Sunday Online Church at Home Service: SEVENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

The Word of the Gospel Bestows the Righteousness of Christ and Brings Forth Faith

PINNACLE LUTHERAN CHURCH

Sunday, July 19, 2020

Seventh Sunday after Pentecost

The Word of the Gospel Bestows the Righteousness of Christ and Brings Forth Faith

The good Seed, which is “the Son of Man,” Jesus Himself (Matt. 13:37), brings forth a harvest of faith and bears good fruits in “the sons of the kingdom” (Matt. 13:38). Whatever is sown apart from His Word is of the devil, who plants the weeds of unbelief and sin, even among the people of God. Thankfully, the Lord is patient and He does not uproot the weeds, lest the plants also be destroyed. He lets “both grow together until the harvest” (Matt. 13:30), while He continues to preach repentance and forgiveness of sins. Thus, He preserves His Church in righteousness, because He alone is “the King of Israel and his Redeemer” (Is. 44:6). Since all things are in His gracious care and keeping, “fear not, nor be afraid” (Is. 44:8). For “the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God” (Rom. 8:19), and in this hope we also wait with patience. Though we do not yet see it, “the Spirit helps us in our weakness” (Rom. 8:26) and, in truth, “the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us” (Rom. 8:18).

WELCOME

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HYMN OF INVOCATION: #700 – Love Divine, All Loves Excelling
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HYMN OF INVOCATION: #700 – Love Divine, All Loves Excelling

HYMN OF INVOCATION: #700 – Love Divine, All Loves Excelling

1        Love divine, all loves excelling,
    Joy of heav’n, to earth come down!
Fix in us Thy humble dwelling,
    All Thy faithful mercies crown.
Jesus, Thou art all compassion,
    Pure, unbounded love Thou art;
Visit us with Thy salvation,
    Enter ev’ry trembling heart.

2        Breathe, O breathe Thy loving Spirit
    Into ev’ry troubled breast;
Let us all in Thee inherit;
    Let us find Thy promised rest.
Take away the love of sinning;
    Alpha and Omega be;
End of faith, as its beginning,
    Set our hearts at liberty.

3        Come, Almighty, to deliver;
    Let us all Thy life receive;
Suddenly return, and never,
    Nevermore Thy temples leave.
Thee we would be always blessing,
    Serve Thee as Thy hosts above,
Pray and praise Thee without ceasing,
    Glory in Thy perfect love.

4        Finish then Thy new creation,
    Pure and spotless let us be;
Let us see Thy great salvation
    Perfectly restored in Thee,
Changed from glory into glory,
    Till in heav’n we take our place,
Till we cast our crowns before Thee,
    Lost in wonder, love, and praise!

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Forgiveness

P     In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

C      Amen.

P      Our help is in the name of the Lord,

C      who made heaven and earth.

P      If You, O Lord, kept a record of sins, O Lord, who could stand?

C      But with You there is forgiveness; therefore You are feared.

P      Since we are gathered to hear God’s Word and call upon Him in prayer and praise, let us first consider our unworthiness and confess before God and one another that we have sinned in thought, word, and deed, and that we cannot free ourselves from our sinful condition. Together as His people let us take refuge in the infinite mercy of God, our heavenly Father, seeking His grace for the sake of Christ, and saying: God, be merciful to me, a sinner.

C      Almighty God, have mercy upon us, forgive us our sins, and lead us to everlasting life. Amen.

P      Almighty God in His mercy has given His Son to die for you and for His sake forgives you all your sins. As a called and ordained servant of Christ, and by His authority, I therefore forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

C      Amen.

+ SERVICE OF THE WORD +

Psalm (everyone is invited to read in unison)  Psalm 119:57–64

57The Lord is my portion;

I promise to keep your words.

58I entreat your favor with all my heart;

be gracious to me according to your promise.

59When I think on my ways,

I turn my feet to your testimonies;

60I hasten and do not delay

to keep your commandments.

61Though the cords of the wicked ensnare me,

I do not forget your law.

62At midnight I rise to praise you,

because of your just and righteous decrees.

63I am a companion of all who fear you,

of those who keep your precepts.

64The earth, O Lord, is full of your steadfast love;

teach me your statutes!

HYMN OF PRAISE: Gloria in Excelsis

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HYMN OF PRAISE: Gloria in Excelsis LSB 154
Glory to God in the highest, and peace to His people on earth.
Lord God, heavenly king, almighty God and Father:
We worship You, we give You thanks, we praise You for Your glory.
Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father, Lord God, Lamb of God:
You take away the sin of the world; have mercy on us.
You are seated at the right hand of the Father; receive our prayer.
For You alone are the Holy One, You alone are the Lord,
You alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit,
in the glory of God the Father. Amen.

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Salutation and Collect of the Day

P      Let us pray.

O God, so rule and govern our hearts and minds by Your Holy Spirit that, ever mindful of Your final judgment, we may be stirred up to holiness of living here and dwell with You in perfect joy hereafter; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

C      Amen.

OLD TESTAMENT READING Isaiah 44:6-8

6Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel
and his Redeemer, the LORD of hosts:
“I am the first and I am the last;
besides me there is no god.
7Who is like me? Let him proclaim it.
Let him declare and set it before me,
since I appointed an ancient people.
Let them declare what is to come, and what will happen.
8Fear not, nor be afraid;
have I not told you from of old and declared it?
And you are my witnesses!
Is there a God besides me?
There is no Rock; I know not any.”

