Build on Christ Jesus, Your Firm Foundation May 7, 2017 Divine Service with Holy Communion
OPENING HYMN Let Children Hear the Mighty Deeds 629 (1-3) The Lutheran Hymnal INVOCATION M: In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. C: Amen. CONFESSION OF SINS M: Beloved in the Lord: let us draw near with a true heart and confess our sins to God our Father, asking him in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to grant us forgiveness. C: Holy and merciful Father, I confess that I am by nature sinful and that I have disobeyed you in my thoughts, words, and actions. I have done what is evil and failed to do what is good. For this I deserve your punishment both now and in eternity. But I am truly sorry for my sins, and trusting in my Savior Jesus Christ, I pray: Lord, have mercy on me, a sinner. LORD, HAVE MERCY M: God, our heavenly Father, has been merciful to us and has given his only Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. Therefore, as a called servant of Christ and by his authority, I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. C: Amen. 2
GLORY BE TO GOD M: In the peace of forgiveness, let us praise the Lord. 3
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PRAYER OF THE DAY M: The Lord be with you. C: And also with you. M: Almighty God, you have committed to your Church the task of making disciples of all nations. Enlighten with your wisdom those who teach and those who learn, that, rejoicing in the knowledge of your truth, they may worship and serve you from generation to generation; through Jesus Christ our Lord. C: Amen. FIRST LESSON Deuteronomy 6:1-9 1 These are the commands, decrees and laws the LORD your God directed me to teach you to observe in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess, 2 so that you, your children and their children after them may fear the LORD your God as long as you live by keeping all his decrees and commands that I give you, and so that you may enjoy long life. 3 Hear, Israel, and be careful to obey so that it may go well with you and that you may increase greatly in a land flowing with milk and honey, just as the LORD, the God of your ancestors, promised you. 4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. 5 Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. 6 These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit 5
at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8 Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 9 Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates. SECOND LESSON 2 Timothy 3:14-17 14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, 15 and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God [a] may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. VERSE OF THE DAY Alleluia. The Lord gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. Alleluia. (Proverbs 2:6) GOSPEL Matthew 7:24-29 After the announcement of the Gospel, the congregation sings: 24 Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash. 6
28 When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, 29 because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law. After the Gospel, the congregation sings: NICENE CREED I believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen. I believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one being with the Father. Through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation, he came down from heaven, was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the virgin Mary, and became fully human. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate. He suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who in unity with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets. 7
I believe in one holy Christian and apostolic Church. I acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. I look for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen. HYMN OF THE DAY How Firm a Foundation 768 Christian Worship Supplement 8
SERMON Build on Christ Jesus, Your Firm Foundation I Corinthians 3:10-17 10 By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care. 11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, 13 their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person s work. 14 If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. 15 If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved even though only as one escaping through the flames. 16 Don t you know that you yourselves are God s temple and that God s Spirit dwells in your midst? 17 If anyone destroys God s temple, God will destroy that person; for God s temple is sacred, and you together are that temple. 9
CREATE IN ME OFFERING The members of Christ the King have joined together to do the Lord s work in their community and around the world. Visitors should not feel obligated to participate in this offering which supports our ministry. 10
