in your name and do many mighty works in your name?
Then I will declare to them and never knew you.
Depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.
This is the gospel of the Lord.
Together we confess our faith as written in the words of the Nicene Creed.
I believe in one God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible, and in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, begotten of his Father before all worlds, God of God, light of light, very God, very God, begotten not made, being of one substance with the Father.
by whom all things were made.
Who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the Virgin Mary and was made man and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate.
He suffered and was buried and the third day he rose again according to the scriptures and descended into heaven.
and sits at the right hand of the Father, and he will come again with glory to judge both the living and the dead, whose kingdom will have no end.
And I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified, who is spoke by the prophets.
And I believe in one holy Christian and apostolic church.
I acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins, and I look for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come.
Amen.
Grace to you in peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Amen.
Beware of false prophets who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves.
Jesus gives a stark warning to those listening to this Sermon on the Mount.
These desires that all people be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth.
There is one God and there is one mediator between God and men.
the man Jesus Christ, who gave himself as a ransom for all.
Jesus has been preaching to his disciples, beginning with these words, bluster the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
The kingdom of heaven is for the poor in spirit.
Those who know they cannot get in apart from Christ, no one will get in on his own merits or works.
And now Jesus is wrapping up his sermon with this warning about false prophets.
They would have the outward appearance of true prophets, but they would be ravenous wolves, hungry predators, looking to devour those Christ came to save.
We also heard the warning from Jeremiah in the Old Testament reading, Thus says the Lord of Hosts, Do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you, filling you with vain hopes.
They speak visions of their own minds, not from the mouth of the Lord.
Do not listen to them.
They're filling you with vain, empty hopes.
The Lord does not give vain hope.
His word is certain and true.
It has absolute authority.
So it is like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces.
Jesus warns that there will continue to be false prophets, so beware.
Not everyone who claims to be speaking God's word is doing so.
So the church has been and remains vigilant to false prophets, those who claim to speak God's word, but do not.
So how do you know a false prophet?
Other fruits, specifically the fruits of what they say as supposed prophets.
Not everyone who says to me, Lord, Lord, we'll enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my father, who is in heaven.
On that day, many will say to me, Lord, Lord.
Did we not prophesy in your name and cast out demons in your name and do many mighty works in your name?
And then I will declare to them I never knew you apart from me you workers of lawlessness Not everyone who claims to know the Lord will enter the kingdom of heaven not everyone who calls themselves a Christian is a Christian not everyone who uses Christian speak as a Christian not everyone who Goes to church as a Christian
But Jesus cannot be fooled.
Only those who are in him, know him, known by him, will enter his kingdom.
And Jesus tells us of those who will be before him on the last day.
That judgment.
They'll tell the Lord Jesus the reasons that they believe they should enter his kingdom.
They'll give an impressive list.
of sounding list of things that they had done supposedly in his name But it's not by anything that you do That you enter the kingdom By grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone We know this What people teach and preach matters in some cases it matters eternally false teachings in the church have brought about
The creeds and confessions that we treasure and hold fast to today, creeds such as the nice scene and the longer Athanasian creeds, help us to clarify teachings according to God's word and speak against teachings that are contrary to God's word.
Confessional writings in the book of Concord were a response to the false teachings prevalent at the time.
They had found their way into the church these false teachings teachings were contrary to God's word and They were filling people with vain hope These confessions are still relevant today because they give a true and sound explanation of God's word and they help us to know what is true so that we recognize what is false as a church body and a congregation We don't take the word of God lightly
or the correct understanding of it lightly.
Science Constitution states, this congregation accepts all the canonical books of the Old and New Testament as the revealed and inspired word of God and the only rule of faith in life.
And it accepts all the symbolic books of the evangelical Lutheran church as a true and sound exposition of the word of God.
And so the members of this congregation have a responsibility to know God's word and to know it rightly.
And I like the many pastors who came before me publicly pledged before those who were here in my installation as I had done at my ordination.
I believe and confess the canonical scriptures to be the inspired word of God, the only infallible rule of faith and practice.
But I believe and confess the three ecumenical creeds because they are in accord with the word of God.
I also reject all the errors they condemn.
