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.
Good morning and welcome to our worship service.
Our opening hymn is 906, a day of rest and gladness.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
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.
I said I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord.
O Almighty God, merciful Father, I of poor, miserable sinner, confess unto you all my sins and iniquities, with which I have ever offended you, and justly deserved your temporal 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, a poor, sinful being.
Upon this, your confession, by virtue of my office, as a called and ordained servant of the Word, announced the grace of God unto all of you.
And in this 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.
gracious to
Let us pray.
Oh,
Lord, we pray that your grace may always go before and after us, that we may continually be given to all good works.
Through Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Gil testament reading is from first Kings chapter 17 After this the son of the woman the mistress of the house became ill His illness was so severe that there was no breath left in him and she said to Elijah What have you against me a man of God?
You have come to me to bring my sin to remembrance and to cause the death of my son He said to her give me your son
And he took him from her arms and carried him up into the upper chamber where he lodged and laid him on his own bed.
And he cried to the Lord, O Lord, my God, have you brought calamity even upon the widow with whom I sojourned by killing her son?
And he stretched himself upon the child three times and cried to the Lord, O Lord, my God, let this child's life come into him again.
And the Lord listened to the voice of Elijah.
And the life of the child came into him again and he revived.
And Elijah took the child and brought him down from the upper chamber into the house and delivered him to his mother.
And Elijah said, see, your son lives.
And the woman said to Elijah, now I know that you are a man of God and that the word of the Lord in your mouth is true.
This is the word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
We turn to the yellow insert and sing together the gradual.
The official reading is from Ephesians chapter three.
So I ask you not to lose heart over what I'm suffering for you, which is your glory.
For this reason, I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named that according to the riches of his glory, he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your heart through faith.
that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend what all the saints, what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think according to the power of work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations.
forever and ever.
Amen.
Please stand in honor of the gospel.
The holy gospel, according to St.
Luke, the seventh chapter.
Soon afterward, Jesus went to a town called Nain, and his disciples in a great crowd went with him.
As he drew near to the gate of the town, behold, a man who had died was being carried out, the only son of his mother.
And she was a widow.
And a considerable crowd from the town was with her.
And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her and said to her, do not weep.
Then he came up and touched the beer, and the bearer stood still.
And he said, young man, I say to arise.
And the dead man sat up and began to speak.
And Jesus gave him to his mother.
Fear seized them all.
And they glorified God, saying, a great prophet has arisen among us.
And God has visited his people.
And this report about him spread through the whole of Judea and all the surrounding country.
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 married.
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 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.
The help is being called and we have two nurses here.
Megan is resting.
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit Amen Lots going on this morning What's going on in our readings this morning and it's good to see what the Lord is revealing to us because we see
We have nothing to worry about because he has overcome all the enemy's death included.
In both of our Old Testament Gospel readings today, we have a widow confronted with the death of her only son.
Reef is intense.
The husband that she had been joined to by God has been taken away by death.
Now her only son, whom she loves, is dead.
Refills the law securely and deeply these To whom God had given her shared to share life with his family or gone And if that were not enough for safety and security in this life or gone life as a widow was difficult enough in those days It would have been dependent on her son to provide and protect her That this take it away her loved ones safety security
Our Lord wants you to recognize the desperate situation of the widows in the field of pain, of their grief, as he does.
He also wants you to know that there is nothing you can do to avoid or overcome death.
Death is the enemy.
Death is the result of sin in the world.
Death entered the world when Adam and Eve fell in the garden.
And it is not left since.
The wages of sin are death.
We all deserve and expect to die.
The same is true for our loved ones.
And even though there's nothing that you can do to avoid or overcome death, the Lord wants you to know that he has the power over death.
Death is not the end of the story.
In both accounts, we heard today of a widow grieving the death of her only son, and God brings life to the dead.
He does this out of compassion for the grieving widows.
Also does this to show us his power, his power over death, that we can trust him, trust his word, trust who he is, trust the promises that he gives us.
In the account we heard from the Old Testament, it's through Elijah, God's prophet, that the son is brought from death to life and tenderly returned to his mother.
