FOURTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

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August 29, 2021

Moses’ Encouragement to the Israelites

Today we consider what it means to be wise and understanding people of God. As we examine the words of encouragement from Moses to the Israelites in Deuteronomy 4, we will see that God’s wise and understanding people are given God’s Word and keep God’s Word. God is near His people with His goodness and grace shown to us today in His Word and Sacraments. God’s Word is what kept the Israelites as they entered the Promised Land. God’s Word is the sword of the Spirit, a portion of the armor of God we are given and told to put on. God’s Word leads us, protects us, and helps us fight against the evil one.

+ PREPARATION +

OPENING HYMN: #566 – By Grace I’m Saved

1    By grace I’m saved, grace free and boundless;
    My soul, believe and doubt it not.
Why stagger at this word of promise?
    Has Scripture ever falsehood taught?
No! Then this word must true remain:
By grace you too will life obtain.

2    By grace! None dare lay claim to merit;
    Our works and conduct have no worth.
God in His love sent our Redeemer,
    Christ Jesus, to this sinful earth;
His death did for our sins atone,
And we are saved by grace alone.

3    By grace God’s Son, our only Savior,
    Came down to earth to bear our sin.
Was it because of your own merit
    That Jesus died your soul to win?
No, it was grace, and grace alone,
That brought Him from His heav’nly throne.

4    By grace! This ground of faith is certain;
    As long as God is true, it stands.
What saints have penned by inspiration,
    What in His Word our God commands,
Our faith in what our God has done
Depends on grace—grace through His Son.

5    By grace to timid hearts that tremble,
    In tribulation’s furnace tried,
By grace, in spite of fear and trouble,
    The Father’s heart is open wide.
Where could I help and strength secure
If grace were not my anchor sure?

6    By grace! On this I’ll rest when dying;
    In Jesus’ promise I rejoice;
For though I know my heart’s condition,
    I also know my Savior’s voice.
My heart is glad, all grief has flown
Since I am saved by grace alone.

Text: Public domain

INVOCATION

Pastor: In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit.

People: Amen.

OPENING SENTENCES

Pastor: Lord, the unfolding of Your words gives light.

People: Your Word imparts understanding to the simple.

Pastor: Keep steady our steps according to Your promise,

People: and let no iniquity gain dominion over us.

Pastor: Cast us not away from Your presence,

People: and take not Your Holy Spirit from us.

Pastor: Restore to us the joy of Your salvation,

People: and uphold us with a willing spirit.

CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION

Pastor: We are God’s people. Through His Word, He has given us wisdom and understanding to follow His ways. Yet, there are times when we have chosen foolishness over wisdom, willful ignorance instead of understanding. Still, even now, our heavenly Father invites us to come to Him and ask for forgiveness.

Silence for reflection.

Pastor: Heavenly Father,

People: we have ignored Your Word. We have lived according to our own commands rather than Yours. We have chosen the wisdom of the world instead of Your perfect wisdom. Forgive us, create in us new hearts, and renew right spirits within us, so that we may follow where You are leading, for the sake of Jesus. Amen.

Pastor: Almighty God, in His infinite wisdom and grace, sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to die and rise for our sins. Because of Jesus, the joy of our salvation is restored, and no iniquity can remain in dominion over us. Therefore, as a called and ordained servant of Christ and by His authority, I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit.

People: Amen. We are forgiven in Christ. We have been cleansed of our sin. Amen.

+ WORD +

PSALM Psalm 119:129–136 (spoken responsively by verse)

¹²⁹Your testimonies are wonderful;

therefore my soul keeps them.

¹³⁰The unfolding of your words gives light;

it imparts understanding to the simple.

¹³¹I open my mouth and pant,

because I long for your commandments.

¹³²Turn to me and be gracious to me,

as is your way with those who love your name.

¹³³Keep steady my steps according to your promise,

and let no iniquity get dominion over me.

¹³⁴Redeem me from man’s oppression,

that I may keep your precepts.

¹³⁵Make your face shine upon your servant,

and teach me your statutes.

¹³⁶My eyes shed streams of tears,

because people do not keep your law.

KYRIE

Pastor: In peace, let us pray to the Lord.

People: Lord, have mercy.

Pastor: For peace in our hearts and calm in our nation, let us pray to the Lord.

People: Lord, have mercy.

Pastor: For peace among nations, growth in the Church, unity of faith, and proclamation among all believers, let us pray to the Lord.

People: Lord, have mercy.

Pastor: For ourselves gathered here and all who join us wherever they are, let us pray to the Lord.

People: Lord, have mercy.

Pastor: Help us in our weakness, comfort us in setbacks, and defend us from all evil, gracious Lord.

People: Amen.

SALUTATION and PRAYER OF THE DAY

Pastor: The Lord be with you.

