September 8, 2024: 16^th Sunday after Pentecost, Proper 18

Isaiah 35:4-7a (Promise of recompense, salvation, healing, and joy)

Psalm 146 (God sets prisoners free, opens eyes of blind, lifts poor from the dust)

James 2:1-10, 14-18 (Warning against partiality; faith without works is dead)

Mark 7:24-37 (Syrophoenician woman’s faith; Jesus heals deaf man)

Opening hymn: Hail to the Lord’s Anointed: LBW #87, ELW #311, LSB #398

                               OR Hark, the Glad Sound: LBW #35, ELW #239, LSB #349

Hymn of the Day: How Sweet the Name of Jesus Sounds: LBW #345, ELW #620, LSB #524

OR O Son of God, in Galilee: LBW #426 (Great words! This is a less familiar tune. I suggest using melody for “O God, Our Help in Ages Past”).  LSB #841 (familiar tune)

Communion Hymn #1:  Oh For a Thousand Tongues to Sing: LBW #559, ELW #886, LSB #528

Communion Hymn #2: Lord of All Hopefulness (LSB #738, ELW #765)

Closing Hymn: O God of Mercy, God of Light/Might: LBW #425, ELW #714; LSB #852

OR Go, My Children, With My Blessing: WOV #721, ELW #543, LSB #922

******************

THE PRAYERS 

Trusting in the goodness of the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, let us pray in the power of the Holy Spirit for the Church, the world, and one another.

A brief silence

Father, thank you for the faith and persistence of the Syrophoenician woman. Thank you for James’ blunt words about partiality, judgment, faith, and works. Thank you for stretching our hearts, minds, and souls as you deepen our faith in Jesus.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Heal and restore your church, purchased with the precious blood of your Son. Drive from it all partiality and false teaching. Fill it with such faith in Jesus that all its words and deeds proclaim his Good News. Let many hearts turn to you, and receive forgiveness, life, and salvation.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Give a spirit of trustfulness to your Church when it is persecuted for confessing Christ as Savior. Grant repentance and faith to its foes, until all hearts turn to you in adoration and praise.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Give the people of this congregation great confidence in the love of Christ. May we trust his holy Word, treasure his life-giving Sacraments, and constantly tell others of his great mercy.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Help our churches to seek out, identify, encourage, and mentor candidates for holy ministry. We need prophets like Isaiah, teachers like James, and disciples of Jesus with humble spirits and compassionate hearts. May those whom you desire in ministry heed your call and faithfully follow in Christ’s footsteps.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

You are Lord of all the nations. To you all the rulers of the earth shall bow down and give an account of their deeds. Teach them to act with wisdom and without partiality. Let them care for the widows, widowers, orphans, and destitute. Cause them to seek justice within and peace beyond their borders. Make them examples of integrity and compassion to their citizens.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Protect and guide our military and all who stand in harm’s way. Bring healing to the wounded and give strength and patience to their families. Use their skills, whether here or abroad, to establish the blessings of liberty, justice, and peace.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Grant that all who cry to you for help and healing; for forgiveness and restoration; or for guidance and comfort, may find your grace sufficient for their need. Especially we lift before you: {list}.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Father, we entrust to you all who clung to your promises in this life, and whose death we now mourn. Keep us close to our Lord Jesus, so our sorrow turns to joy. Help us to encourage and assist each other. Bring us to your house, where we are fed not crumbs under the table, but the rich banquet fare of the Lamb’s high feast. By your gracious Spirit, let us, with all the redeemed, bless and adore you for the majesty and love which shines in the face of your dear Son.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Incline your ear to our prayers, dear Lord; and answer them according to your most gracious and holy will, for the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

“Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword” (Matthew 10:34).

For the earth, there will be no peace until the end of the age.  We are to be bearers of the peace that surpasses all understanding.  The wicked will continue to hate and reject peace.  Jesus is not going to make peace with the world; that is, compromise the eternal truth of who He is.  He has come that between Him and me (you), there may be peace.  Come into the peace of the Lord.

Lord, at first this seems so confusing, but I do understand.  There are those with whom I have a relationship, but they are not a friend and I do not trust them.  I do not hate them, but I have learned that I cannot trust them.  Between us, there is no peace.  This is how I see this world.  I live in it, but there can be no peace so long as the wicked promote wickedness.  Teach me how to live faithfully in a world at war against You.