This prophet knows how devastating this is for the widow.
You may recall from last Sunday that the Lord has been taking care of these three together.
There was that severe drought and she was ready to die, preparing her final meal with her son.
God sent Elijah and according to the word of the Lord God spoke through the prophet God miraculously provided for them Not letting the flower or oil run out so they would live and so he's so journeying with this family And the Sun gets sick and dies She's grieving intensely now what?
What could she do?
What could anyone do?
Elijah cries out to the Lord on her behalf.
Graciously, immersively, listened to the prayer of Elijah.
He turned life to the child.
Elijah tenderly gives the child to his mother.
A woman responds.
Now I know that you are a man of God and that the word of the Lord in your mouth is true.
God is demonstrating his power over death and he's assuring us that we can trust the word of the Lord that comes through the mouth of Elijah and all of his prophets so that we can trust and hold sacred his word, the words recorded in scripture that we need not doubt.
or fear the enemies that amongst them.
We also know that a greater prophet was still to come who would fulfill all the words of the prophets.
And he did come in the person of Jesus Christ several hundred years later.
Our gospel reading Jesus is journeying to Jerusalem.
That's where he would ultimately reveal himself and complete the work that he came to accomplish.
In the reading today, Jesus encounters the grieving widow near name.
He's in a funeral procession to bury her only son.
She's openly weeping.
This is when Jesus sees her.
He approaches the town.
He's got a big crowd of followers.
Then on the way out of town is large funeral procession.
Jesus sees the grieving widow weeping as she walks with a crowd to bury her only son.
This has compassion on her.
Deeply moved by her pain, her situation.
There's nothing she can do.
There is only one who can do anything about death.
He sees her as compassion on her.
He tells her not to weep.
He's not simply speaking empty words.
Jesus is directly confronting the source of grief.
Jesus himself is the resurrection and the life.
It's confronting death.
Death, as I said, came into creation as a result of man's sin.
And it's been causing pain and suffering ever since.
Jesus has come into the world to defeat death and to bring life.
A new creation that in life meets face to face at the gate of the city of Nain.
Jesus doesn't wait for an invitation.
He doesn't need it.
He doesn't ask permission.
He doesn't need it.
Jesus does what is neither expected nor requested, touches this open coffin and speaks his life generating word.
Young man, I say to you, arise.
The word of the Lord.
The dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother.
When Luke tells us of this account of Jesus giving his son to the mother, he's intentionally using the same phrase used in the Old Testament when the prophet Elijah gave the son to his mother.
The crowd around Jesus makes the connection.
They understand.
Jesus gave this newly resurrected son to his mother, fear, awe, wonder, amazement, fear of God, fear seized them all and they glorified God saying, a great prophet has arisen among us.
They responded this way because Jesus had done what the great prophet Elijah had done.
He raised the only son of the widow from death to life and gave the son to his mother.
This indicated to them that Jesus was a great prophet.
Jesus' miracle went beyond what Elijah did.
Elijah prayed to God to give life to the dead son.
He prayed.
Jesus spoke directly to the dead son.
He's more than a prophet.
He is God.
And by his word, Jesus brings life to the dead.
We need not doubt that there's anything God
and do for us in Christ Jesus.
Not only that, Jesus is compassionate, he sees our needs.
And he comes to us through his word to deliver what he's accomplished for us through his own death and resurrection.
After returning the widow's son to her Jesus continued his journey to Jerusalem where he would be put to death.
He is the only son of God who willingly give up his life.
for you.
Went to Jerusalem to suffer and to die on the cross because of his compassion for you.
The crowd recognized Jesus as the great prophet to come, but they had not yet understood that Jesus must suffer and die as the word of the Lord had revealed through the prophets of old.
It was through his death that Jesus would defeat death.
And it was by his blood that our sins would be atoned for.
Jesus' compassion for us is so great that it gave his only begotten and beloved son to suffer and die in our place rather than lose us to the eternal suffering and death that we deserve.
The wages of sin were paid in full at the cross.
