Grace Alone. Faith Alone. Scripture Alone. November 5, 2017 The Common Order with Holy Communion
OPENING HYMN Lord, Keep Us Steadfast in Your Word 203 Christian Worship INVOCATION M: In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. REFORMATION DIALOGUE M: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be glory forever and ever. C: My soul faints with longing for your salvation, but I have put my hope in your word. 2
M: The Scripture declares that the whole world is a prisoner of sin, so that what was promised, being given through faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe. C: Turn to me and have mercy on me, as you always do to those who love your name. M: You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. C: May your unfailing love be my comfort, according to your promise to your servant. M: When the time had fully come, God send his Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons. Because you are sons, God send the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, Abba, Father. So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir. C: I have sought your face with all my heart; be gracious to me according to your promise. M: It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. C: I will walk about in freedom, for I have sought your precepts. M: May we never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. C: Turn my eyes away from worthless things; preserve my life according to your word. 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. 3
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. SONG OF PRAISE M: In the peace of forgiveness, let us praise the Lord! 4
PRAYER OF THE DAY M: The Lord be with you. M: Gracious Lord, our refuge and strength, pour out your Holy Spirit on your faithful people. Keep them steadfast in your Word, protect and comfort them in all temptations, defend them against all their enemies, and bestow on the Church your 5
saving peace; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. FIRST LESSON Daniel 6:10-12, 16-23 10 Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before. 11 Then these men went as a group and found Daniel praying and asking God for help. 12 So they went to the king and spoke to him about his royal decree: Did you not publish a decree that during the next thirty days anyone who prays to any god or human being except to you, Your Majesty, would be thrown into the lions den? The king answered, The decree stands in accordance with the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed. 16 So the king gave the order, and they brought Daniel and threw him into the lions den. The king said to Daniel, May your God, whom you serve continually, rescue you! 17 A stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the rings of his nobles, so that Daniel s situation might not be changed. 18 Then the king returned to his palace and spent the night without eating and without any entertainment being brought to him. And he could not sleep. 19 At the first light of dawn, the king got up and hurried to the lions den. 20 When he came near the den, he called to Daniel in an anguished voice, Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to rescue you from the lions? 21 Daniel answered, May the king live forever! 22 My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in his sight. Nor have I ever done any wrong before you, Your Majesty. 23 The king was overjoyed and gave orders to lift Daniel out of the den. And when Daniel was lifted from the den, no wound was found on him, because he had trusted in his God. 6
SECOND LESSON Galatians 5:1-6 1 It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. 2 Mark my words! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all. 3 Again I declare to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law. 4 You who are trying to be justified by the law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace. 5 For through the Spirit we eagerly await by faith the righteousness for which we hope. 6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love. VERSE OF THE DAY John 8:31, 32 Alleluia. If you continue in my Word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free. Alleluia. GOSPEL LESSON Matthew 10:16-23 M: The Gospel according to Saint Matthew: 16 I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. 17 Be on your guard; you will be handed over to the local councils and be flogged in the synagogues. 18 On my account you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles. 19 But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, 20 for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. 7
21 Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death. 22 You will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. 23 When you are persecuted in one place, flee to another. Truly I tell you, you will not finish going through the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes. M: The Gospel of our Lord! NICENE CREED C: 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. 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. 8
HYMN OF THE DAY A Mighty Fortress Is Our God 200 Christian Worship 9
SERMON Grace Alone. Faith Alone. Scripture Alone. Romans 3:28 OFFERATORY 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