Lord Jesus, You are not calling me to make war, yet we are in a constant state of war against principalities, forces, and wickedness in the world.  Teach me how to be a peacemaker where possible and to do so fully armed with Your provision.  Grant me wisdom to know when to stand firm and when to shake the dust from my feet.  In the truth of what You have directed, teach me how to be faithful.  Amen.

“Everyone therefore who acknowledges me before others, I also will acknowledge before my Father in heaven; but whoever denies me before others, I also will deny before my Father in heaven” (Matthew 10:32-33).

Who are your friends?  When in another group, do you acknowledge your friend, or do you ignore them?  If Jesus is in your life, do you acknowledge Him as a friend always?  We do this with our earthly connections, but do we do them with our eternal relationship with the Lord?  Do not be dismayed by this.  If the Lord is your friend, and He is the best friend you can ever have, then acknowledge Him in all places.

Why is it Lord that I disconnect with friends?  If they are truly friends, then what difference does it make what the circumstances are?  Help me to be consistent so that I may truly be a friend to all whom I call friends.  Rather than seeing them, or You, as attachments to my world, help me to have genuine relationship with others.  Teach me so that I do not deny You or my neighbor despite the circumstance.

Lord Jesus, this is not the law You are speaking, but the reality of relationship.  I am sometimes (always?) selfish and see things through appearances.  Help me to move to the place where I see things through Your eyes.  Guide me in Your grace to repent when I am not genuine or deny my friends because I am afraid.  Lead me into all righteousness so that I may humbly walk where You lead.  Amen.

“And even the hairs of your head are all counted.  So do not be afraid; you are of more value than many sparrows” (Matthew 10:30-21).

Every particle of the universe has a purpose.  The Lord does not allow things to go by chance but has planned perfectly for all that is needed.  We are unable to fathom this, but it is so.  The Lord God knows you down to the last atom in your body.  All your days are before Him always.  If the Lord has all things in His hands, what will happen to you that He already does not know about?

Lord, You know how often I am afraid and fear the circumstances in which I find myself.  I worry about outcomes.  Help me to be responsible, yes, but with the knowledge that nothing will happen apart from Your knowledge.  You will guide all things as they need to be.  You have stated that I have value.  Help me to discover the truth of what this means.  Help me to discover the abundant life.

Lord Jesus, You did not just die a horrible death for just a few random folks.  You intentionally went to the cross to set things right for eternity.  You have told me that I have great value.  Yet, I am often conflicted in my own mind.  Send Your Spirit to minister to me that I may stand in the righteous place, with right thoughts, to be empowered to do right things.  Guide me in Your grace to know that all things are in Your hands.  Amen.

“Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.  Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father” (Matthew 10:28-29).

The world hates the Lord.  It is not necessarily you, but the Lord whose voice they want to still.  The Father knows all of this and even if He allows you to be killed, so what?  You will not add a moment to this life.  Hold fast to the faith that you have been given.  Be guided by the truth of the reality of eternity which has been shown you in faith.  Do not worry about the outcome, for you already know what it will be.

Lord, You have promised to work everything together for good for those who love You.  Let that truth be what leads me, especially when I face those who are trying to kill my faith.  Guide me in Your goodness and mercy to hold fast to the truth You have revealed.  Lead me in all righteousness to seek You first in all things.  You have given me the words of eternal life.

Lord Jesus, You were led to the slaughter, but it was not them who led You, but You who were marching to the cross.  You are the One who must lead me.  I worry about where things will lead and what will happen.  Guide me to see that only in You do I know my future, a future which is in You.  Let me not be ruled by fear, but by the truth of Your continued presence so that I may live the life You give me to live.  Amen.

“What I say to you in the dark, tell in the light; and what you hear whispered, proclaim from the housetops” (Matthew 10:27).

Keep the focus of your mind and thoughts on the things of the Lord.  If your mind is filled with the truth of faith, it will not have room for the wickedness of the world.  Let the truth of Scripture be in your mind so that when you speak, it is of those things that the Holy Spirit brings to remembrance.  You have received from the Lord many things through reading, teaching,  preaching, meditating and inwardly digesting His word.  Let the whispers of what you have received be the voice that comes out of your mouth.

Lord, You have given me the truth in so many ways.  There is more I could use.  Fill my mind with the truth of Your word so that when I speak, Your word is in my speech.  Teach me to be one who proclaims with my life the truth of the salvation You give to all who turn to You.  You have taken me out of the dark and placed me in the light.  May Your light shine through me with all I say and do.

