The Lord be with You +

For by grace you are saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.

Ephesians 2,8 “Discipleship”(Nachfolge)

Collect for this fifth Sunday after Trinity

Grant, O Lord, we beseech thee, that the course of this world may be so peaceably ordered by thy governance, that thy Church may joyfully serve thee in all godly quietness; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

God´s Holy Word for the 5th Sunday after Trinity

The Introit invites us to trust God alone

Certainly God is good to Israel,  and to those whose motives are pure.
But as for me, my feet almost slipped; my feet almost slid out from under me.
For I envied those who are proud, as I observed the prosperity of the wicked.
They mock and say evil things;  they proudly threaten violence.
They speak as if they rule in heaven, and lay claim to the earth.
Therefore they have more than enough food to eat, and even suck up the water of the sea. But I am continually with you; you hold my right hand.
You guide me by your wise advice, and then you will lead me to a position of honor.
Whom do I have in heaven but you? On earth there is no one I desire but you.

Psalm 73,1-3.8-10.23-26

God´s Holy Word according to the 1st Book of Moses (Genesis)

Now the Lord said to Abram,

“Go out  from your country, your relatives, and your father’s household
to the land that I will show you.
Then I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you,
and I will make your name great,
so that you will exemplify divine blessing.

I will bless those who bless you,
but the one who treats you lightly I must curse,
so that all the families of the earth may receive blessing through you.”

So Abram left, just as the Lord had told him to do, and Lot went with him. Now Abram was 75 years old when he departed from Haran.

Genesis 12,1-4

The holy Apostle St. Paul writes to the Corinthians

For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and I will thwart the cleverness of the intelligent.” Where is the wise man? Where is the expert in the Mosaic law? Where is the debater of this age? Has God not made the wisdom of the world foolish? For since in the wisdom of God the world by its wisdom did not know God, God was pleased to save those who believe by the foolishness of preaching. For Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks ask for wisdom, but we preach about a crucified Christ, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles.But to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.

1. Corinthians 1,18-25

The holy Gospel according to St. Luke

Now Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, and the crowd was pressing around him to hear the word of God. He saw two boats by the lake, but the fishermen had gotten out of them and were washing their nets. He got in to one of the boats, which was Simon’s, and asked him to put out a little way from the shore. ThenJesus sat down and taught the crowds from the boat. When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep water and lower your nets for a catch.”Simon answered, “Master, we worked hard all night and caught nothing! But at your word I will lower the nets.”When they had done this, they caught so many fish that their nets started to tear. So they motioned to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both boats, so that they were about to sink. But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!” For Peter and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish that they had taken, and so were James and John, Zebedee’s sons, who were Simon’s business partners. ThenJesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching people!” So when they had brought their boats to shore, they left everything and followed him.

Luke 5,1-11

God´s Holy Word for today´s sermon:

Again the next day John was standing there with two of his disciples. Gazing at Jesus as he walked by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!” When John’s two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus. Jesus turned around and saw them following and said to them, “What do you want?” So they said to him, “Rabbi” (which is translated Teacher), “where are you staying?” Jesus answered, “Come and you will see.” So they came and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day. Now it was about four o’clock in the afternoon.

Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, was one of the two disciples who heard what John said and followed Jesus.He first found his own brother Simon and told him, “We have found the Messiah!” (which is translated Christ). Andrew brought Simon to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon, the son of John. You will be called Cephas” (which is translated Peter).

On the next day Jesus wanted to set out for Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “Follow me.”(Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the town ofAndrew and Peter.) Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the law, and the prophets also wrote about—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” Nathanael replied, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip replied, “Come and see.”

Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and exclaimed, “Look, a true Israelite in whom there is no deceit!” Nathanael asked him, “How do you know me?” Jesus replied, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the king of Israel!” Jesus said to him, “Because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree, do you believe? You will see greater things than these.”He continued, “I tell all of you the solemn truth—you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”

John 1,35-51

Let us pray for the church and all people according to their needs:

Lord God of hosts, sustain those called to be fishers of men in Christ’s Church, that they would not be discouraged when they toil all night and take nothing, but continue to let down their nets at His Word according to that calling. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

Lord God of hosts, make Your servants jealous for Your name, especially Matthew, our Synod president; Hans-Jörg, our local bishop; Thomas, our superintendent; and Felix, Johann, Vadym and all pastors, whom Your Son has called to be fishers of men in our midst. Give them courage faithfully to proclaim Your Word alone. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

Lord God of hosts, in every generation You preserve a remnant who have not bowed their knees to the false gods of this world. By Your Spirit, keep us faithful to You, and grant repentance to those who have fallen away. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

Lord God of hosts, grant zeal among our members to make a defense for the hope that is in us. May our homes be welcoming places where visitors are drawn to the Word of life as it is proclaimed and lived out among us. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

Lord God of hosts, keep us from trusting the wisdom of the worldly wise and the debaters of this age above the truth of Your Word, that we would not perish with those who reject the word of the cross. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

Lord God of hosts, by Your Spirit help us to bless others, not repaying evil for evil or reviling for reviling, that as Your children we may seek peace and pursue it with all people. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

Lord God of hosts, bless June, Christoph, Michael, Micheline, Markus, Manfred, Gisela, Annette, Elle, Matthias, Detlev & Bilyana, Friederike and Oliver, Angelika and Tamara and all who suffer in body or mind in our midst. Since Christ is at their right hand, they cannot be shaken. Make their flesh dwell securely, and give them peace in the promise that You will not abandon their souls to Sheol. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

Lord God of hosts, Your Son is our chosen portion and our cup, forgiving and nourishing us with His body and blood. Grant that we may receive Him humbly and in faith, that You may hold our lot secure in Christ. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

O living God, Lord of hosts, You have given us Your Holy Word and provided bountifully for all our needs. We confess that we are unworthy of all these mercies and have rather deserved punishment. Yet we implore You, forgive our sins and bless us in our various callings, that by Your strength we may be sustained and defended now and forever, and so praise You eternally; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

LCMS Prayers

+ Dominum vobiscum +

The Lord bless Thee, and keep Thee:

The Lord make his face shine upon Thee, and be gracious unto Thee:

The Lord lift up his countenance upon Thee and give Thee peace.

Numbers 6,24-26 (4th Book of Moses)