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.
is 587.
I know my faith is founded 587.
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.
Be seeking 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.
Oh, 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 justly deserve 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 in death of your beloved son, Jesus Christ, to be gracious and merciful to me, the poorest and full 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 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.
Lord, we implore you, grant your people grace to withstand the temptations of the devil and with pure hearts and minds to follow you, the only God, through Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you in the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
The Old Testament reading is from Proverbs chapter 25.
Do not put yourself forward into King's presence or stand in the place of the great.
Or it is better to be told, come up here, that it be put lower in the presence of a noble.
Your eyes have seen, do not hastily bring into court for what you do in the end when your neighbor puts you to shame.
Argue your case with your neighbor himself.
and do not reveal another secret, lest he who hears you bring shame upon you and your ill repute have no end.
A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver.
Like a gold ring or an ornament of gold is a wise reprover to a listening ear.
Like the cold of snow and the time of harvest is a faithful messenger to those who sent him.
He refreshes the soul of his masters.
like clouds and wind without rain, as a man who boasts of a gift he does not give.
This is the word of the Lord.
We turn to the yellow insert and sing together the gradual.
The epistle is from Ephesians chapter 4.
One faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all, through all, and in all.
This is the word of the Lord.
Please stand in honor of the gospel.
The Holy Gospel according to St.
Luke, the 14th chapter.
One Sabbath, when Jesus went to dine at the house of a ruler of the Pharisees, they were watching him carefully.
And behold, there was a man before him who had dropped him.
And Jesus responded to the lawyers and Pharisees saying, is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath or not?
but they remained silent.
Then he took him and healed him and sent him away.
He said to them, which of you having a son or an ox that has fallen into a well on Sabbath day will not immediately pull him out.
They could not reply to these things.
Now he told a parable to those who were invited.
When he noticed how they chose the places of honor, saying to them, when you are invited by someone to a wedding feast, do not sit down in a place of honor.
less someone more distinguished than you be invited by him and he who invited you both will come and say to you give your place to this person and when you will begin with shame to take the lowest place but when you are invited go and sit in the lowest place so that when your host comes he may say to you friend move up higher then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at table with you for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled he who humbles himself
will be insulted.
It is the gospel of the Lord.
We confess our faith together in the words of the Nicene Creed.
I believe in one God, a 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 spoke about 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.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
In the Gospel account, who do you identify with?
You have the man with dropsy.
You have this physical affliction.
This condition causes swelling and discomfort.
It's what we call edema today.
So he's disfigured.
His condition is obvious to everybody.
So maybe you have physical ailments, afflictions that...
He can identify with this man.
In addition, man with drops, he's considered unclean because of this condition.
Many people assumed that the condition was punishment for sin.
So they thought it was something he deserved that he brought upon himself.
Maybe you can identify with that.
You live with the consequences of what you've done or people assuming that you're suffering because of what you're done.
You're so conscious about what other people think about you and your condition and your situation.
Maybe you like the man with dropsy feel out of place.
Look down upon by others.
Or maybe you identify with the Pharisees in the gospel.
They are situated pretty well and they're sitting back watching other people quietly, assessing them.
Judging them their standards But they keep seem to be good to themselves and to their peers and so they become proud or hearted Rather than show compassion to the man with dropsy they use the situation actually to try to trap Jesus their ideas that He's got a predicament either he shows compassion and heals or he their opinion breaks the
laws of the Sabbath, they misunderstand God in his word and the opinion of others is more important than knowing God.
Actually put themselves over God in his word.
You find yourself quietly judging others, neglecting to help others in need.
Putting yourself above God in this word what you might identify with Pharisees Happens in our pride And like the Pharisees we get good at self-justifying ourselves in front of other people Maybe you identify with both Sometimes you are aware of your affliction need
or help and mercy.
But other times, you're so concerned with what other people think about you that you are looking critically at others, trying to do what you can to impress others, caught up with comparing, justifying yourself, actually ignore the needs of the people around you.