PRAYERS M: Let us pray to the Lord for the Christian church on earth and for all people everywhere. For all who gather here today and for our entire congregation, that through the gospel the Lord would give us growth in faith and increase our love: C: We ask you to bless us, O Lord. M: For the spreading of the gospel throughout the world; for all pastors, missionaries, and their families, that they may boldly proclaim Christ to the nations: C: We ask you to hear us, O Lord. M: For the promises you have made to us and the trust you seek from us; for the faith you have given your people to believe in the saving work of our Savior Jesus; and for the Spirit s power to be faithful in the ministry you have given us to do, knowing that our labor in the Lord is not in vain: C: We magnify your name, O Lord. M: For the people of our country; for the Lord s blessings on our work; for those seeking employment; for good health; and for good weather: C: We beg for your mercy, O Lord. M: For all who are sick in body or mind; for the hungry and the homeless; for those who are in prison; for those who are dying and those who are mourning: C: We ask you to help them according to your will, O Lord. M: Hear us, Lord, as we bring you our private petitions. Silent prayer. M: All this we ask, O Father, through your Son, Jesus Christ, who has taught us to pray: C: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and forever. Amen. 11
HYMN O Lord, We Praise You 317 Christian Worship 12
PREFACE FOR THE SACRAMENT M: The Lord be with you. M: Lift up your hearts. M: Let us give thanks to the Lord, our God. 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, who preserves his Church to the end of time when he will come again as king to judge all people and take his own to glory. Therefore, with 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. 14
O CHRIST, LAMB OF GOD DISTRIBUTION OF COMMUNION God s Word teaches we should examine and prepare ourselves before receiving communion. Therefore, we ask guests who are not members of our church to meet with our pastor before receiving communion the first time. SONG OF SIMEON 15
M: O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. 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. 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. 16
CLOSING HYMN Dear Christians, One and All, Rejoice 377 Christian Worship 1 Dear Christians, one and all, rejoice, With exultation springing, And, with united heart and voice And holy rapture singing, Proclaim the wonders God has done, How his right arm the vict ry won. How dearly it has cost him! 2 Fast bound in Satan s chains I lay; Death brooded darkly o er me. Sin was my torment night and day; In sin my mother bore me. Yet deep and deeper still I fell; Life had become a living hell, So firmly sin possessed me. 3 My own good works availed me naught, No merit they attaining; My will against God s judgment fought, No hope for me remaining. My fears increased till sheer despair Left naught but death to be my share And hell to be my sentence. 4 But God beheld my wretched state Before the world s foundation, And, mindful of his mercies great, He planned my soul s salvation. A Father s heart he turned to me, Sought my redemption fervently; He gave his dearest treasure. 17
The Small Catechism (1529 A.D) Martin Luther wrote the Small Catechism as a brief summary of the basic truths of the Christian faith. It was primarily intended to educate the laity and was designed as a tool that parents could use to teach their children. It provides summaries or explanations of the Ten Commandments, the Apostles Creed, the Lord s Prayer, the Sacrament of Baptism, the Sacrament of the Altar (Holy Communion), and the Ministry of the Keys and Confession. The Large Catechism (1529 A.D) Covering in greater depth the same doctrines and subjects as the Small Catechism, the Large Catechism was really a series of edited sermons of Martin Luther. It was intended primarily as a tool that could be used by pastors and teachers to broaden their knowledge of the teachings of the Bible. The Augsburg Confession (1530 A.D.) Written by Luther s colleague Philip Melanchthon, this statement of faith is often viewed as the chief Lutheran confession. It was presented by the followers of Luther to Emperor Charles V at the imperial diet (assembly) meeting in Augsburg, Germany. It was intended to be a summary of the chief articles of the Christian faith as understood and taught by Lutherans in contrast to the errors that were being taught by the Roman Catholic church. The Apology (Defense) of the Augsburg Confession (1531 A.D.) After the Roman theologians had condemned many of the teachings of the Augsburg Confession, Philip Melanchthon authored this lengthy defense of the Augsburg Confession. Smalcald Articles (1536 A.D.) The Smalcald Articles were written by Luther in late 1536 for presentation and discussion at a church council that had been planned by Pope Paul III. On June 4, 1536, Pope Paul III announced that a council would be held to deal with the concerns of the Protestants. In these articles Luther indicated on which points Lutherans would not compromise. Lutherans at once recognized their value as a statement of pure evangelical and biblical doctrine. The Formula of Concord (1577 A.D.) In the years following Luther s death, Lutherans had become divided over several doctrinal issues. Written primarily by Jacob Andreae, Martin Chemnitz, and David Chytraeus, the Formula of Concord (or agreement ) was a detailed restatement of many of the truths contained in the Augsburg Confession and was intended to be a statement that all genuine Lutherans could adopt. It was signed by over 8,100 pastors and theologians, as well as by over 50 governmental leaders. 18
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: First Sunday of End Time Reformation 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 serve. 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 A member of the Evangelical Lutheran Synod (ELS). Affiliated with the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS). Divine Service in English...Sundays at 10:45am English Bible Study. Sundays at 10:00am Misa Cristiana en español...comenzando la nochebuena 2017 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: A Lutheran Hymnal. Hymns taken from Oramos Cantando. Reprinted with permission under One License A-726822. 19
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