Book: John 6:60-69

Lord of Life, You Have Convinced Us

By James Wiese on August 28, 2021

Zion Lutheran Church of Springfield

(Member of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod)

4717 S Farm Rd 135 (Golden Avenue)

Church phone: 417.887.0886                         Pastor’s cell phone: 417.693.3244

www.zionluthchurch.com                              email: revelehmann@gmail.com

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The Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost        August 29, 2021  

“Lord, to whom will we go. You have the words of eternal life.”   John 6:68

F o r   O u r     V i s i t o r s

We extend a warm and sincere welcome in our Savior’s name. Please sign our guest book, located to the right just outside the sanctuary. If you desire more information about Zion or are in need of spiritual guidance, please call upon our pastor at any time. We are delighted to have you join us today and invite you to return soon.

U p o n   E n t e r i n g   G o d’ s   H o u s e

“In You, O LORD, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame.   Be my rock of refuge to which I can always go. Since my youth You have taught me. Do not forsake me, O God.”   (Psalm71)

W h a t   T h i s   S u n d a y   i s     A b o u t

Approaching the Crossroads in Life. When you come to a point of change in life and different directions lie before you, what will you do?

We call such times of decision “crossroads in life.” They are many and of various kinds, and the decisions you make at that point may greatly affect your future. What will you do? Which way should you go?   How you view your relationship with Christ and see His working in your life will determine to a large part the direction you take.

May God the Holy Spirit give us the faith-filled view of Peter who, when asked which way he would go, responded, “Lord, what other path can we take but the one that leads to you? Where else shall we go? Only You have the words of eternal life.”

To that end we pray: Almighty and everlasting God, give us an increase of faith, hope, and love; and, that we may obtain what You promise, make us love what You command. Grant through Your Spirit that we might always worship You in love of the truth and serve You willingly in Your Kingdom; in Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

– T h e   W o r d   o f   G o d   f o r   T o d a y –

 Today’s Old Testament Lesson: Joshua 24:1,2,14-18

Joshua and Israel had come to a crossroads in life.   The Lord would soon take Joshua home to Himself. Meanwhile Israel was settling down in the Promised Land.   Joshua knew what He and His family would do; what about Israel? He encourages them to remain faithful and serve the Lord.

 Today’s Epistle Lesson: Ephesians 5:21-33        

“Being filled with the Spirit” leads to “speaking to one another” about spiritual things and “singing to the Lord” in thanksgiving. It also includes, “submitting in love to Christ.” As Christian wives and husbands reach the crossroads of life where they live together under Him, they have different roles to fulfill as Christ leads them.

Today’s Gospel Lesson: John 6:60-69

The preaching of Christ as Savior forces us to a spiritual crossroads of life. There are only two ways to go: reject Him or believe in Him whom God sent. Some reject what the Lord Jesus says and offers.   But those who remain with Him have life forever. Believing that, they are happy and want to remain.

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Today’s Organist: Jane Rips                        The Preacher: Rev. James Witt

Point to Ponder: Moved by an impulse of compassion, a wealthy plantation owner once bought a slave at a high price. After buying her he told the clerk to free her, then disappeared into the crowd. Upon hearing of her freedom, the slave girl cried, “Where is the man who bought me? I must find him! He set me free, and I must serve him as long as I live!” What an apt confession for the Christian: Christ has created me, redeemed me from sin, and set me free that I may be His own, live under Him, and serve Him all my life.   – Herman Gockel

Oh, blest the house where faith you find And all within have set their mind

To trust their God and serve Him still And do in all His holy will!

Then here will I and mine today A solemn promise make and say:

Though all the world forsake His Word, I and my house will serve the Lord.  

(CW 506:2,5)

Outline of  Our Worship

The Preparation

Opening Thoughts on the Service

Opening Hymn: #471

Order of Worship:    The Common Service:  page 15

The Ministry of the Word

Joshua 24:1,2,14-18

Psalm of the Day: #71  pg.92

Ephesians 5:21-33

Hymn Response: #506

Gospel Responses: pg,18

John 3:1-17

Apostles’ Creed: pg.19

Sermon Hymn: #356

Sermon: John 6:60-69     Lord of Life, You Have Convinced Us

Our Response to the Word

The Offertory & Offering    Hymnal pg.20

Prayers

The Lord’s Prayer

The Lord Blesses Us

Prayer: Hymnal pg.25

The Benediction

The Closing Hymn: #484

Silent Prayer

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The Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost – Series B

Old Testament: Joshua 24:1-2;14-18 – The Covenant Renewal

¹Then Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel at Shechem, and he summoned the elders of Israel, its heads, its judges, and its officers, and they presented themselves before God.

