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

Ephesians 2,8

Introit

The Lord is my light and my salvation. I fear no one.
The Lord protects my life. I am afraid of no one.
When evil men attack me to devour my flesh, when my adversaries and enemies attack me, they stumble and fall.
Even when an army is deployed against me, I do not fear.
Even when war is imminent, I remain confident.
I have asked the Lord for one thing— this is what I desire!
I want to live in the Lord’s house all the days of my life, so I can gaze at the splendor of the Lord and contemplate in his temple.
He will surely give me shelter in the day of danger; he will hide me in his home.
He will place me on an inaccessible rocky summit.
Now I will triumph over my enemies who surround me.
I will offer sacrifices in his dwelling place and shout for joy.
I will sing praises to the Lord.
Hear me, O Lord, when I cry out. Have mercy on me and answer me.
My heart tells me to pray to you, and I do pray to you, O Lord.
Do not reject me. Do not push your servant away in anger.
You are my deliverer.
Do not forsake or abandon me, O God who vindicates me.
Even if my father and mother abandoned me, the Lord would take me in.
Teach me how you want me to live, Lord; lead me along a level path because of those who wait to ambush me. Do not turn me over to my enemies, for false witnesses who want to destroy me testify against me. Where would I be if I did not believe I would experience the Lord’s favor in the land of the living?
Rely on the Lord! Be strong and confident! Rely on the Lord!

Psalm 27

Lesson from the Old Testament

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 12,1-4a

Epistle

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

Collect

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.

Holy Gospel

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 into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, and asked him to put out a little way from the shore. Then Jesus 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

Dr. Martin Luther´s sermon on the 5th Sunday after Trinity 

The Christian 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.

Nicene Creed

Sermontext

It is necessary to go on boasting. Though it is not profitable, I will go on to visions and revelations from the Lord. ² I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago (whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows) was caught up to the third heaven. ³ And I know that this man (whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, God knows) ⁴ was caught up into paradise and heard things too sacred to be put into words,^[c] things that a person is not permitted to speak. ⁵ On behalf of such an individual I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except about my weaknesses. ⁶ For even if I wish to boast, I will not be a fool, for I would be telling^[e] the truth, but I refrain from this so that no one may regard me beyond what he sees in me or what he hears from me, ⁷ even because of the extraordinary character of the revelations. Therefore, so that I would not become arrogant, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to trouble me—so that I would not become arrogant. ⁸ I asked the Lord three times about this, that it would depart from me. ⁹ But he said to me, “My grace is enough for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” So then, I will boast most gladly about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may reside in me. ¹⁰ Therefore I am content with weaknesses, with insults, with troubles, with persecutions and difficulties for the sake of Christ, for whenever I am weak, then I am strong.

2. Corinthians 12,1-10

Sermon by Dr. Robert Kolb:

Hymn of the week

“Come, follow Me,” the Savior spake, “All in My way abiding;
Deny yourselves, the world forsake, Obey My call and guiding.
O bear the cross, whate’er betide, Take my example for your guide.

“I am the Light, I light the way, A godly life displaying;
I bid you walk as in the day; I keep your feet from straying.
I am the way, and well I show How you must sojourn here below.

“My heart abounds in lowliness, My soul with love is glowing;
And gracious words My lips express, With meekness overflowing.
My heart, My mind, My strength, My all, To God I yield, on Him I call.

“I teach you how to shun and flee What harms your soul’s salvation,
Your heart from ev’ry guile to free, From sin and its temptation.
I am the refuge of the soul And lead you to your heav’nly goal.”

Then let us follow Christ, our Lord, And take the cross appointed
And, firmly clinging to His Word, In suff’ring be undaunted.
For those who bear the battle’s strain The crown of heav’nly life obtain.

Lutheran Service Book 668

Prayer of the Church—Responsive Form

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

Lord God of hosts, cast the cloak of ministry upon a new generation of pastors in our midst, that we may continue to hear Your Word and receive Your gifts, and that other lost souls may be caught up in the gracious nets of the Gospel. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

Lord God of hosts, You speak to us in the low whisper of Your Word. Do not let us despise it, but make us hear it gladly with reverent and holy awe. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

Lord God of hosts, prepare us in our daily vocations always to make a defense to anyone who asks us the reason for the hope of Christ that is in us. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

Lord God of hosts, bless all who suffer for righteousness’ sake, and keep them in Christ from fearing or being troubled by those who persecute them. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

Lord God of hosts, bless Karin, Ingrid, Bob und Pauline, Erik, Matthew and Cathy, Scott and Mary-Ann, Angelika, Christoph, Thomas, Annette, Dietmar und Angela, Mario und Vaclav, Ellie und Klaus, Vivian, Margot, David, Friederike und Olly, Isabel, Max und Louis, Ella, Detlev & Biljana, Matz und Timo, Ruth und Walter, David und Lucy, Hanns, Heinrich, Harry, Mark und Mindy, Bärbel, Peter, Christian und Johanna, Hans-Dieter und Doris, Manuela, 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.

Lord God of hosts, You have caused the lines to fall in pleasant places for us and given us a beautiful inheritance through Your Son. Keep us faithful, that we may enjoy its fullness with all the saints who now rest in Your presence. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

O Lord, heavenly Father, we gratefully remember the sufferings and death of Your dear Son, Jesus Christ, for our salvation. Rejoicing in His victorious resurrection from the dead, we draw strength from His ascension before You, where He ever stands for us as our own High Priest. Gather us together from the ends of the earth to celebrate with all the faithful the marriage feast of the Lamb in His kingdom, which has no end. Graciously receive our prayers, deliver and preserve us, for to You alone we give all glory, honor and worship, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Lutheran Church Missouri Synod

+ 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

If you are called to preach this weekend, may the holy one and 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) and His good Word and Luther´s true teaching remains forever – just as His one, holy Christian Church + Amen.