You’re Not Done Yet!
sermon here
Zion Lutheran Church of Springfield
(A member congregation 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
The Fourth Sunday of Easter Good Shepherd Sunday (“Misericordias Domini”) April 25, 2021
“I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” John 10:11
F o r O u r V i s i t o r s
The family of Zion welcomes you as we worship the Lord today. We encourage children to worship with us. However, if you need to leave with your child, there is a nursery room to the right as you exit the sanctuary. The rest rooms are located in the hallway between the sanctuary and the fellowship hall. Visitors, please sign our guest book to the right, just outside the sanctuary. We’re glad that you are here and pray that through our worship the Lord grants you peace.
U p o n E n t e r i n g G o d’ s H o u s e
“The LORD is my Shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures…He restoreth my soul….I will fear no evil, for Thou art with me….Surely, goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life. And I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.” (Psalm 23)
W h a t T h i s S u n d a y i s A b o u t
The Good Shepherd. Of all the titles that the Savior claims for Himself, the Good Shepherd is perhaps the dearest and most revealing to His people. It comforts Christians in distress, emboldens them in prayer, and motivates them to witness the grace that they have found in Him.
For centuries, the Christian Church has portrayed these truths of the Gospel shortly after Easter. With the eternal significance of the resurrection still fresh in our minds, we look to Him as the Shepherd we gladly follow. We trust His guidance and wait to see those things which lie ahead, knowing that the Good Shepherd will take care of His sheep.
To that end we pray: O Lord Jesus Christ, You are the Good Shepherd who laid down Your life for the sheep. Lead us now to the still waters of Your life-giving Word that we may abide in Your Father’s house forevermore; for Your name’s sake. Amen.
– T h e W o r d o f G o d f o r T o d a y –
The First Lesson: Acts 4:23-33
When the Jewish authorities ordered the disciples to not preach about the risen Savior, the whole company of believers prayed that God would give them boldness to proclaim the Gospel. The Good Shepherd gave the community of believers’ fearless hearts and a spirit of unity.
The Epistle Lesson: 1 John 3:1,2
God’s great love for us is revealed in Christ. Through faith in Him believers are called “Children of God.” What we will be has not yet fully been made known to us. But when He appears, we shall see Him as He is and we shall be like Him.
The Gospel Lesson: John 10:11-18
The Good Shepherd loves those under His care. He is not like a hired hand who doesn’t really care for the sheep and runs away when trouble arises. No, Jesus gladly lays down His life for all the sheep for whom He came as the Savior.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
The Organist: Jane Rips
The Preacher: Pastor Edwin Lehmann
Points to Ponder: “God is infinite, but we are finite creatures. Moreover, the creature will never be the Creator. Yet we shall be like Him. God is life. Therefore we, too, shall live. God is righteous. Therefore we, too, shall be filled with righteousness. God is immortal and blessed. Therefore we, too, shall enjoy everlasting bliss, not as it is in God but the bliss that is suitable for us.”
— Martin Luther on We Shall Be Like Him
“Regardless of my age, I need the reminder of whose lamb I am. David knew. All through his psalm he speaks not of ‘they’ and ‘theirs’ but ‘me’ and ‘my.’ Jesus was his Shepherd, and he was Jesus’ sheep. As an ex-shepherd David knew how weak and helpless a sheep is….How much like me!….I want to nestle securely in His strong arm. I want to stay close to His heels and never stray…. Hopefully, all my days words like Psalm 23 will remind me whose lamb I am.”
— Richard Lauersdorf on I Am Jesus’ Little Lamb
Outline of Our Worship
Lord, Hear Us
Opening Thoughts on the Service
Opening Hymn: #360
Today’s Order of Worship: Morning Praise: Hymnal pg.45
Lord, Feed Us
Psalm of the Day: #33 Hymnal pg.79
Acts 4:23-33
1 John 3:1-2
Hymn Response: #449
John 10:11-18
Sermon Hymn: #374
Sermon Text: 1 John 3:1-3 You’re Not Done Yet!
Lord, Accept Our Response
“We Praise You, O God”
Te Deum Laudamus: Hymnal pg.48
“Lord, Have Mercy”
Prayers, Lord’s Prayer & Prayer for Grace
Hymnal pg. 50
Lord, Bless Us
The Benediction Hymnal pg. 51
Closing Hymn: #432
Silent Prayer
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
April 25 |
Mon
April 26 |
Tues. April 27 |
Wed.
April 28 |
Thurs.
April 29 |
Fri.
April 30 |
Sat.
May 1 |
Next Sun.
May 2 |
| 9:00 am
Divine Worship Service on line – Facebook 10:15 am Quarterly Meetings Easter 4 |
11 am
Midweek Bible Class
5 pm Confirmation
|
|
|
9:00 am
Divine Worship Service with Holy Communion on line – Facebook 10:15 am Fellowship & Brief Bible Study Easter 5 |
A Brief Bible Study on God’s Word for Today
Jesus is our Good Shepherd. We are His sheep. Our Good Shepherd loves us so much that He gave His life for us. He knows us all by name. He protects us from our enemies. He gives us courage and strength. He continually brings more sheep into His fold. He promises heaven to all who believe in Him. How great is the love that God has lavished upon us!