PRAYER OF THE CHURCH M: O Lord, our firm foundation in faith, we come with humility and gratitude, acknowledging your many blessings upon Christian education in our congregation. C: We thank you especially for the 40 years of blessings you have given to and through California Lutheran High School. M: We thank you for the faithful leaders and teachers you have given CLHS. You gave them the willingness to work and sacrifice so that CLHS could be established and maintained. C: We thank you for parents and supporters that have realized that their children s most important need is to know the saving truths of your Word and have supported the work of this school. M: We thank you for teachers who have given freely of themselves that the students may be nourished in the food of your Word. C: But above all, Lord, we thank you for preserving your pure Word, the heart and center of our school and all true education. We have not deserved your blessings, but you have given them all to us by your grace. M: Continue to bless Christian education among us. Help us to hold high the true lamp of wisdom, your Word, that the light of salvation shines in a world lost in darkness of unbelief and sin. Continue to give us a strong desire for the training of young people in your Word. Continue to bless the work of building your kingdom. C: Bless us with faithful teachers who will instruct students in the truths and applications of your Word. Encourage and strengthen them to be examples of godly living. M: Bless all who hear your Word. Let it take root in their hearts that they may be strengthened in the knowledge of their salvation and in the ability to resist temptation. C: May our school always be your Spirit s workshop, where future generations will learn to know and love their Savior and to share him with others. 11
M: Bless us and our young people, O Lord, as you have been with those who have gone before us. Bless Christian schools and Christian education to the glory of your name and the salvation of blood-bought souls. C: To you be all glory and praise. Amen. LORD S 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; and 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. HYMN Shepherd of Tender Youth 628 (1, 2, 4, 5) The Lutheran Hymnal PREFACE M: The Lord be with you. C: And also with you. M: Lift up your hearts. C: We lift them up to the Lord. 12
M: Let us give thanks to the Lord, our God. C: It is good and right so to do. M: It is truly good and right that we should at all times and in all places, give you thanks, O Lord, holy Father, almighty and everlasting God, through Jesus Christ, our Lord, and we praise you especially for the glorious resurrection of your Son, the true Passover Lamb, who by his sacrifice took away the sins of the world and by his resurrection restored everlasting life. Therefore, will all the saints on earth and hosts of heaven, we praise your holy name and join their glorious song: HOLY, HOLY, HOLY 13
WORDS OF INSTITUTION M: Our Lord Jesus Christ, on the night he was betrayed, took bread; and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, Take and eat; this is my (+) body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me. Then he took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink from it, all of you; this is my (+) blood of the new covenant, which is poured out for you for the forgiveness of sins. Do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me. M: The peace of the Lord be with you always. C: Amen. LAMB OF GOD 14
DISTRIBUTION God s Word also teaches we should examine and prepare ourselves before receiving communion. Therefore, we ask guests who are not members of our church to speak with our pastor before receiving communion the first time. Everyone is welcome to come forward to receive a blessing. SONG OF SIMEON 15
THANKSGIVING M: O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. C: And his mercy endures forever. M: O God the Father, source of all goodness, in your loving kindness you sent your Son to share our humanity. We thank you that through him you have given us pardon and peace in this sacrament. We also pray that you will not forsake us but will rule our hearts and minds by your Holy Spirit so that we willingly serve you day after day, through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. C: Amen. BLESSING M: The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you. The Lord look on you with favor and give you peace. C: Amen CLOSING HYMN Let Children Hear the Mighty Deeds 629 (4-5) The Lutheran Hymnal 16
Take the Next Step It s a big step to walk into a new church! We are glad you came. If you are looking for a place to learn more about God s Word, grow in your faith, and be connected to other Christians, follow these suggestions to take the next step: Fourth Sunday in Easter 6541 Eastern Ave Bell Gardens CA 90201 (323) 773-6284 cristoreylutheran.com We invite you to come back next week. God promises that time spent in his Word will grow your faith. We encourage you to take our Bible Information Class. This class provides an overview of the Bible and serves as the class for those desiring to become members of our congregation. We challenge you to select a way to service. We are currently revitalizing our ministry and are always looking for help. We urge you to invite your friends and family. The people in your life need to hear the good news of Jesus Christ. Pastor Matt Behmer (323) 395-8062 pastor@cristoreylutheran.com Spiritual Services To serve you best, we offer a variety of spiritual services. These include confirmation, counseling, visits to the sick and hospitalized, baptisms and quinceañera worship services. These spiritual services are provided without cost and require few prerequisites. Please speak with Pastor Matt to learn more. Worship Schedule English Worship Service...Sundays at 10:45am Misa Cristiana en español..sábados a las 6:00pm A member of the Evangelical Lutheran Synod (ELS). Affiliated with the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS). Worship Acknowledgements Scripture Passages taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. Liturgy taken from Christian Worship Supplement. Reprinted with permission under One License A-726822. Hymns from Christian Worship Supplement are reprinted with permission under One License A-726822. 17