Do not be overcome by evil but overcome evil with good.
Romans 12,21
Introit
The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple. The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes. The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever.The decrees of the Lord are firm, and all of them are righteous. They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the honeycomb. By them your servant is warned; in keeping them there is great reward. But who can discern their own errors? Forgive my hidden faults. Keep your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me. Then I will be blameless, innocent of great transgression. May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.
Psalm 19,8-14
Collect
O Lord, keep Your household, the Church, in continual godliness that through Your protection she may be free from all adversities and devoutly given to serve You in good words; 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. 933.
Old Testament
This is the text of the letter that the prophet Jeremiah sent from Jerusalem to the surviving elders among the exiles and to the priests, the prophets and all the other people Nebuchadnezzar had carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon. 2 (This was after King Jehoiachin and the queen mother, the court officials and the leaders of Judah and Jerusalem, the skilled workers and the artisans had gone into exile from Jerusalem.) 3 He entrusted the letter to Elasah son of Shaphan and to Gemariah son of Hilkiah, whom Zedekiah king of Judah sent to King Nebuchadnezzar in Babylon. It said: 4 This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says to all those I carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: 5 “Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce. 6 Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Increase in number there; do not decrease. 7 Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.” 8 Yes, this is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: “Do not let the prophets and diviners among you deceive you. Do not listen to the dreams you encourage them to have. 9 They are prophesying lies to you in my name. I have not sent them,” declares the Lord.10 This is what the Lord says: “When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my good promise to bring you back to this place. 11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.”
Jeremiah 29,1.4-7 (8-9)10-14
Gradual
Lord, You have been our dwelling place in all generations. Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever You had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting You are God.
Psalm 90,1-2
Epistle
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
Ephesians 6,10-17
Alleluia Verse
Alleluia. Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be moved, but abides forever. Alleluia.
Psalm 125,1
Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ 39 But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. 40 And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. 41 If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. 42 Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you. 43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Matthew 5,38-48 (Sermon text)
Luther´s sermon on this Sunday.
Rev. Michael Frese´s sermon on John 4,46-54:
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
A Lutheran hymn for this week
O König Jesu Christe, ein Fürst, Hauptmann und Held, zu ewiglicher Friste vom Vater auserwählt, ein Sohn Davids geboren: Dein Reich ewig besteht, das Dir Gott hat geschworen, durch seinen Geist geredt.
Dich, Herr, wir wollen bitten, Du edler Herzog wert, nach rechter Kinder Sitten: send uns Dein geistlich’Schwert, das schneidt zu beiden Seiten, ich mein Dein göttlich Wort, damit wir mögen streiten wider der Höllen Pfort.
Den Harnisch tu uns senden, den Du getragen hast, umgürt uns unsre Lenden mit Deiner Wahrheit Glast, den Panzer tu uns geben Deiner Gerechtigkeit, den Schild des Glaubens eben, damit uns zubereit,
zu kämpfen und zu fechten nach Dir ganz ritterlich und allen Deinen Knechten, die von Anfang in Dich gehoffet und vertrauet in aller Angst und Not, auf Dein Gnad fest gebauet bis in zeitlichen Tod.
O Gott, tu uns erhalten in diesem großen Streit, laß die Lieb nicht erkalten durch Ungerechtigkeit, darin die arge Welte Überhand genommen hat. Hilf uns behaltn das Felde durch Deine große Gnad.
Nach Leonhard Roth 1539 bearbeitet von Wilhelm Thomas 1933. (LKG 49)
Church Prayer of the Day
Let us pray for the whole Church of God in Christ Jesus and for all people according to their needs.
Lord of hosts, Your Word is a weapon that teaches our hands to war and our fingers to fight. Strengthen us for every spiritual battle, and establish us to resist the lies and temptations of the old evil foe. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Defend Your Church against the schemes of the devil. Equip Your Church, and especially all pastors, with the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God, that Your creation may be recalled from futility back to its Creator. Outfit Your saints with the full armor of God, with salvation, faith, peace, righteousness, truth and every benefit that comes from Christ Jesus, that we may be able to stand firm to the end. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Lord God, You entrusted Your creation to man to tend, subdue and keep. Bless the farmers who tend the land for its increase. Grant them a rich harvest and so provide for us also, as each lives out his particular calling according to Your will. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
O Lord, You have said by Your apostle that we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, authorities and cosmic powers over this present darkness and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Lead us to respect godly authorities, to oppose what stands against Your Word and to see every unbelieving person as Your creature for whom Christ has died. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, do not despise our prayers because of our weak faith. Grant life and healing to those who are troubled, ill or at the point of death [especially Christoph, Hilary, Annette, Paulina, Sylvia, Thomas, Walter etc. Free us from all adversities to serve You devoutly in all good works. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
O God, You rested on the Sabbath and established it for Your ancient people as a commemoration of Your creative work. Do not let us forget that it is You, Lord, who sanctifies us. Give us rest in Your gifts, especially the sanctifying body and blood of Christ in His blessed Sacrament. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Almighty and everlasting God, in Your Son You have promised us the forgiveness of sins, righteousness and everlasting life. Enliven our hearts by Your Holy Spirit, that in daily prayer we may seek help from Christ against all temptations and, believing His promises, obtain that for which we pray and be saved at the last; through the same Jesus Christ, Your Son, 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).
Wilhelm's space 