GRADUAL (spoken in unison) Rom. 11:33, 36

Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God!How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!
For from him and through him and to him are all things.
To him be glory forever. Amen

EPISTLE Romans 8:18–27

18For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 19For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. 20For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope 21that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. 23And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 24For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? 25But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.
26Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. 27And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

ALLELUIA and VERSE (spoken in unison)

C Alleluia. I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter what has been hidden since the foundation of the world. Alleluia.

HOLY GOSPEL Matthew 13:24–30, 36–43

P The Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew, the thirteenth chapter.
24[Jesus] put another parable before them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field, 25but while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and went away. 26So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared also. 27And the servants of the master of the house came and said to him, ‘Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have weeds?’ 28He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ So the servants said to him, ‘Then do you want us to go and gather them?’ 29But he said, ‘No, lest in gathering the weeds you root up the wheat along with them. 30Let both grow together until the harvest, and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, Gather the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.’”
36Then he left the crowds and went into the house. And his disciples came to him, saying, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds of the field.” 37He answered, “The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. 38The field is the world, and the good seed is the children of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one, 39and the enemy who sowed them is the devil. The harvest is the close of the age, and the reapers are angels. 40Just as the weeds are gathered and burned with fire, so will it be at the close of the age. 41The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all law-breakers, 42and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 43Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear.

Apostles’ Creed

Pastor:      God has made us His people through our Baptism into Christ. Living together in trust and hope, we confess our faith.

All:            I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth.

And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord,
     who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
     born of the virgin Mary,
     suffered under Pontius Pilate,
     was crucified, died, and was buried.
     He descended into hell.
     The third day He rose again from the dead.
     He ascended into heaven
     and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty.
     From thence He will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,
     the holy Christian Church,
     the communion of saints.
     the forgiveness of sins,
     the resurrection of the body,
     and the life everlasting. Amen.

HYMN OF THE DAY: HYMN: #761 – Rock of Ages, Cleft for Me
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HYMN OF THE DAY: #761 – Rock of Ages, Cleft for Me

1       Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee;
Let the water and the blood,
From Thy riven side which flowed,
Be of sin the double cure:
Cleanse me from its guilt and pow’r.

2       Not the labors of my hands
Can fulfill Thy Law’s demands;
Could my zeal no respite know,
Could my tears forever flow,
All for sin could not atone;
Thou must save, and Thou alone.

3       Nothing in my hand I bring;
Simply to Thy cross I cling.
Naked, come to Thee for dress;
Helpless, look to Thee for grace;
Foul, I to the fountain fly;
Wash me, Savior, or I die.

4       While I draw this fleeting breath,
When mine eyelids close in death,
When I soar to worlds unknown,
See Thee on Thy judgment throne,
Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee.

SERMON

Sermon: We do not always bring peace
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Sermon: We do not always bring peace

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PRAYER OF THE CHURCH

Pastor:        Let us pray for the whole people of God in Christ Jesus and for all people according to their needs.

Lord, You have been the refuge and strength of Your people from generation to generation. Give to us the comfort of Your presence in these times of trouble and pestilence, Your grace to forgive our sins, and Your peace to govern our hearts. Lord, in Your mercy,

People:                hear our prayer.

Pastor:        Lord, Your power holds all things together, in heaven and on earth. Give wisdom to those who lead our nation and guidance to those who make, administer, and judge our laws, so that life be protected and justice administered. Lord, in Your mercy,

People:                hear our prayer.

Pastor:        Lord, Your Word speaks hope and life. Open our ears to hear Your voice and our hearts to believe in Jesus Christ and follow Him as Savior and Lord. Lord, in Your mercy,

People:                hear our prayer.

Pastor:        Lord, Your mercy extends to all our needs and Your grace gives healing according to Your will. Hear us on behalf of all those on our prayer list and all who stand in need, especially those affected by the pandemic. Grant to them grace sufficient for all their needs and sustain them in the hour of trial. Lord, in Your mercy,

People:                hear our prayer.

Pastor:        Lord, You give us new lives in baptismal water, and Your Spirit opens our hearts to faith. Help us to live out fully our vocation as Your children in the places where we live and work and do the good works You desire. Lord, in Your mercy,

People:                hear our prayer.

Pastor:        Into Your hands, O Lord, we commend ourselves and all for whom we pray, trusting in Your mercy, through Your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord.

People:                Amen.

LORD’S PRAYER Matthew 6:9–13

All: 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 Collect

P      Let us pray.

O steadfast Lord, You are the great I am whose promises never fail us and in whom alone salvation is to be found. Grant to us hearts to trust in Your mercy and courage in the face of doubt and fear that we not surrender hope to darkness and faith to unbelief; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

C      Amen.

Benediction

P      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.

C      Amen.

CLOSING HYMN: #921 – On What Has Now Been Sown
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CLOSING HYMN: #921 – On What Has Now Been Sown

1       On what has now been sown
    Thy blessing, Lord, bestow;
The pow’r is Thine alone
    To make it sprout and grow.
Do Thou in grace the harvest raise,
And Thou alone shalt have the praise!

2       To Thee our wants are known,
    From Thee are all our pow’rs;
Accept what is Thine own
    And pardon what is ours.
Our praises, Lord, and prayers receive,
And to Thy Word a blessing give.

3       O grant that each of us,
    Now met before Thee here,
May meet together thus
    When Thou and Thine appear
And follow Thee to heav’n, our home.
E’en so, amen, Lord Jesus, come!