As in the gospel account,
Jesus sees it all.
He sees our needs.
He sees our affliction.
He sees our need for healing, our need for cleansing, for restoration, our need for acceptance.
He also sees our pride.
He sees our need to be humbled.
And Jesus gives us a third alternative to identify with himself.
St.
Paul explained in Philippians, Christ Jesus, who though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God, I think to be grasped, but made himself nothing.
Taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men and being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death and a cross.
Therefore, God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name.
So that the name of Jesus, every knee should bow in heaven and on earth and under the earth.
And every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God, the Father.
Jesus did this, humbling himself to the point of death.
For the man with dropsy, for the Pharisees, for you and for me, Jesus identified with you.
so that you can identify with him.
He came to us with all of our needs.
He brought us into himself for our baptism.
And that's where he took on our afflictions, took on our pride, our sins.
He bore them on the cross so that they would be put to death.
Jesus rose from the dead to assure you that in him you are healed, who are made clean.
You have new life in him.
You are restored.
And he has specifically called you to live in this new life with him.
And in him, those St.
Paul says in our epistle today, I urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the spirit and the bond of peace.
We have this calling to walk with humility.
And it's our Lord that enables us to do this.
We come here to the divine service, confessing our sins with humility.
Because Christ Jesus himself, who has been highly exalted, made king of kings and Lord of lords, he invites you to a wedding feast with him.
And there are many here, many with afflictions.
Some are obvious.
Some quietly watching.
And Jesus says, to sit in the lowest place.
Humble yourself before Him.
Your place is not for you to take, but for Him to give.
And so, conduct yourself with all loneliness and gentleness, bearing with one another with love.
That the king may give you glory in the presence of others at the table with you Or everyone who exalts himself will be humbled and he who humbles himself will be exalted To the humble at his supper he says friend move up higher Giving you his very body and blood for your forgiveness That you may ascent to take part in the great wedding feast that has no end Your true identity is in Jesus
He knows your afflictions, and he promises you healing and renewal in himself.
He also knows your pride.
Does everyone who exalts himself will be humbled?
If you come before him thinking that you are worthy to be in the presence of his presence because of your own goodness or righteousness, fulfilling whatever standards you have set up, he will say to you, give your place to another.
There is no place for pride in the presence of God.
So thank him when you are humbled from your pride.
It does happen through afflictions and life events.
It may happen when you think of yourself more highly than your aunt and somebody puts you in your place.
Thank the Lord for that.
And it happens when our Lord confronts us with his word.
This word is where we are revealed our true sinful nature, our pride, our hard hearts, our lack of confession, compassion, and our poor inflated self-interest.
So he brings us to that penitent contrition so that we may return to our true identity and hymn.
So that we may walk in a manner worthy of the calling to what you have been called, all humility and gentleness.
with patience, bearing one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of peace and the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace.
May him be the glory now and forever.
Amen.
I made the peace that passes all understanding.
Keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
Amen.
I would like Carol and Joanna and Susan to come up here now.
Carol and Joanna are regular Sunday school teachers.
Susan is our substitute.
I'm going to ask you to come all the way up here.
They get a better view.
So we're going to install them today is kind of the beginning of another year.
Dear sisters in Christ, you are to be installed as Sunday School teachers here at Zion Lutheran Church, a work in which our Father in heaven has great joy.
Hear the word of the Lord.
Hero Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one.
You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your might.
And these words I command you today shall be on your heart.
You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.
Beloved in the Lord, You are to assist me, the minister of the Word and sacrament, in the instruction of God's people according to His holy word.
You are to prepare yourselves for this work by your individual and corporate study of the Word of God and the faith drawn from it.
as it has been delivered to us in the small catechism.
While holiness of life and obedience to Christ are expected of all members of the congregation, it is especially important that you show yourselves by word and example to be faithful to him in service and Christian devotion.
