The watchword: For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. (Romans 8:14)

The holy Introit from Psalm 72: Give the king thy judgments, O God, and thy righteousness unto the king’s son. He shall judge thy people with righteousness, and thy poor with judgment. The kings of Tarshish and of the isles shall bring presents: the kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts. Yea, all kings shall fall down before him: all nations shall serve him. For he shall deliver the needy when he crieth; the poor also, and him that hath no helper.

And he shall live, and to him shall be given of the gold of Sheba: prayer also shall be made for him continually; and daily shall he be praised. His name shall endure for ever: his name shall be continued as long as the sun: and men shall be blessed in him: all nations shall call him blessed. Blessed be the Lord God, the God of Israel, who only doeth wondrous things. And blessed be his glorious name for ever: and let the whole earth be filled with his glory; Amen, and Amen.

God’s Holy Word by the prophet Isaiah chapter 42: “Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles. He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street. A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth judgment unto truth. He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set judgment in the earth: and the isles shall wait for his law.” (Thus saith God the Lord, he that created the heavens, and stretched them out; he that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein: I the Lord have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles; To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house. I am the Lord: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images. Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare: before they spring forth I tell you of them.) 1-4 (5-9)

The Epistle by the apostle St. Paul to the Romans chapter 12: “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. (For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.) (1-3.4-8)

The holy Gospel accourding to the apostle and evangelist St. Matthew’s chapter 3: “Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him. And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” (13-17: Baptism of Jesus)

The reading for this Sunday’s sermon is the gospel by the apostle and evangelist St. Matthew chapter 4: “Now when Jesus had heard that John was cast into prison, he departed into Galilee; And leaving Nazareth, he came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is upon the sea coast, in the borders of Zabulon and Nephthalim: That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, The land of Zabulon, and the land of Nephthalim, by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles; The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up. From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (12-17)

The liturgical colour is green.

A collect for this Sunday: O Lord, we beseech Thee mercifully to receive the prayers of Thy people who call upon Thee; and grant that they may perceive and know what things they outh to do, and also may have grace and power faithfully to fulfil the same; through Thy Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with Thee and the Holy Spirit, one God for ever and ever. (Lutheran Hymnal of the LC in Australia 1973)

1. O süßer Herre Jesu Christ, der du unser Erlöser bist, nimm heut an unsre Danksagung aus Genaden.
2. Du hast gesehen unsre Not, da wir in Sünden waren tot, und bist vom Himmel gestiegen aus Genaden.
3. Hast in Marien Jungfrauschaft durch deines Heilgen Geistes Kraft angenommen unsre Menschheit aus Genaden.
4. Du lehrest uns die neu Geburt und zeigest an die enge Pfort und den schmalen Steig zum Leben aus Genaden.
5. Danach erlittest du den Tod in viel Verachtung, Hohn und Spott für unsre Sünd und Missetat aus Genaden.
6. Du stiegest auf zum höchsten Thron zu Gottes Rechten als sein Sohn, uns ewiglich zu vertreten aus Genaden.
7. O Christe, versammle dein Heer, regiere es mit treuer Lehr deinem Namen zu Lob und Ehr aus Genaden.
8. Hilf durch dein Mühe und Arbeit, dass es erlang die Seligkeit, Lob zu singen in Ewigkeit deiner Gnaden.

Nach dem lateinischen „Jesu, salvator optime“ (Johann Hus 1400) deutsch von Michael Weiße 1531.

If you are called to preach this weekend, may the triune God give you joy and strength, enthusiasm and wisdom, knowledge and insight – and the true words and pictures to preach his holy will faithfully according to his most precious revelation of his will and promises in both the Old and New Testament! However if you are not preaching, but listening – then listen as if God is talking to you + His precious gospel is “the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes.” (Rom 1:16 NIV)