For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
Romans 8,14
Introit
I will sing continually about the Lord’s faithful deeds; to future generations I will proclaim your faithfulness. For I say, “Loyal love is permanently established; in the skies you set up your faithfulness.” The Lord said, “I have made a covenant with my chosen one; I have made a promise on oath to David, my servant: ‘I will give you an eternal dynasty and establish your throne throughout future generations.’” (Selah)
He will call out to me,‘You are my father, my God, and the protector who delivers me.’I will appoint him to be my firstborn son, the most exalted of the earth’s kings. I will always extend my loyal love to him, and my covenant with him is secure.I will give him an eternal dynasty and make his throne as enduring as the skies above.
Psalm 98,1-4.26-29
Old Testament lesson
“Here is my servant whom I support, my chosen one in whom I take pleasure.
I have placed my Spirit on him; he will make just decrees for the nations.
2 He will not cry out or shout; he will not publicize himself in the streets.
3 A crushed reed he will not break, a dim wick he will not extinguish;
he will faithfully make just decrees.4 He will not grow dim or be crushed before establishing justice on the earth; the coastlands will wait in anticipation for his decrees.”
5 This is what the true God, the Lord, says — the one who created the sky and stretched it out, the one who fashioned the earth and everything that lives on it, the one who gives breath to the people on it, and life to those who live on it: 6 “I, the Lord, officially commission you; I take hold of your hand.
I protect you and make you a covenant mediator for people, and a light to the nations, 7 to open blind eyes, to release prisoners[s] from dungeons, those who live in darkness from prisons.
8 “I am the Lord! That is my name! I will not share my glory with anyone else, or the praise due me with idols. 9 Look, my earlier predictive oracles have come to pass; now I announce new events. Before they begin to occur, I reveal them to you.”
Isaiah 42
Collect
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
Epistle
Therefore I exhort you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a sacrifice—alive, holy, and pleasing to God—which is your reasonable service. 2 Do not be conformedto this present world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may test and approve[e] what is the will of God—what is good and well-pleasing and perfect. 3 For by the grace given to me I say to every one of you not to think more highly of yourself than you ought to think, but to think with sober discernment, as God has distributed to each of you[f] a measure of faith.[g] 4 For just as in one body we have many members, and not all the members serve the same function, 5 so we who are many are one body in Christ, and individually we are members who belong to one another. 6 And we have different giftsaccording to the grace given to us. If the gift is prophecy, that individual must use it in proportion to his faith. 7 If it is service, he must serve; if it is teaching, he must teach; 8 if it is exhortation, he must exhort; if it is contributing, he must do so with sincerity; if it is leadership, he must do so with diligence; if it is showing mercy, he must do so with cheerfulness.
Romans 12
Gospel
Then Jesus came from Galilee to John to be baptized by him in the Jordan River.But Johntried to preventhim, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and yet you come to me?” So Jesus repliedto him, “Let it happen now, for it is right for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then Johnyieldedto him. After Jesus was baptized, just as he was coming up out of the water, theheavens openedand he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to reston him. Anda voice from heaven said, “This is my one dear Son; in himI take great delight.”
Matthew 3,13-17
The Confession of the Church
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 the 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 Ghost 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 sitteth on the right hand of the Father; and He shall come again with glory to judge the quick and the dead; whose kingdom shall have no end.
And I believe in the Holy Ghost, the Lord and Giver of life, who proceedeth from the Father and the Son; who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified; who spake by the Prophets. And I believe in one holy catholic 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.