I said that I make the confessions that are in the book of Concord my own because they're in accord with the word of God and I promised with the help of God to perform my duties in accordance with holy scriptures and with these confessions and I said That the Lord helping me through the power and grace of his holy spirit I will be diligent in the study of holy scriptures and the confessions You and I want the preaching and teaching to be in accordance with
God's word, not based on pastor's personal preferences or choices or influence of the hearers.
We don't want those if they don't come from God.
In this Constitution, the pledge is these are all good and they're helpful.
And yet it's no guarantee.
A false prophet.
doesn't present himself as false.
He's knowingly deceiving the sheep.
He presents himself as a true prophet.
Jesus is warning the hearers, beware of false prophets who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves.
Jesus's warning is for the hearers, pay attention to the fruit and no good fruit from bad fruit.
What is the preacher preaching and teaching?
Whether it be me or some other person who presents himself as a preacher or teacher Regardless of denominational affiliation, what are they saying?
Are the words true in accord with the word of God?
You hear the law of God in its full severity There's nothing in you that merits God's mercy
You were dead in your trespasses, helpless without hope until Christ came to you and saved you from eternal death and condemnation.
Are you hearing that Jesus Christ bore your sins on the cross, purchased and won you from all sins?
From all your sins?
From death?
Do you fear from the power of the devil, all the evil in the world?
Did this with his holy precious blood, with his innocent suffering and death, that you may be his own?
Live under him in his kingdom and everlasting righteousness innocence and blessedness You're hearing that the gifts that Christ won for you on the cross are delivered to you freely baptism holy communion absolution That you may be certain of his promises of forgiveness life and salvation or you're hearing that it's That or you're hearing that you need to do something more
And if you're ever not sure of what you're hearing, if it's correct, then you check it against the word of God.
It moves you to remain in the word of God, to attend Bible studies.
Know the confessions.
Know the catechism.
Because our Lord wants to fill you with certain hope.
He does not want you to be misled.
If you hear words contrary to scripture, do not listen.
Jeremiah said, thus says the Lord of hosts, do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy you, filling you with vain hopes.
They speak visions of their own minds, not from them out to the Lord.
They say continually to those who despise the word of the Lord, it shall be well with you.
And everyone who stubbornly follows his own heart, they say, no disaster shall come upon you.
You don't want your pastor.
to be telling your sin is okay and there's no consequences for your sin.
There are consequences.
Avoid a preacher or teacher who tells you otherwise.
If you continue an ongoing, unrepentant sin, it will not be well with you and there is no hope.
Only hope in Christ.
A faithful prophet will speak God's law, which shows your sins, calls you to repentance, so that your hope is in Christ, in Christ alone.
No matter how persuasive or popular a pastor or teacher may be, there's no hope apart from Christ.
And when we're faced with the severity of our sins and the consequences that we're suffering and deserve, we have only one hope.
And we will all be called to give an account before the judge on the last day.
But our hope is not in ourselves.
Is there anything we've done?
These are vain hopes.
Our hope is in Jesus Christ, good in for us, suffering the punishment we deserve, longing for your sins, to purchase you with his blood, that you may be his own.
In him, your hope is certain.
Christ is the good tree.
And he delivers his good fruit through his word in the sacraments, been grafted in to him through holy baptism.
He nurtures and instructs you in his way by his word.
And through daily repentance and forgiveness, he renews and sustains your hope in him.
Putting to death the old sinful self so that you have life and resurrection in him.
And with his body and blood given for you, delivered to you into your mounts, he keeps you in him, strengthening your faith in him and your love for others.
I may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace and believing so that by the power of the Holy Spirit, you may abound in hope.
In peace, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
For constancy in the word of God, that he who purchased us by his own blood would keep us from arrogance, shortsightedness, and the many wolves that prowl and seek our harm.
Let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
For pastors that they may faithfully lead their flocks, proclaim the law and gospel for the good of God's people, and be shielded from the assaults of the devil.
Let us pray to the Lord.
For all families that God would make each household a place of prayer and devotion to his word, that he would bless parents of young children with patience, that he would give comfort to the childless and abide with the fatherless widows and orphans, the lonely and those separated from their families.
Let us pray to the Lord.
For all governing authorities that they would fear God and foster peace.
For our people, that God would look favorably favorably on them and for our youth, that they would be brought up in the discipline and in right knowledge of Christ, recognizing both God's law and the way of salvation through Him alone.
Let us pray to the Lord.