Death has no power over Jesus.
Death has no power over those who are in Jesus.
The devil has no claim on Jesus or those who belong to him.
His resurrection on the third date assures us of his victory over sin and death and the devil and now he brings this life to you Resurrected life He's your condition He has compassion on you and he cares for you.
He chose this care for you through the people in your life There's about your life now when the Lord raised the widow son from death
He not only revealed his power over death, but he also returned the sons to their mothers to care for them in this life The Lord gives you people in your life to care for you in this life He also puts you into people's lives to care for them in this life And he assures you that you could trust him at all circumstances.
There's no problem or dilemma so great that he cannot help
You can always trust in the Lord.
Christ lives and reigns at the right hand of God and nothing is impossible for him.
He can restore life to the dead.
Don't be overwhelmed when things go badly.
Don't be overwhelmed when you face death, yourself or a loved one.
Christ has defeated death on the cross and he offers life to all who believe in him.
that there's no hold on those who are in Christ.
According to the Jewish law, a person who touched a dead body or their open casket would be considered ceremonially unclean.
They would be defiled by touching death.
But when Jesus touched the casket of the son, the dead son, it went the other way.
When Jesus touches death, life in fact is death.
Jesus makes the dead to live and the defile holy.
Jesus saw us and had compassion on us.
He touched us in our baptism.
He absorbed our sin and death into himself and gave us his holiness and life in exchange.
Join to Christ's death and resurrection.
Our sinful self was put to death and we were raised a new person in Christ.
God has given you to the people in your life to care for them.
It show compassion to the grieving and the needy.
And you can assure them that Christ has overcome death.
Give testimony to this every time we gather, every time we receive body and blood given for you.
That Jesus Christ is the resurrection in the life.
Amen.
May the peace that passes all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
Amen Please stand
In peace, let us pray to the Lord, Lord, have mercy.
For confidence in Christ, who has risen to put an end to death, that we would not lose heart in the face of sorrow, that the Spirit would strengthen us with his power, and that we would know the love of Christ, and through him no longer weep.
Let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
For all pastors, church planters, and congregations that they might receive hope, renewal, and endurance from God.
and that fear would never keep us from the word and the sacraments.
Let us pray to the Lord.
For our homes, especially in times of loss and heartache, that hearing our cries, our faithful Father would bless us and renew our faith and life in him.
Let us pray to the Lord.
For those who bear the sword and rule the nations in the stead of Christ, that they would do so faithfully.
ever mindful of his authority over all things.
Let us pray to the Lord.
For all who are ill, receiving treatments, especially Megan, Vicki, Lynn, Anita, Lewis, Louis, Marlis, Tim, Greg, Grant, Doris, Matthew, Melissa, Mark, Ethel, Dave, Peter, Fred, Harold, Joan, Jaden, Rick, Thorfinn, Lacey.
Marilyn, Marlene, George, Anna, Dawn, and Florence, that they would be relieved of discomfort and granted healing and recovery according to God's will.
And so glorify him in all things.
Let us pray to the Lord.
For all who commune this day, that they may receive this sacrament rightly as Christ's true medicine of immortality, and that with faith, strength, and sins forgiven,
They may live in holiness and godliness.
Let us pray to the Lord.
For a faithful path through this fallen world, that we may join the saints in heaven, know as we are known and comprehend the fullness of the love of Christ.
Let us pray to the Lord.
O Lord Heavenly Father, we gratefully remember the sufferings and death of your dear Son, Jesus Christ, for our salvation.
Rejoicing in his victorious resurrection from the dead, we draw strength from his ascension before you, wherever stands for us as our own high priest.
Gather us together from the ends of the earth to celebrate with all the faithful the marriage feast of the Lamb and his kingdom which has no end.
Graciously receive our prayers, deliver and preserve us.
For to you alone we give all glory, honor and worship.
Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
one God now and forever.
Amen.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with us
all.
Amen.
with you.
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
forever and ever.
Amen.
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 hey eat this is my body which is given for you this do in 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 goes 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.
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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.