Nicene Creed
Lesson for today´s sermon
Think about the circumstances of your call, brothers and sisters. Not many were wise by human standards, not many were powerful, not many were born to a privileged position. But God chose what the world thinks foolish to shame the wise, and God chose what the world thinks weak to shame the strong. God chose what is low and despised in the world, what is regarded as nothing, to set aside what is regarded as something, so that no one can boast in his presence.He is the reason you have a relationship with Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”
1. Corinthians 1,26-31
Hymn of the week
1 To Jordan came our Lord, the Christ,
To do God’s pleasure willing,
And there was by St. John baptized,
All righteousness fulfilling;
There did He consecrate a bath
To wash away transgression,
And quench the bitterness of death
By His own blood and passion,
He would a new life give us.2 So hear ye all, and well perceive
What God doth call a Baptism,
And what a Christian should believe
Who error shuns and schism:
That we should water use, the Lord
Declareth it His pleasure,
Not simple water, but the Word
And Spirit without measure;–
He is the true Baptizer.3 To show us this, He hath His word
With signs and symbols given;
On Jordan’s banks was plainly heard
The Father’s voice from heaven:
“This is My well-beloved Son,
In whom My soul delighteth;
Hear Him!” Yea, hear Him, every one,
When He Himself inviteth;
Hear and obey His teaching!4 In tender manhood God the Son
In Jordan’s water standeth;
The Holy Ghost from heaven’s throne
In dove-like form descendeth;
That thus the truth be not denied,
Nor should our faith e’er waver,
That the Three Persons all preside
At Baptism’s holy laver,
And dwell with the believer.5 Thus Jesus His disciples sent
Go, teach ye every nation,
That, lost in sin, they must repent,
And flee from condemnation;
He that believes and is baptized
Shall thereby have salvation,
A new-born man he is in Christ,
From death free and damnation,
He shall inherit heaven.6 Who in this mercy hath not faith
Nor aught therein discerneth,
Is yet in sin, condemned to death
And fire that ever burneth;
His holiness avails him not,
Nor aught which he is doing;
His inborn sin brings all to naught,
And maketh sure his ruin;
Himself he cannot succor.7 The eye of sense alone is dim,
Martin Luther (LSB 406)
And nothing sees but water;
Faith sees Christ Jesus, and in Him
The Lamb ordained for slaughter;
It sees the cleansing fountain, red
With the dear blood of Jesus,
Which from the sins, inherited
From fallen Adam, frees us,
And from our own misdoings.
Prayer of the church
Let us pray for the whole Church of God in Christ Jesus and for all people according to their needs.
Heavenly Father, You revealed Your Son in the wondrous Epiphany in the Jordan. So also You have revealed Your name and blessing to us in Holy Baptism, declaring us Your beloved heirs. Grant that we may daily die to sin and rise to newness of life, living with joy as Your baptized children. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Lord, we give You thanks for the gift of family. Bless all parents, especially mothers and those in great and joyful expectations, that they would joyfully acknowledge Your gifts of spouse, children and home. Be near to the elderly, the widowed and the orphaned, exiles, refugees, victims of wars, famine, injustice and persecution. Show forth Your grace to them, that they would not feel alone. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Lord of the nations, Your eye is on all who fear You. Grant humility and integrity to our rulers. Kindle love of neighbor among our citizens. Bring forth justice according to Your will and Word. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Give comfort and relief to those who are sick, depressed, tired, confused or in any need especially we ask for Ukrainians suffering from the Russian terror and war, for Israelis suffering from Hamas terror and Nigerians suffering from Boko Harram. Watch over all expectant mothers and their children Friederike that may have a safe delivery and be brought also to the life-giving waters of Holy Baptism. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
O Lord, in Holy Baptism You have opened the heavens to Your children. Grant that all those baptized into Your Son would worthily receive the heavenly feast of His body and blood for their salvation. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Eternal God, You have made us Your own people by Baptism and granted us Your Holy Spirit to confess Christ in word and deed. We remember with thanksgiving those who went before us, who passed the faith on to us and who now rest in Christ from all their labors. Since we have died with Christ through Baptism, grant that we would be raised with Him also. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
O merciful Lord, grant us confidence in the promises of Holy Baptism and trust that You will answer our prayers. When the Last Day comes, bring us into the joy of Your everlasting light and life through the merits and mercies of Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
LCMS church Prayers
If you are called to preach this week- month- and yearend, may the triune God give you joy and strength, wisdom, knowledge and insight, that You preach His holy will faithfully and His gracious promises invitingly! His most precious Gospel is “the power of God to save all who believe.” (Rom 1:16)
+ 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 + give Thee peace.
Numbers 6,24-27
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