For all who need healing, strength, or comfort, especially the family of Marge Dorson, Bravicki, Lynn, Anita, Daryl, Lois, Lewis, Marlis, Tim,
Greg, Grant, Doris, Matthew, Megan, Melissa, Mark, Ethel, Dave, Peter, Fred, Harold, Joan, Jaden, Rick, Thorfinn, Lacey, Marilyn, Marlene, George, Ann, Dawn, and Florence.
That they would be defended from the attacks of the evil one and able to join in God's praise.
Let us pray to the Lord.
For a hunger and thirst for the life giving food of the blessed sacrament.
that God would keep impenitence and unbelief far from his table, that he would unite us in the fellowship of the pure teaching of the apostles and prophets so that we would give no offense and bring no division, but eat and drink and faith for the forgiveness of sins and the unity of a true confession.
Let us pray to the Lord.
All these things and whatever else you know that we need grant us father.
for the sake of him who died and rose again and now lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
Let us give thanks unto the Lord.
It is truly good, right, and salutary that we should at all times and at all places give thanks to you, Holy Lord, Almighty Father, everlasting God.
Through Jesus Christ our Lord, who on this day overcame death and the grave, and by his glorious resurrection, opened to us the way of everlasting life.
Therefore, with angels and archangels, and with all the company of heaven, we laud and magnify your glorious name, ever more praising you and saying.
in heaven hallowed be thy name thy kingdom come thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil for thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory.
our Lord Jesus Christ on the night when he was betrayed took bread and when he had given thanks he broke it and gave it to the disciples and said take eat this is my body which is given for you this you and remembrance of me
In the same way also, he took the cup after supper.
And when he had given thanks, he gave it to them saying, drink of it, all of you.
This cup is the New Testament in my blood, which is shed for you for the forgiveness of sins.
This do as often as you drink it and remember it as of me.
The peace of the Lord be with you always.
Thank you for tuning in to the Divine Service at Zion Lutheran Church in Chippewa Falls.
May the word of Christ dwell in you richly.
If you have any prayer requests, please let us know.
You may call us at 715-723-6380 or stop by and visit 110 East Grand Avenue in Chippewa Falls.
If you're looking for a church home, we'll gladly tell you more about Zion or help you find a congregation near you.
These broadcasts are paid for by generous gifts made to our radio fund.
If you'd like to contribute, click the Give tab on our website, ZionLCMSCF.org, or send a check to Zion Lutheran Church Radio Fund, 110 East Grand Avenue, Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, 54729.
Zion is a member of the Lutheran Church, Missouri Synod.
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Good morning and welcome to the broadcast of the Divine Service at Zion Lutheran Church in Chippewa Falls.
To help you follow along, the Order of Worship for today's service is available under the radio tab on our website, ZionLCMSCF.org.
The Lord bless you today through the hearing of His word.
8th Sunday after Trinity.
We'll begin with their opening hymn 578, Thy Strong Word.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Beloved in the Lord, let us draw near with a true heart and confess our sins unto God our Father, beseeching him in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to grant us forgiveness.
Our help is in the name of the Lord.
Amen.
I said I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord.
O Almighty God, merciful Father, I, a poor, miserable sinner, confess unto you all my sins and iniquities, with which I have ever offended you, and just deserve your temple and eternal punishment.
But I am heartily sorry for them, and sincerely repent of them, and I pray you of your boundless mercy.
and for the sake of the holy, innocent, bitter sufferings and death of your beloved son, Jesus Christ, to be gracious and merciful to me, the poor, sinful being.
Upon this, your confession, I, by virtue of my office, as a called and ordained servant of the word, announce the grace of God unto all of you.
And in the stead and by the command of my Lord Jesus Christ,
and forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
We turn to the yellow insert and sing together the intro.
the Spirit to think and do always such things that are right, that we who cannot do anything that is good without you may be enabled by you to live according to your will.
Through Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you in the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Joseph Smith reading for this Sunday after the Trinity is from Jeremiah chapter 23 Thus says the Lord of hosts Do not listen to the words of prophets who prophesy to you filling you with vain hopes They speak visions of their own minds not from the mouth of the Lord They say continually to those who despise the word of the Lord It shall be well with you and everyone who stubbornly follows his own heart.
They say
No disaster shall come upon you.
For who among them has stood in the counsel of the Lord to see and hear his word?
For who has paid attention to his word and listened?