The 1st Lesson (Acts 4:23-33 (answers are found on the back side)
- According to verse 24, how did the believers in Jerusalem respond when the Sanhedrin ordered Peter and John to no longer preach in Jesus’ name?
- What did they ask for in verses 29 and 30? How did God respond?
Those We Remember In Our Prayers: Dea Windsor; Clyde Johnson; Dave Ballou; Greg Miller; Lou Schulz; Bill Buchanan; Norine Richardson; Barbara Long; Jodi Milam; William Moon; Patsy Mickelson; Lance Milam; Jodi Milam; and all those affected and recovering from the virus and other illnesses.
Copies of the Daily Devotions written by pastor this past week on Psalm 44 will be found in the narthex.
Thank You to our women who helped make yesterday’s Lutheran Women’s Mission Society spring rally here at Zion an enjoyable and spiritually renewing event. We appreciate all your efforts in serving God’s people during this challenging time.
Phase Yellow of Restrictions This past Friday Springfield/Greene County Health Department entered its yellow phase with covid restrictions. Churches and gatherings under 500 people may resume activities safely. However, masks are still to be worn. Our understanding about social distancing is that it is encouraged but not mandated. We still should follow cautious procedures at this time, but gatherings are not under the strict restrictions as they were previously. You will find masks, disposable gloves, and sanitizer in the narthex and the fellowship hall for your use. For today we continue to not pass the offering plate during the service. You will find it at the door upon leaving the sanctuary. That may change in the weeks ahead as we return to normal worship procedures. If you have any questions or thoughts on all of this, please see Pastor.
Upcoming Dates
Today – The 1st Quarter Voters & Women Working For Christ Meetings after worship
The Week in Review
Last Sunday’s Worship Attendance: ; Bible Class: ; Offering: $; Midweek Bible Class: 5.
Next Sunday’s Lessons:
Easter 5: Acts 8:26-40; 1 John 3:18-24; John 15:1-8 (Series B)
Answers to Today’s 1st Lesson Brief Study:
- They responded by turning to God in prayer. What a great example for us today! When we are faced with difficulties, trials and setbacks in the Church, let’s always take it to the Lord in prayer.
- They asked for boldness to preach and also the special gift of healing and miracles. Luke tells us that they received a special measure of the Holy Spirit and preached boldly. We see in other sections of Acts that some were given the gift of healing and of miracles. Such gifts were necessary to verify the power of God’s Word and the message of salvation in the early church but are not promised to us today.
This week I am praying for……
The Fourth Sunday of Easter – Series B
The First Lesson: Acts 4: 23-33 – Prayer to Speak God’s Word Boldly
23After Peter and John were released, they went to their own friends and reported everything the high priests and the elders had said. 24When they heard this, with one mind they raised their voices to God and said, “Master, you are the God who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and everything in them. 25By the Holy Spirit, through the mouth of our father David, your servant, you said: Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? 26The kings of the earth take their stand, and the rulers are gathered together against the Lord and against his Anointed One.
27“For certainly, in this city both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and people of Israel, were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. 28They did whatever your hand and your plan had decided beforehand should happen.
29“Now Lord, look at their threats and give to your servants the ability to keep on speaking your word with all boldness 30as you stretch out your hand to heal and as signs and wonders take place through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”
31After they prayed, the place where they were gathered was shaken. Also, everyone was filled with the Holy Spirit, and they continued to speak the word of God with boldness.
32The whole group of believers was one in heart and soul. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they held everything in common. 33The apostles continued to testify about the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ with great power, and abundant grace was on all of them.
Epistle Lesson: 1 John 3:1-2 – Children Loved by God – We Are!
1 See the kind of love the Father has given us that we should be called children of God, and that is what we are! The world does not know us, because it did not know him. 2Dear friends, we are children of God now, but what we will be has not yet been revealed. We know that when he is revealed we will be like him, and we will see him as he really is.
Gospel Lesson: John 10:11-18 – The Good Shepherd Dies for the Sheep
11“I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12The hired man, who is not a shepherd, does not own the sheep. He sees the wolf coming, leaves the sheep, and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the sheep and scatters them. 13Because he works for money, he does not care about the sheep.
14“I am the Good Shepherd. I know my sheep and my sheep know me 15(just as the Father knows me and I know the Father). And I lay down my life for the sheep. 16I also have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. Then there will be one flock and one shepherd. 17This is why the Father loves me, because I lay down my life so that I may take it up again. 18No one takes it from me, but I lay it down on my own. I have the authority to lay it down, and I have the authority to take it up again. This is the commission I received from my Father.”
The Holy Bible, Evangelical Heritage Version® (EHV®) copyright © 2019 The Wartburg Project.