12th Sunday after Pentecost: Date: August 31, 2014
– THE SERMON: 1 Samuel 7:5-12
Theme: Thus Far the LORD Has Helped Us
I. Seeking the LORD’s Help in our Great Need
II. Recognizing the Greatness of the LORD’s Deliverance.
III. Memorializing the LORD’s Deliverance
( Pastor Theodore Barthels )
Bulletin: Read Bulletin
Sermon: Read Sermon
THE ORDER OF SERVICE: p. 5 (38:1-3)
HYMNS: 537; 467:1-4; 33; 53:1,5,6
THE EPISTLE LESSON: Acts 17:15-34
The Apostle Paul began where the people of Athens were spiritually. He acknowledged that they were very religious, but then pointed out that they knew they were missing the “Unknown God.” The God who cannot be discovered on our own, the God who has nonetheless revealed His glory, majesty, power and wisdom in all creation, this God reveals Himself to us in His son, who died for us and rose again. The wise of this world listened to Paul with intent interest until Paul presented the truth of the resurrection, they dismissed Paul and his message of the judgment to come. Some listened. The Spirit calls those who are to be saved.
THE GOSPEL LESSON: Matthew 16:13-20
Who is Jesus? What does the world say? The answers expressed today may be quite different from those the disciples heard during Jesus’ ministry, but all the world’s answers fall short of the truth. Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God. This truth is the foundation of our faith. This truth is the key to forgiveness and life, the very keys to heaven which Jesus has entrusted to His Church that we might declare this wonder of life to the world.