Behold the storm of the Lord.
Wrath has gone forth a whirling tempest.
It will burst upon the head of the wicked.
The anger of the Lord will not turn back until he has executed and accomplished the intents of his heart.
In the latter days, you will understand it clearly.
I did not send the prophets, yet they ran.
I did not speak to them, yet they prophesied.
But if they had stood in my counsel, then they would have proclaimed my words to my people, and they would have turned them from their evil way and from the evil of their deeds.
Am I a God at hand, declares the Lord, and not a God afar off?
Can a man hide himself in secret places so that I cannot see him, declares the Lord?
Do I not feel heaven and earth declares the Lord?
I have heard what the prophets have said, who prophesied lies in my name, saying, I have dreamed.
I have dreamed.
Along shall there be lies in the heart of the prophets, who prophesied lies, and who prophesied the deceit of their own heart, who think to make my people forget my name by their dreams, that they tell one another, even as their fathers forgot my name for by all.
Let the prophet who has a dream tell the dream, but let him who has my word speak my word faithfully.
But as straw and common with wheat declares the Lord, it's not my word like fire declares the Lord, and like a hammer that breaks the rock and pieces.
This is the word of the Lord.
Return to the yellow inserts and sing together the Psalm.
The epistle is from Romans chapter eight.
Abba, father.
The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.
And if children then heirs, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.
This is the word of the Lord.
Stand.
The Holy Gospel, according to St.
Matthew, the seventh chapter.
Jesus said, beware of false prophets who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves.
You will recognize them by their fruits.
Our grapes gathered from thorn bushes or fakes from thistles.
So every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit.
A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit.
Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire, thus you will recognize them by their fruits.
Not everyone who says to me, Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father, who is in heaven, and that day many will say to me, Lord, Lord,
Did we not prophesy in your name and cast out demons in your name and do many mighty works in your name?
Then I will declare to them and never knew you.
Depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.
This is the gospel of the Lord.
Together we confess our faith as written in the words of the Nicene Creed.
I believe in one God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible, and in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, begotten of his Father before all worlds, God of God, light of light, very God, very God, begotten not made, being of one substance with the Father.
by whom all things were made.
Who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the Virgin Mary and was made man and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate.
He suffered and was buried and the third day he rose again according to the scriptures and descended into heaven.
and sits at the right hand of the Father, and he will come again with glory to judge both the living and the dead, whose kingdom will have no end.
And I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified, who is spoke by the prophets.
And I believe in one holy Christian and apostolic church.
I acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins, and I look for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come.
Amen.
Grace to you in peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Amen.
Beware of false prophets who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves.
Jesus gives a stark warning to those listening to this Sermon on the Mount.
These desires that all people be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth.
There is one God and there is one mediator between God and men.
the man Jesus Christ who gave himself as a ransom for all.
Jesus has been preaching to his disciples, beginning with these words, blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
The kingdom of heaven is for the poor in spirit, those who know they cannot get in apart from Christ.
No one will get in on his own merits or works.
Now Jesus is wrapping up his sermon with this warning about false prophets.
They would have the outward appearance of true prophets, but they would be ravenous wolves, hungry predators, looking to devour those Christ came to save.
We also heard the warning from Jeremiah in the Old Testament reading, Thus says the Lord of hosts, Do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you, filling you with vain hopes.
They speak visions of their own minds, not from the mouth of the Lord.
Do not listen to them.
They're filling you with vain, empty hopes.
The Lord does not give vain hope.
His word is certain and true.
It has absolute authority.
So it is like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces.
Jesus warns that there will continue to be false prophets, so beware.
Not everyone who claims to be speaking God's word is doing so.
So the church has been and remains vigilant to false prophets, those who claim to speak God's word, but do not.
So how do you know a false prophet?
They're fruits, specifically the fruits of what they say as supposed prophets.
Not everyone who says to me, Lord, Lord, we'll enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my father, who is in heaven.
On that day, many will say to me, Lord, Lord,
Did we not prophesy in your name and cast out demons in your name and do many mighty works in your name?
And then I will declare to them I never knew you apart from me you workers of lawlessness Not everyone who claims to know the Lord will enter the kingdom of heaven not everyone who calls themselves a Christian is a Christian not everyone who uses Christian speak as a Christian not everyone who Goes to church as a Christian
But Jesus cannot be fooled.