People: And also with you.

Pastor: Let us pray.
Holy Spirit, You inspired the prophets, evangelists, and apostles to write the words of the Scriptures. Help us to cherish Your words so that they might be to our benefit for wisdom and understanding; for You live and reign with the Father and the Son, one God, now and forever.

People: Amen.

OLD TESTAMENT READING Deuteronomy 4:1–2, 6–9

(Moses’ encouragement to the Israelites)

¹“Now, O Israel, listen to the statutes and the just decrees that I am teaching you, and do them, that you may live, and go in and take possession of the land that the Lord, the God of your fathers, is giving you. ²You shall not add to the word that I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God that I command you. . . .

⁶Keep them and do them, for that will be your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples, who, when they hear all these statutes, will say, ‘Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.’ ⁷For what great nation is there that has a god so near to it as the Lord our God is to us, whenever we call upon him? ⁸And what great nation is there, that has statutes and just decrees so righteous as all this law that I set before you today?

⁹“Only take care, and keep your soul diligently, lest you forget the things that your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. Make them known to your children and your children’s children.”

Lector: This is the Word of the Lord.

People: Thanks be to God.

GRADUAL Psalm 34:9, 19, alt. (spoken together)

Fear the Lord, you His saints,
for those who fear Him lack nothing!
Many are the afflictions of the righteous,
but the Lord delivers him out of them all.

EPISTLE Ephesians 6:10–20

(Put on the whole armor of God.)

¹⁰Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. ¹¹Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. ¹²For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. ¹³Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. ¹⁴Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, ¹⁵and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. ¹⁶In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; ¹⁷and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, ¹⁸praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, ¹⁹and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, ²⁰for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.

Lector: This is the Word of the Lord.

People: Thanks be to God.

VERSE Matthew 5:8 (spoken together)

Alleluia. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Alleluia.

HOLY GOSPEL Mark 7:14–23

(What defiles a person?)

Pastor: The Holy Gospel according to St. Mark, the seventh chapter.

People: Glory to You, O Lord.

¹⁴[Jesus] called the people to him again and said to them, “Hear me, all of you, and understand: ¹⁵There is nothing outside a person that by going into him can defile him, but the things that come out of a person are what defile him.” ¹⁷And when he had entered the house and left the people, his disciples asked him about the parable. ¹⁸And he said to them, “Then are you also without understanding? Do you not see that whatever goes into a person from outside cannot defile him, ¹⁹since it enters not his heart but his stomach, and is expelled?” (Thus he declared all foods clean.) ²⁰And he said, “What comes out of a person is what defiles him. ²¹For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, ²²coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. ²³All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.”

Pastor: This is the Gospel of the Lord.

People: Praise to You, O Christ.

HYMN OF THE DAY: #587 – I Know My Faith is Founded

1    I know my faith is founded
    On Jesus Christ, my God and Lord;
And this my faith confessing,
    Unmoved I stand on His sure Word.
Our reason cannot fathom
    The truth of God profound;
Who trusts in human wisdom
    Relies on shifting ground.
God’s Word is all-sufficient,
    It makes divinely sure;
And trusting in its wisdom,
    My faith shall rest secure.

2    Increase my faith, dear Savior,
    For Satan seeks by night and day
To rob me of this treasure
    And take my hope of bliss away.
But, Lord, with You beside me,
    I shall be undismayed;
And led by Your good Spirit,
    I shall be unafraid.
Abide with me, O Savior,
    A firmer faith bestow;
Then I shall bid defiance
    To ev’ry evil foe.

3    In faith, Lord, let me serve You;
    Though persecution, grief, and pain
Should seek to overwhelm me,
    Let me a steadfast trust retain;
And then at my departure,
    Lord, take me home to You,
Your riches to inherit
    As all You said holds true.
In life and death, Lord, keep me
    Until Your heav’n I gain,
Where I by Your great mercy
    The end of faith attain. Text: Public domain

SERMON:

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 of 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 ascended 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.

PRAYER OF THE CHURCH

After each petition:

Pastor: … Lord, in Your mercy:

People: hear our prayer.

At conclusion:

Pastor: … through Your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord.

People: Amen.

LORD’S PRAYER Matthew 6:9–13

Our Father who 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 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.

CLOSING PRAYER

Pastor: Let us pray.
O God, the source of all that is just and good, nourish in us every virtue and bring to completion every good intent that we may grow in grace and bring forth the fruit of good works; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

People: Amen.

BENEDICTION Numbers 6:24–26

Pastor: The Lord bless you and keep you.
The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you.
The Lord look upon you with favor and + give you peace.

People: Amen.

DISMISSAL

Pastor: Go in peace! Serve the Lord!

People: Thanks be to God.

FOURTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST – Online Church at Home Service Bulletin