He has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.
1. John 4,21
Introit
Blessed is the one
who does not walk in step with the wicked
or stand in the way that sinners take
or sit in the company of mockers,
but whose delight is in the law of the Lord,
and who meditates on his law day and night.
That person is like a tree planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither—
whatever they do prospers.Not so the wicked!
They are like chaff
that the wind blows away.
Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous,
but the way of the wicked leads to destruction.Psalm 1
Collect
O God, because without You we are not able to please You, mercifully grant that Your Holy Spirit may in all things direct and rule our hearts; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Lutheran Service Book: Altar Book, Pg. 929
Old Testament
And God spoke all these words: “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. “You shall have no other gods before me. “You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments. “You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name. Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore, the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy. “Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you. You shall not murder. You shall not commit adultery. You shall not steal. You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor. You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”
Exodus 20,1-17
Gradual
I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go to the house of the Lord!” Peace be within Your walls and security within Your towers!
Psalm 122,1.7
Epistle
Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore, do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Ephesians 5,15-20
Verse
Alleluia. Praise the Lord, all nations! Extol him, all peoples! Alleluia.
Psalm 117,1
Holy Gospel
As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. You know the commandments: ‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, you shall not defraud, honor your father and mother.’” “Teacher,” he declared, “all these I have kept since I was a boy.” Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.
Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!” The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said again, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” The disciples were even more amazed, and said to each other, “Who then can be saved?” Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.”
Mark 10,17-27
Hymn of the week
Lord, Thee I love with all my heart; I pray Thee, ne’er from me depart,
with tender mercy cheer me. Earth has no pleasure I would share;
yea, heav’n itself were void and bare if Thou, Lord, wert not near me.
And should my heart for sorrow break, my trust in thee can nothing shake.
Thou art the portion I have sought; Thy precious blood my soul has bought.
Lord Jesus Christ, my God and Lord, my God and Lord, forsake me not! I trust thy word.Yea, Lord, ’twas Thy rich bounty gave my body, soul, and all I have
in this poor life of labor. Lord, grant that I in ev’ry place
may glorify thy lavish grace and help and serve my neighbour.
Let no false doctrine me beguile; let Satan not my soul defile.
Give strength and patience unto me to bear my cross and follow Thee.
Lord Jesus Christ, my God and Lord, my God and Lord, in death Thy comfort still afford.Lord, let at last Thine angels come, to Abr’ham’s bosom bear me home
that I may die unfearing; and in its narrow chamber keep
my body safe in peaceful sleep until Thy reappearing.
And then from death awaken me that these mine eyes with joy may see,
O Son of God, Thy glorious face, my Savior and my fount of grace.
Lord Jesus Christ, my prayer attend, my prayer attend, and I will praise Thee without end.Martin Schalling 1532-1609 tr. Catherine Winkworth 1827-1878. (LSB 708)
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
Dr. Martin Luther´s sermon for the 18th Sunday after Trinity
Today´s sermon text
For the culmination of all things is near. So be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of prayer. Above all keep your love for one another fervent, because love covers a multitude of sins. Show hospitality to one another without complaining. Just as each one has received a gift, use it to serve one another as good stewards of the varied grace of God. Whoever speaks, let it be with God’s words. Whoever serves, do so with the strength that God supplies, so that in everything God will be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.
1. Peter 4,7-11
My sermon for this Sunday:
Prayer of the church
Let us pray for the whole Church of God in Christ Jesus and for all people according to their needs.
Remember, Lord, Your Holy Church. May Your holy angels watch over her and guard her. Grant her peace and unity throughout the world. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Remember Matthew, our Synod president; our district presidents; and all pastors, missionaries, evangelists, teachers, deaconesses and servants of Your Church. Strengthen them in the true faith, and enable them to teach it well. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Remember our chancellor Olaf, minister president Rainer, our public servants and all in our armed forces. Guide, bless, protect and uphold them in honor. We ask especially for Joe, Cyril, Vladimir Zelensky, Benjamin. Bring all nations into the ways of peace and justice. Stop terror, tyranny, despotism, fanaticism, misuse of power and grant righteousness, loving kindness, sympathy and care. In Your kindness and love, grant us seasonable weather and an abundance of the fruits of the earth. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Remember all who suffer for Your name, all who are in prison, the hungry and ill-clad, the poor and the lonely, those who travel, and all who cry out to You in their time of need, especially all who have asked for our prayers [including Christoph, Annette, Paulina, Hillary, Karin, Bärbel, Peter, Ingrid, Sylvia, Vivian, Manuela, Angelika, Carolla, June, Fläming, Jochen, Helmut, Isabel, Friederike & Oly, Ele, Max und Louis, Matz und Timo, Thomas, Mario, Christoph, Daniel, Ele, Berno und Karin, Mark und Mindy, Margareth, Friedel. Grant that Your holy angel may be with them always, that the evil foe may have no power over them. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Father in heaven, Your Son instituted His Holy Supper for the forgiveness of our sins. Give us humble hearts to receive this blessed Sacrament with thanksgiving, and strengthen us through the same for our daily lives of faith. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Everlasting God, You have ordained and constituted the service of angels and men in a wonderful order. Mercifully grant that as Your holy angels always serve and worship You in heaven, so by Your appointment they may also help and defend us here on earth; through Your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
+ Dominum vobiscum +
The Lord bless You, and keep You; The Lord make His face shine upon You, and be gracious unto You; The Lord lift up His countenance upon You + give You peace.
Numbers 6,24-26
If you are called to preach this weekend, may the holy, triune God – Father, Son and Holy Spirit – the one true and only God give You His rich measure of faith, hope, love, joy and strength, wisdom, knowledge and insight, clarity of speech, that You preach His holy Will faithfully and His gracious Promises invitingly and faithfully according to His biblical Word recorded by apostles and prophets. His most precious Gospel grants saving grace. It is His “power to save.” (Rom 1:16 cf. 2.Corinthians 12,9).
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