Only those who are in him, know him, known by him, will enter his kingdom.
And Jesus tells us of those who will be before him on the last day at judgment.
And they'll tell the Lord Jesus the reasons that they believe they should enter his kingdom.
They'll give an impressive list.
Cross of sounding list of things that they had done supposedly in his name But it's not by anything that you do that you enter the kingdom by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone We know this What people teach and preach matters in some cases it matters eternally false teachings in the church have brought about
The creeds and confessions that we treasure and hold fast to today, creeds such as the nice scene and the longer Athanasian creeds, help us to clarify teachings according to God's word and speak against teachings that are contrary to God's word.
Confessional writings in the book of Concord were a response to the false teachings prevalent at the time.
They had found their way into the church these false teachings teachings were contrary to God's word and They were filling people with vain hope These confessions are still relevant today because they give a true and sound explanation of God's word and they help us to know what is true so that we recognize what is false as a church body and a congregation We don't take the word of God lightly
or the correct understanding of it lightly.
Science Constitution states, this congregation accepts all the canonical books of the Old and New Testament as the revealed and inspired word of God and the only rule of faith in life.
And it accepts all the symbolic books of the evangelical Lutheran church as a true and sound exposition of the word of God.
And so the members of this congregation have a responsibility to know God's word and to know it rightly.
And I like the many pastors who came before me publicly pledged before those who were here in my installation as I had done at my ordination.
I believe and confess the canonical scriptures to be the inspired Word of God, the only infallible rule of faith and practice.
But I believe and confess the three ecumenical creeds because they are in accord with the Word of God.
I also reject all the errors they condemn.
I said that I make the confessions that are in the book of Concord my own because they're in accord with the word of God and I promised with the help of God to perform my duties in accordance with holy scriptures and with these confessions and I said That the Lord helping me through the power and grace of his holy spirit I will be diligent in the study of holy scriptures and the confessions You and I want the preaching and teaching to be in accordance with
God's word, not based on pastors' personal preferences or choices or influence of the hearers.
We don't want those if they don't come from God.
In this Constitution, the pledge is, these are all good and they're helpful, and yet it's no guarantee.
A false prophet
doesn't present himself as false.
He's knowingly deceiving the sheep.
He presents himself as a true prophet.
Jesus is warning the hearers, beware of false prophets who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves.
Jesus's warning is for the hearers, pay attention to the fruit and no good fruit from bad fruit.
What is the preacher preaching and teaching?
whether it be me or some other person who presents himself as a preacher or teacher.
Regardless of denominational affiliation, what are they saying?
Are the words true in accord with the word of God?
You hear the law of God in its full severity.
There's nothing in you that merits God's mercy.
You were dead in your trespasses, helpless without hope until Christ came to you and saved you from eternal death and condemnation.
Are you hearing that Jesus Christ bore your sins on the cross?
Purchased and won you from all sins.
From all your sins.
From death.
You fear from the power of the devil, all the evil in the world.
Did this with his holy precious blood, with his innocent suffering of death that you may be his own.
Live under him in his kingdom and everlasting righteousness innocence and blessedness You're hearing that the gifts that Christ won for you on the cross are delivered to you freely your baptism holy communion absolution That you may be certain of his promises of forgiveness life and salvation.
Are you hearing that it's That or you're hearing that you need to do something more
And if you're ever not sure of what you're hearing, if it's correct, then you check it against the word of God.
It moves you to remain in the word of God, to attend Bible studies.
No, the confessions.
No, the catechism.
Because our Lord wants to fill you with certain hope.
He does not want you to be misled.
If you hear words contrary to scripture, do not listen.
Jeremiah said, thus says the Lord of hosts, do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy you, filling you with vain hopes.
They speak visions of their own minds, not from them out to the Lord.
They say continually to those who despise the word of the Lord, it shall be well with you.
And to everyone who stubbornly follows his own heart, they say, no disaster shall come upon you.
You don't want your pastor
to be telling your sin is okay and there's no consequences for your sin.
There are consequences.
Avoid a preacher or teacher who tells you otherwise.
If you continue an ongoing, unrepentant sin, it will not be well with you and there is no hope.
Only hope in Christ.
A faithful prophet will speak God's law, which shows your sins, calls you to repentance, so that your hope is in Christ, in Christ alone.