Guide me, dear Lord Jesus, in the way You know I need to go.  You have equipped me to be who I am.  You have called me as Your disciple to go to all the world.  Lead me in the way You know I need to go, and may Your Holy Spirit fill my mouth with the words You would have me speak.  Lead me in living the life of a disciple and guide me in the way You would have me walk today.  Amen.

“So have no fear of them; for nothing is covered up that will not be uncovered, and nothing secret that will not become known” (Matthew 10:26).

The Lord reminds us to take on a big-picture view of things.  Amidst the hideousness of the Nazi regime, it was very hard for the faithful to not want to cry out at the horror going on around them.  It was twelve years in which some of the demonic was revealed.  This age will end, and all of the evil will be uncovered.  Live knowing this.  Sometimes it’s hard, but the Lord reminds us to keep our eye on what He is doing and not what the wicked one does.

Lord, Your words are two-edged.  There are things in my past life I would rather not have revealed, but I am seeking You, and not wickedness.  You will make all things known, and I suspect we all shall see how much need we have of Your grace.  Keep me on the narrow path so that I may live knowing that I am forgiven and that Your Holy Spirit is with me.  Guide me to seek nothing but righteousness.

Lord Jesus, You are the judge of the living and the dead.  Uncover the sin in my life so that I may remember, repent and come under Your grace.  Bring me to the place where I stop trying to hide and humbly live in the grace You have given me.  Keep me from the evil games of hide and seek that goes on, knowing that all things are not hidden from You.  Grant me a heart that seeks righteousness.  Amen.

Scripture
John 6:56-69

Script
Pastor: Good morning boys and girls! Welcome! Let’s say good morning to our
friend Sammy and see if she is there. Ready? One, two, three: Good morning,
Sammy!

Sammy: Good morning, everyone!

Pastor: I have a big question for everyone here today: What is faith?

[Allow time for responses]

Sammy: Faith is all about putting your trust in Jesus, no matter what happens in
our lives.

Pastor: That’s right, Sammy! Let’s talk a little bit about the Gospel reading from
John today.

Sammy: Ooo! I was hoping you would say that!

Pastor: You really enjoy hearing and talking about scripture, Sammy.

Sammy: I do! I love to learn more about Jesus.

Pastor: That’s great! Today Jesus shares a hard teaching with his disciples and
others who were following him. He tells them, “Those who eat my flesh and drink
my blood abide in me, and I in them.  57 Just as the living Father sent me, and I live
because of the Father, so whoever eats me will live because of me.  58 This is the
bread that came down from heaven, not like that which your ancestors ate, and
they died. But the one who eats this bread will live forever.” What do you think he
means?

[Allow time for responses]

Sammy: I like talking about scripture, Pastor, but these words of Jesus are
confusing to me. I don’t understand.

Pastor: Jesus is talking about how we need to accept that he is the bread of life. He
is saying here that he is the fulfillment of the Law of Moses, and he is the Messiah
to the people.

Sammy: But what does all that mean, Pastor?

Pastor: Jesus is saying that he is God.

Sammy: Oh, I get it! But why is that a hard teaching for everyone to understand?

Pastor: Accepting this teaching takes faith. We have to trust in Jesus, no matter
what. Some people had a hard time putting their faith in Jesus and believing that
he came down from heaven to save us from our sins because of his great love for
us. Some people today have a hard time with faith, too.

Sammy: How do we increase our faith, Pastor?

Pastor: Our faith comes from God. We need to pray for more faith, and when we
spend time reading our Bibles and praying, God hears our prayers and will give us
more faith in him.

Sammy: That’s so cool! I have another question.

Pastor: Here we go again…

Sammy: What does Peter mean when he says, “Lord, to whom can we go? You
have the words of eternal life.  69 We have come to believe and know that you are the
Holy One of God,”?

Pastor: Peter is sharing that Jesus has words of life—Jesus has the power of eternal
life. Peter is putting faith and trust in Jesus here with these words.

Sammy: I want a faith like Peter.

Pastor: Me too, Sammy. Boys and girls, will you pray with me? Can everyone please
fold their hands and bow their heads? Dear Jesus, Thank you for faith. Thank you
for helping us to trust you. Thank you for increasing our faith. Amen.

Sammy: Bye, everyone!

Pastor: Bye, Sammy!

Scripture

John 6:51-58

Script
Pastor: Good morning boys and girls! Welcome! Let’s say good morning to our
friend Sammy and see if she is there. Ready? One, two, three: Good morning,
Sammy!