²Then Joshua told all the people, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel has said…..Now, therefore, fear the Lord and serve him wholeheartedly and faithfully. Remove the gods that your fathers served in the region across the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. ¹⁵But if you see no benefit in serving the Lord, then choose for yourselves today whomever you will serve—whether the gods that your fathers served beyond the River or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household—we will serve the Lord!”

¹⁶The people responded by saying, “Far be it from us to forsake the Lord in order to serve other gods! ¹⁷For the Lord our God, he is the one who brought us and our ancestors up from the land of Egypt, where we were slaves. He is the one who performed these great signs right before our eyes and protected us on the whole journey that we made and among all the peoples through whom we passed. ¹⁸The Lord drove out of our presence all the peoples and the Amorites who were living in the land. We too will serve the Lord, because he is our God!”

Epistle Lesson: Ephesians 5:21-33 – Wives and Husbands

²¹ …and by submitting to one another in reverence for Christ. ²²Wives, submit to your own husbands as to the Lord. ²³For the husband is the head of the wife, just as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he himself is the Savior. ²⁴Moreover, as the church submits to Christ, so also wives are to submit to their husbands in everything.

²⁵Husbands, love your wives, in the same way as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her ²⁶to make her holy, by cleansing her with the washing of water in connection with the Word. ²⁷He did this so that he could present her to himself as a glorious church, having no stain or wrinkle or any such thing, but so that she would be holy and blameless. ²⁸In the same way, husbands have an obligation to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. ²⁹To be sure, no one has ever hated his own body, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, ³⁰because we are members of his body, of his flesh and of his bones. ³¹“For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two will be one flesh.”

Gospel Lesson: John 6:60-69 – Many Disciples Desert Jesus

⁶⁰When they heard it, many of his disciples said, “This is a hard teaching! Who can listen to it?”

⁶¹But Jesus, knowing in himself that his disciples were grumbling about this, asked them, “Does this cause you to stumble in your faith? ⁶²What if you would see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? ⁶³The Spirit is the one who gives life. The flesh does not help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life. ⁶⁴But there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus knew from the beginning those who would not believe and the one who would betray him. ⁶⁵He said, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me, unless it is given to him by my Father.”

⁶⁶After this, many of his disciples turned back and were not walking with him anymore. ⁶⁷So Jesus asked the Twelve, “You do not want to leave too, do you?”

⁶⁸Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom will we go? You have the words of eternal life. ⁶⁹We have come to believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.”

The Holy Bible, Evangelical Heritage Version^® (EHV^®) copyright © 2019 The Wartburg Project.

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        C a l e n d a r     &     A n n o u n c e m e n t s     f o r     Z i o n     L u t h e r a n     C h u r c h

 

Today Aug. 29	Mon Aug. 30	Tues. Aug. 31	Wed. Sept. 1	Thurs. Sept. 2	Fri. Sept. 3	Sat. Sept. 4	Next Sun. Sept. 5
9:00 am Divine Worship Service on line – Facebook 10:15 am Fellowship & Brief Bible Study    Pentecost 15				11 am Midweek Bible Class, Confirmation,   Choir		6 pm Bates/Annibal Wedding in Joplin	9:00 am Divine Worship Service with Holy Communion on line – Facebook 10:15 am Fellowship & Brief Bible Study  Pentecost 16

 

A Brief Bible Study on God’s Word for Today

God’s Word is not always easy to believe. There are some difficult words that we run up against as we read through our Bible, ideas that seem so contrary to our “modern way of thinking.” We shouldn’t think, however, that these words were any easier to believe back in Bible times. They weren’t. God’s people have always been faced with the difficult words of God. That’s why Jesus gives us the Bread of Life, that we might be led to set aside our worldly objections and see the loving and saving intent of every word from our Savior’s mouth. When we see that intent, it’s easier to trust even the most difficult words.

The Gospel Lesson: John 6:60-69 (answers are found on the back side)

1. After His disciples heard what Jesus had to say about “eating His flesh and drinking His blood,” how did they respond?
2. How did some of Jesus’ followers finally react? What about the Twelve?

