He has told you, O man, what is good, and what the Lord really wants from you:  He wants you to carry out justice, to love faithfulness, and to live obediently before your God  

Micha 6,8

Introit

How blessed are those whose actions are blameless, who obey the law of the Lord.
How blessed are those who observe his rules, and seek him with all their heart, who, moreover, do no wrong, but follow in his footsteps. You demand that your precepts be carefully kept.

If only I were predisposed to keep your statutes. Then I would not be ashamed, if I were focused on all your commands. I will give you sincere thanks, when I learn your just regulations. I will keep your statutes. Do not completely abandon me. Be kind to your servant. Then I will live and keep your instructions. Open my eyes so I can truly see the marvelous things in your law.

Psalm 119,1-8.17f

Old Testament (Sermon)

Noah went out along with his sons, his wife, and his sons’ wives. Every living creature, every creeping thing, every bird, and everything that moves on the earth went out of the ark in their groups. Noah built an altar to the Lord. He then took some of every kind of clean animal and clean bird and offered burnt offerings on the altar. And the Lord smelled the soothing aroma and said to himself,  “I will never again curse the ground because of humankind, even though the inclination of their minds is evil from childhood on. I will never again destroy everything that lives, as I have just done. “While the earth continues to exist, planting time and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, and day and night will not cease.”

And God said, “This is the guarantee of the covenant I am making with you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all subsequent generations: I will place my rainbow in the clouds, and it will become a guarantee of the covenant between me and the earth. Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, then I will remember my covenant with you and with all living creatures of all kinds. Never again will the waters become a flood and destroy all living things. When the rainbow is in the clouds, I will notice it and remember the perpetual covenant between God and all living creatures of all kinds that are on the earth.” So God said to Noah, “This is the guarantee of the covenant that I am confirming between me and all living things that are on the earth.”

Genesis 8,18-22; 9,12-17

Epistle

You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everyone, revealing that you are a letter of Christ, delivered by us, written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not on stone tablets but on tablets of human hearts. Now we have such confidence in God through Christ. Not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider anything as if it were coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God, who made us adequate to be servants of a new covenant not based on the letter but on the Spirit, for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

2.Corinthians 3,3-6

Gospel

Then some Pharisees came, and to test him they asked, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?” He answered them, “What did Moses command you?” They said, “Moses permitted a man to write a certificate of dismissal and to divorce her.” But Jesus said to them, “He wrote this commandment for you because of your hard hearts. But from the beginning creation he made them male and female. For this reason a man will leave his father and mother, and the two will become one flesh. So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.”

In the house once again, the disciples asked him about this. So he told them, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her. And if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery.”

Now people were bringing little children to him for him to touch, but the disciples scolded those who brought them. But when Jesus saw this, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the little children come to me and do not try to stop them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I tell you the truth, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.” After he took the children in his arms, he placed his hands on them and blessed them.

Mark 10,2-9(10-12)13-16

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

My sermon

Prayer

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

Lord God, through Holy Baptism You have brought us into the light of Christ. Guide us always in Your ways and teach us to know Your will, that we would do what is good and right and true. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

Lord God, You have built Your Church as a living house for the protection of Your people. Hide us in this shelter in the day of our trouble and lift us up in Christ, that we would offer the sacrifice of praise even in the midst of our enemies. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

Your will be done, O Lord, our God. Bless our homes, that generation after generation may walk not as unwise but as wise, and so redeem these evil days until Your Son’s return. In this foolish world, fill us with Your Spirit, that we would give You thanks and submit to all authorities out of reverence for Christ. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

Lord God, all authority derives from You. Bless those whom You have placed into positions of authority, that by their good works they might bring about justice, defend the helpless, punish evildoers and provide for the welfare of all. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

Lord God, You have shown Your face to us in Your Son, Jesus Christ. Answer those who cry out in His name [especially _____________]. Be their stronghold, and preserve them unto eternal life. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

Lord God, You have prepared a table before us in the midst of those who refuse Your invitation. Keep Your Church unstained by the world, that we may partake of our Lord’s Supper worthily, clothed in His baptismal grace. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

Lord God, comfort those who mourn with the certainty of life everlasting for all who die in Christ. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

Lord God, Your Son suffered at the hands of those He was sent to save. Through His bloodshed, You prepared an everlasting inheritance for sinners. Increase our joy at such grace, that we would always receive the fruits of His sacrifice to our blessing. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

O Lord, our God, let us seek You while You may be found, call upon You in the day of salvation and be prepared by Your mercy for the Day of Judgment; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.