Sammy: Good morning, everyone!

Pastor: How are you doing today, Sammy?

Sammy: I am doing great!

Pastor: Me too, Sammy! Hey everyone, I have a question for you: What are some
of the rules that you have to follow at home?

[Allow time for responses]

Pastor: What are some of the rules that you have to follow at school?

[Allow time for responses]

Sammy: What about the rules at church? What rules do we have at church?

[Allow time for responses]

Pastor: Great answers, everyone! When Adam and Eve disobeyed God, the lives
of people on earth became impacted by sin. But God had a plan.

Sammy: What was the plan that God had?

Pastor: God’s plan was to create a covenant with his people. There was an Old
Covenant…

Sammy: Oooo! What was the Old Covenant?

Pastor: The Old Covenant was a promise that God made with the people. God
promised to make Abraham the father of many nations and that his descendants
would include kings.

Sammy: I wonder if my descendants will be kings one day.

Pastor: ….

Sammy: Yeah I think you’re right. I’ll stick to being a sheep.

Pastor: Jacob had twelve sons, and these twelve sons became the twelve tribes of
Israel. Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, Asher, Issachar, Zebulun,
Joseph, and Benjamin. These men and their children had to follow special rules,
just like we do at home, at school, and in church.

Sammy: What kinds of rules?

Pastor: There were rules about worshipping God and about making sacrifices to
God. Remember that people sin—we do bad things and we need to pay for our
sins.

Sammy: That could get expensive.

Pastor: Exactly. But God had a plan.

Sammy: What was the plan?

Pastor: The plan was Jesus.

Sammy: I KNEW IT!

Pastor: Yes, the covenant that God made with his people was sending his son
Jesus to die on the cross for our sins. Jesus paid for our sins with his blood and we
can live free from the burden of our own sins.

Sammy: Hooray for Jesus!

Pastor: Boys and girls, let’s fold our hands and bow our heads in prayer. Dear
Jesus, thank you for the new covenant. Thank you for forgiving our sins. Thank
you for your great love. Amen.

Sammy: Bye, everyone!

Pastor: Bye, Sammy!

Scripture

John 6:35, 41-51

Script
Pastor: Good morning boys and girls! Welcome! Let’s say good morning to our
friend Sammy and see if she is there. Ready? One, two, three: Good morning,
Sammy!

Sammy: Good morning, everyone!

Pastor: Sammy, I would like to talk to the boys and girls today about resurrection.
I was hoping that you could help me with that.

Sammy: I can always try, Pastor.

Pastor: That’s great, Sammy. We are going to focus on something Jesus said today
in the gospel reading from John.

Sammy: I am ready.

Pastor: Jesus said, “I am the bread of life.” Can you all help Sammy repeat that
verse? “I am the bread of life.”

Sammy: “I am the bread of life.” We did it!

Pastor: Very good, everyone!

Sammy: But what kind of bread, Pastor? Wheat? Rye? Whole grain? Honey?

Pumpernickel? Sourdough? Flatbread?

Pastor: [Interrupting] No, Sammy, hang on a second.

Sammy: What? What did I do wrong?

Pastor: Let’s go back to our verse. Can everyone repeat after me? “I am the bread
of life.”

Sammy: “I am the bread of life.” And now you tell us what kind of bread Jesus is.

Pastor: No, Sammy. It’s a metaphor for the resurrection of Jesus. He died and rose
and the same spirit that lives in him lives in us. So guess what?

Sammy: When we die, we get to rise again to live with Jesus.

Pastor: That’s called resurrection. Repeat after me, “I am the bread of life.”

Sammy: “I am the bread of life.”

Pastor: We need bread to nourish our bodies, and we need Jesus as our living
bread from heaven. When we eat the bread he gives us, we won’t die and we get
to live with him.

Sammy: But where is the bread? I want that bread!

Pastor: It’s right here. [Show communion bread to the children.] This bread is a
sign to us of the living power of Jesus. It’s the new covenant between Jesus and
us. He is the living bread. Remember the verse?

Sammy: “I am the bread of life.” And we can remember that verse every time we
come up for communion and receive the bread or a blessing.

Pastor: Yes we can. Let’s say a prayer. Can everyone please fold your hands and
bow your heads? Dear Jesus, Thank you for being the bread of life. Thank you for
resurrection and communion. Thank you for your many blessings. We love you.
Amen.

Sammy: Bye, everyone!

Pastor: Bye, Sammy!