Those We Remember In Our Prayers:   Dea Windsor; Clyde Johnson; Dave Ballou; Greg Miller; Lou Schulz; Norine Richardson; Barbara Long; Jodi Milam; William & Laurie Moon; Patsy Mickelson; Lance & Jodi Milam; Pauline Jaeger, Randy’s mother; Laurie Moon’s family; Lindsey Bates and Samuel Anibal joined in marriage yesterday.

 Thank You to Rev. James Witt for conducting the service today. Rev. Witt and wife Peggy live in St. Louis. He recently retired from the active ministry at Martin Luther Lutheran Church. He has been very instrumental in the last 15 years in leading the China Partners/316 NOW education department He would be pleased to meet you after worship.

 Today a guest preacher is again leading us in worship. Pastor and Elizabeth are gone on a trip with friends and will be arriving home this coming Saturday. Should need arise, please contact one of our elders or council members or Pastor Tim Buelow in Carthage at 417.388.4374; Pastor Matthew Brooks at 507.304.0267; or Pastor James Witt at 314.799.1864.

You Are Invited to the wedding of Lindsey Bates and Samuel Anibal next Saturday, September 4, 6 pm at the “I Do Event and Wedding” center in Joplin, MO. You will find the invitation on the bulletin board in the hallway for the address.

Meditations There are still plenty of copies for family, friends, and neighbors of the new series of daily devotions that begin today. They will be found in the narthex. Large print copies are also available. There were no Daily Devotions written by pastor this past week.

No Face Mask Regulations Facemasks are no longer required in a church setting. If you feel more comfortable wearing a mask, you may do so. Masks, disposable gloves, and sanitizer are in the narthex and the fellowship hall for your use.

Upcoming Events

Tuesday, September 14, 6:30 pm – Monthly Church Council Meeting

 The Week in Review

Last Sunday’s Worship Attendance: ; Bible Class: ; No Midweek Bible Class this past week; Offering: $

                                                                      Next Sunday’s Lessons:                                             

Pentecost 15: Deuteronomy 4:1-2,6-8; Ephesians 6:10-20; Mark 7:1-8,14-15,21-23   (CW 3 Year Series B)

 Answers to Today’s Gospel Lesson Brief Study:

1. They said that it was “a hard teaching,” suggesting that it was impossible to believe. Jesus did not attempt to soften His words; instead, He realized that some of his disciples would forsake Him because of unbelief.
2. John tells us that “many of His disciples turned back and no longer followed Him.” The Twelve, however, stayed with Jesus, as Peter asked, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” These disciples trusted the words of Jesus, the Bread of Life, even though they were difficult to understand.              
   

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“Would You Leave Me, Too?”

By James Wiese on August 28, 2017

The Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost                         August 27, 2017
Text:  John 6:60-69 (51-69)   Revised 3-year series B          17:2027
Theme: “Would You Leave Me, Too?”

With sad eyes Jesus directed this question to His 12 apostles at a time when many others left Him:  Would You Leave Me, Too?
Consider how many a Christian has knelt before God’s altar in church and in all sincerity at the time proclaimed, “Yes, I will remain with the Lord Jesus.  I will remain with His Word, with His grace, with His Church, and I will never leave Him.  Nothing, neither joys nor sorrows, neither honor nor shame, neither poverty nor riches, neither life nor death shall be able to separate me from Him.”  But then, before too long, that one left the Savior, allowing the fire of faith and love that once burned within to die out.
Ah, yes, sometimes with sadness I look back over my years in the ministry and consider those, especially young confirmands, upon whose head I have laid this hand in blessing.  It was a joy to watch them grow and confirm their faith. Like tender trees in a garden they seemed to come to full bloom in the Savior.  I sometimes thought, “Even if others should fall away, surely these will not.  They will remain faithful.”  But what happened?  Where are they now?  The fire of faith and love that once burned within them died out.  Have they, like Paul’s coworker Demas, left the Lord Jesus because they loved the world instead?
I must admit, such thoughts at times enter my heart. And it happens more often now, perhaps because I see my time in the ministry growing shorter. These days I tend to look back at times and thoughts of the past could change a day of joy into one of anxiety or sadness.
But should we ever be tempted to give ourselves over to such thoughts, we see in this Gospel from John that the Savior also experienced that many of His most hopeful disciples forsook Him.  But what did He do?  Ah, He sadly looked on those who were leaving, but He did not on their account give up on the others who were still with Him.  Instead, He turned in trust to His dear, 12 apostles with the question: “Would You Leave Me, Too?”
Now, if the Lord Jesus would come to each of us today with such a question, what would your answer be.  Would You say, “Oh, Savior, I can’t remain any longer with You.  The world is too inviting and sin is so sweet.  But Your yoke is too hard and your burden is too heavy!  I must go!”
Oh, no, no! I pray that with one voice we would answer today: Lord, where shall we go? Only You have the words of eternal life.  And we believe!”

