The Word is Near You
August 9, 2020 Matthew 13:44-52
As We Gather:
* Where / how do you feel “close to God”?
* Can nature (what God created) tell us much about Him?
* How is faith formed and maintained?
Invocation:
P: We worship in the name of the Father, and of the Son+, and of the Holy Spirit
C: Amen.
P: Let us confess our sins unto God, our merciful Father
A: Creator God, we confess that we have been neglectful in our responsibilities toward You, each other, and Your creation. We have not held Your Word sacred and gladly heard and learned it. We have ignored what we have learned of Your Word when it suits our self-centered purposes. Forgive us for the sake of the Word made flesh, Your Son, our Lord, Jesus Christ. Strengthen our faith by Your means of grace that we may both know and act in accordance with Your Word. Amen.
P: “The Word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart, that is the word of faith you have heard proclaimed; That if you confess with your mouth ‘Jesus is Lord’ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” Therefore as a called and ordained servant of the Word, I declare to you that all your sin is forgiven you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
C: Amen.
Psalm of the Day Psalm 85:8-13
P: I will listen to what God, the LORD, will say; He promises peace to His people
C: but do not let them return to their folly.
P: Surely His salvation is near to those who fear Him
C: that His glory may dwell in our land.
P: Love and faithfulness meet together;
C: righteousness and peace kiss each other.
P: Faithfulness springs forth from the earth;
C: and righteousness looks down from heaven.
P: The LORD will indeed give what is good, and our land will yield its harvest.
C: Righteousness goes before Him and prepares the way for His steps.
First Reading: Job 38:4-18
[The LORD said] “Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation? Tell me if you understand. Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know! Who stretched a measuring line across it? On what were its footings set, or who laid its cornerstone - while the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy?
Who shut up the sea behind doors when it burst forth from the womb; when I made the clouds its garment and wrapped it in thick darkness, when I fixed limits for it and set its doors and bars in place - when I said, ‘This far you may come and no more; here is where your proud waves halt.”
Have you ever given orders to the morning, or shown the dawn its place, that it might take the earth by the edges and shake the wicked out of it?
The earth takes shape like clay under a seal; its features stand out like those of a garment. The wicked are denied their light, their upraised arm is broken.
Have you journeyed to the springs of the sea or walked in the recesses of the deep? Have the gates of death been shown to you? Have you seen the gates of the shadow of death? Have you comprehended the vast expanses of the earth? Tell me, if you know all this.
Second Reading Romans 10:5-17
Moses describes in this way the righteousness that is by the law; “The man who does these things shall live by them.” But the righteousness that is by faith says, “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’ (that is, to bring Christ down) or ‘Who will descend into the deep?” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart.” that is the word of faith we are proclaiming: that if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. As the Scripture says, “Anyone who trusts in Him will never be put to shame.” For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile - the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on Him, for “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news.”
But not all the Israelites accepted the good news. For Isaiah writes, “Lord, who has believed our message?” Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.
Gospel Reading: Matthew 14:22-33
Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of Him to the other side, while He dismissed the crowd. After He had dismissed them, He went up on a mountainside by Himself to pray. When evening came, He was there alone, but the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.
During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw Him walking on the water they were terrified. “It is a ghost” they said and cried out in fear.
But Jesus immediately said to them, “Take courage! It is I. Do not fear.”
“Lord, if it is you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”
“Come”, He said.
Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water, and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind he was afraid, and, beginning to sink, called out, “Lord! Save me!”
Jesus reached out His hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” He said, “Why did you doubt?”
And when they had climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshiped Him saying, “Truly, You are the Son of God.”
Sermon Song: God Whose Almighty Word (spoken)
Thou whose almighty Word, chaos and darkness heard,
And took their flight.
Hear us we humbly pray
and where the Gospel day sheds not its glorious ray
Let there be light!
Spirit of truth and love, life-giving, holy dove,
Speed forth your flight.
Move on the water’s face bearing the lamp of grace
And in earth’s darkest place,
Let there be light!
Message: “I ain’t gonna tell him. You tell him.”
Prayers:
P: Let us pray…Lord, in your mercy;
C: Hear our prayer.
Our Father, who art in heaven
Hallowed be Thy name.
Thy kingdom come.
Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.
Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil;
For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory,
Forever and ever. Amen.
Benediction and Dismissal
Closing Song: How Shall They Hear Who Have Not Heard (spoken)
How shall they hear who have not heard
News of a Lord who loved and came
Nor known His reconciling word
Nor learned to trust a Savior’s name?
Lord, here am I. Your fire impart
To this poor self-centered soul;
Touch but my lips, my hands, my heart,
And make a world for Christ my goal.
Spirit of love, within us move;
Spirit of truth, in power come down.
So shall they hear and find and prove
Christ is their life, their joy, their crown.
The Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper
The Words of Institution are spoken
The distribution (in continuous, socially-distanced fashion)
Depart the Lord’s house in peace
The LWML is trying to complete their goal for 2019-2020 grants. We still have 2 grants to complete. If anyone has their Mites boxes or loose change, please bring them to church On Sunday, or mail it to Redeemer by August 16. If you don’t have a Mite box and would like to make a donation, that would be great! Make checks payable to LWML (for Mites). You can also donate online @ www.lwml.org.
The Words of Institution are spoken
Distribution of the Lord’s Supper
The distribution (in continuous, socially-distanced fashion)
Depart the Lord’s house in peace
Distribution of the Lord’s Supper
The distribution (in continuous, socially-distanced fashion)
Depart the Lord’s house in peace