Lord of Life, You Have Convinced Us
on August 28, 2021 in John 6:60-69
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
You can also find us on Facebook
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
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.
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
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Aug. 29 |
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Aug. 31 |
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Sept. 1 |
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Sat.
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Next Sun.
Sept. 5 |
| 9:00 am
Divine Worship Service on line – Facebook 10:15 am Fellowship & Brief Bible Study
Pentecost 15 |
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11 am
Midweek Bible Class, Confirmation,
Choir
|
6 pm
Bates/Annibal Wedding in Joplin
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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)
- After His disciples heard what Jesus had to say about “eating His flesh and drinking His blood,” how did they respond?
- 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:
- 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.
- 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.