I.  Lord, where shall we go?
When Peter replied with those words, he wanted to say, “Lord, are You asking us?  Even if it were possible that we could be so thankless and forget Your love…even if we could wipe out of our hearts and souls the benefits that we have enjoyed with You, where would we go?  To whom could we turn for the light of truth that we need?  Where would we satisfy the hunger and thirst of our souls for the grace and peace of God?  Where would we look for comfort in our troubles, for forgiveness from sin, for rescue from death?  Where could we find eternal life apart from You?  Leave You?  Lord, where could we go?”
Peter and all the apostles did not know where they would go if they wanted to leave Christ.  Do you know?
Those who leave Christ think they can find happiness somewhere else.  One leaves Christ and thinks he can find happiness in the pursuit of money and earthly things.  Another leaves Christ and seeks happiness in all sorts of lusts and earthly pleasures.  Another leaves Christ and seeks happiness in the friendship of the world.  Another leaves Christ and seeks happiness in honor, fame, or the wisdom of this world.  But in the end, do they find what they seek?
Judas left Christ for 30 pieces of silver when he betrayed Him.  But the money by which he sold Christ soon became like fire in his hands and heart.  Finally, he despaired of his treasure and met a horrible end.
David left Christ and plunged himself into the sea of lust.  But, as sweet as it once was to his sinful desire, so bitter it then became.  He later lamented in his psalms how sin’s arrows pierced his heart and weighed on his conscience so that it felt like a mountain had crushed him to the earth.  With his lust for sin he did not buy happiness but sold it as guilt oppressed him night and day.
Solomon left Christ, too, when he began to love the world and its joys.  But soon he cried, “Meaningless, meaningless, all is meaningless” (Eccl.1).
Even Paul had to admit that his early life without Christ was nothing until he came “to know the love of Christ which surpasses all knowledge” (Phlp.3:19).  For only “in Christ,” Paul writes, “are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Col.2:3).
In such examples and in our own experience don’t we see that all who forsake Christ and look for happiness elsewhere finally must admit that they deceived themselves?
So, what do you want to do, dear friends?  How do you want to answer your Savior when He asks, “Would You Want to Leave Me, Too?”
Wouldn’t each of us want to reply like Peter, “Lord, where shall we go? How could we leave You?  You have loved us from eternity.  You redeemed us in time.  You bought us with your blood and baptized us in the flood of Your forgiveness.  From birth you carried us in Your arms and led us by the still waters of Your Word.  How much You have done for us!  Lord, where could we go?
“If You cannot make us happy here, and save there, who can?  If You cannot quench the thirst of our souls, what will?  If we wanted to grub after money or power or fame, what would that help us in the end if we gained the whole world but lost our own souls?  Here our hearts would remain without peace, and there we would sorrow eternally.  What if we gained the whole world as our friend, but made the Almighty our enemy?  Where would we go if we left You?  We don’t know!”

II.  For only You have the words of eternal life and we believe.
Those are Peter’s words, and by grace, dear friends, those shall be our words too!  How could we leave Jesus, for our Savior has words like no words of any man?  Only He has the words of eternal life that we can believe.
Jesus’ words not only stir and shake our hearts, but they give us heavenly refreshment, joy, and comfort.  They promise forgiveness for all our past and future in His blood.  They are words that not only direct us from earth to heaven but have unlocked heaven and God’s heart itself to us.  They make us divinely certain that He has made us righteous before God and has taken us back into His family.  They proclaim that we are once again God’s children in Christ and that He will never forsake us.  To leave that would be to forsake life and to choose death….to leave that would be to forsake heaven and to choose hell.
So, if, dear friends, the Savior would come to you today and ask: “Would You Leave Me, Too?”, would you have to dwell long on your answer?  No! No!  By God’s grace, like Peter with fiery eyes and burning heart, may God help us be quick to say because we know its truth and its blessedness: Lord, to whom shall we go.  You only have the words of eternal life and we believe.
God help us proclaim that glorious gospel in all the world; for Jesus’ sake.  Amen.