No matter how persuasive or popular a pastor or teacher may be, there's no hope apart from Christ.
And when we're faced with the severity of our sins and the consequences that we're suffering and deserve, we have only one hope.
And we will all be called to give an account before the judge on the last day.
But our hope is not in ourselves.
Is there anything we've done?
These are vain hopes.
Our hope is in Jesus Christ, good in for us, suffering the punishment we deserve, longing for your sins, to purchase you with his blood, that you may be his own.
In him, your hope is certain.
Christ is the good tree.
And he delivers his good fruit through his word in the sacraments, been grafted in to him through holy baptism.
He nurtures and instructs you in his way by his word.
And through daily repentance and forgiveness, he renews and sustains your hope in him.
Putting to death the old sinful self so that you have life and resurrection in him.
And with his body and blood given for you, delivered to you into your mounts, he keeps you in him, strengthening your faith in him and your love for others.
Amen.
God of hope fill you with all joy and peace and believing so that by the power of the Holy Spirit, you may abound in hope.
Amen.
In peace, let us pray to the Lord, Lord of mercy.
For constant see in the word of God, that he who purchased us by his own blood would keep us from arrogance, shortsightedness, and the many wolves that prowl and seek our harm, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord of mercy.
For pastors that they may faithfully lead their flocks, proclaim the law and gospel for the good of God's people, and be shielded from the assaults of the devil.
Let us pray to the Lord.
For all families that God would make each household a place of prayer and devotion to his word, that he would bless parents of young children with patience, that he would give comfort to the childless and abide with the fatherless widows and orphans, the lonely and those separated from their families.
Let us pray to the Lord.
For all governing authorities that they would fear God and foster peace.
For our people, that God would look favorably favorably on them, and for our youth, that they would be brought up in the discipline and in right knowledge of Christ, recognizing both God's law and the way of salvation through Him alone.
Let us pray to the Lord.
For all who need healing, strength, or comfort, especially the family of Marge Dorson, Bravicki, Lynn, Anita, Daryl, Lois, Lewis, Marlis, Tim,
Greg, Grant, Doris, Matthew, Megan, Melissa, Mark, Ethel, Dave, Peter, Fred, Harold, Joan, Jaden, Rick, Dorfinn, Lacey, Marilyn, Marlene, George, Ann, Dawn, and Florence, that they would be defended from the attacks of the evil one and able to join in God's praise.
Let us pray to the Lord.
For a hunger and thirst for the life-giving food of the blessed sacrament.
that God would keep impenitence and unbelief far from his table, that he would unite us in the fellowship of the pure teaching of the apostles and prophets, that we would give no offense and bring no division, but eat and drink and faith for the forgiveness of sins and the unity of a true confession.
Let us pray to the Lord.
All these things and whatever else you know that we need grant us father.
for the sick of him who died and rose again, and now lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
with you lift up your hearts
us give thanks unto the Lord
It is truly good, right, and salutary that we should at all times and at all places give thanks to you, Holy Lord, Almighty Father, everlasting God.
Through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who on this day overcame death and the grave, and by his glorious resurrection, opened to us the way of everlasting life.
Therefore, with angels and archangels, and with all the company of heaven, we laud and magnify your glorious name, ever more praising you and saying.
be thy name thy kingdom come thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil for thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever
Our Lord Jesus Christ on the night when he was betrayed took bread.
And when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to the disciples and said, take, eat.
This is my body, which is given for you, this due and remembrance of me.
In the same way also, he took the cup after supper.
And when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, Drink of it, all of you.
This cup is the New Testament in my blood, which is shed for you for the forgiveness of sins.
This do as often as you drink it in remembrance of me.
The peace of the Lord be with you always.
Thank you for tuning in to the Divine Service at Zion Lutheran Church in Chippewa Falls.
May the word of Christ dwell in you richly.
If you have any prayer requests, please let us know.
You may call us at 715-723-6380 or stop by and visit 110 East Grand Avenue in Chippewa Falls.
If you're looking for a church home, we'll gladly tell you more about Zion or help you find a congregation near you.
These broadcasts are paid for by generous gifts made to our radio fund
If you'd like to contribute, click the Give tab on our website, ZionLCMSCF.org, or send a check to Zion Lutheran Church Radio Fund, 110 East Grand Avenue, Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, 54729.
Zion is a member of the Lutheran Church, Missouri Synod.
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