In the presence of God and of this congregation, I therefore ask you, do you accept the position entrusted to you
And do you promise faithfully to carry out your duties, trusting in the Lord and conforming yourself to his word in accordance with the faith of the evangelical Lutheran Church?
If so, then answer, I do.
Beloved in the Lord, you have heard the promises of faithfulness spoken by these women.
Do you promise to support them in their work, to remember them in their prayers,
And to work with them to the best of the abilities that God has given you, so that he may be glorified and his work be done in our midst.
If so, then answer, we do.
Sisters in Christ, install you as teachers, Sunday School teachers at Zion Lutheran Church, the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
the almighty and most merciful God enlighten and strengthen you in your service that you may be good and faithful leaders and teachers to the glory of his name and the salvation of his people.
Amen.
Please stand.
Let us pray.
O God, grant to these your people the gifts of wisdom and discretion, kindness and faithfulness.
so that they may effectively teach and guide, and grant to all your people a ready willingness to learn.
Let the knowledge of your word be preserved and extended among us, so that all may know and praise you now and forever.
Through Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you in the Holy Spirit, one God now and forever.
Amen.
Go in the name of the Lord.
Be steadfast, immovable.
always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing in that in the Lord your labor is not in vain, the almighty and most merciful God, the Father, God and the Holy Spirit, bless and preserve you.
Let us pray for the whole Church of God in Christ Jesus and for all people according to their needs.
King of kings, your son came as a servant to save mankind, receiving all authority at your right hand.
Give your church destined to share his throne faithful hearts that we may serve the world in your name, Lord, in your mercy, your prayer.
O God, preserve and give success to the preaching of your holy word.
through pastors, missionaries, church workers, and the priesthood of all believers, then forth your sons gracious invitation to repent and believe and cause it to be received with joyful faith.
Lord, in your mercy.
Holy Lord, you have given your gift of holy marriage and you preserve this estate against the forces of sin and Satan.
Bless all married couples.
Keep them faithful to each other in their vows.
and ready to welcome your gift of children in their union, according to your will.
Lord, in your mercy.
Lord of all, your son teaches authorities to receive their positions with patience and not grasp them for themselves.
Praise the humble and wise leaders for the good of all nations.
Lord, in your mercy.
Father in heaven, look in kindness upon those who have been humbled by the troubles of this life.
And for those who grieve, especially the family of Pastor Jones, Dickie, Lynn, Anita, Lois, Lewis, Marlis, Greg, Grant, Doris, Matthew, Megan, Melissa, Mark, Ethel, Dave, Peter, Fred, Harold, John, Jaden, Rick, Orphan, Lacey, Marilyn, Marlene, George, Anna, Dawn, and Florence, lift them up in healing and renew their strength.
to serve you and what you have called them to do, Lord, in your mercy.
Divine Master, you graciously invite us to join you in the feast of this sacrament, grant that we would come taking the lowest place in repentance and pleading your mercy, that our hearts may be lifted up to the honor of receiving Christ's very body and blood, Lord, in your mercy.
Lord God, author of all concord, you will
you will that your people be one.
Knit together your holy church that according to our vocations, we may join in humble service of the word and jubilant praise of you, the only God, Lord, in your mercy.
These and whatsoever other things you would have us ask of you, O God, grant us for the sake of Jesus Christ, your only Son, our Lord and Savior, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit.
one God now and forever.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
We continue with the service of the sacrament beginning on page 194.
The Lord be with you.
Lift up your hearts.
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 out of love for his fallen creation humbled himself by taking on the form of a servant, becoming obedient unto death, even death upon a cross, risen from the dead.
He has freed us from eternal death and has given us life everlasting.
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.
Art 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 breath 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, cooked bread.
And when he had given thanks, he gave it, he broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, hey, 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 to all of you.
This cup is the New Testament in my blood, which is shed for you for the forgiveness of sins.
This too is 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.