Lord, What Should I Do?
by Pastor Edwin Lehmann on August 10, 2019 in Luke 10:25-37
Sermon for the 8th Sunday after Pentecost August 4, 2019
Text: Luke 10:25-37 ILCW Series C 19:2144
Theme: Lord, What Should I Do?
As he entered the mountain pass, the traveler looked up fearfully at the wild, overhanging rocks. People called this way “The Road of Blood.” Many travelers had lost their lives along it. Over and over the Romans sent soldiers into the mountains to clear out the bandits hiding there, but they always failed. So inaccessible were the rocky outcroppings and so numerous the hideouts that no bandits were ever found.
The traveler hoped to avoid this journey altogether, but to no avail. He had looked for a traveling companion with whom he could share the dangers of the road. But here he was, alone, fearing for his life.
Without warning bandits dropped on top of him from the rocks above as he rounded a bend in the road. They savagely beat him. For a moment the rocky walls echoed with his cries for help, but none came. Then, all was silent again. The robbers melted back into the rocky cliffs from which they had come.
The traveler lay in a heap on the road, bleeding from his wounds. The bandits had not only taken his money, they had even torn the clothes off his back.
After a time, a priest came around the bend. He stopped, frozen in his tracks as he saw the bloody heap of a man in the road. If there was a fleeting thought in his mind that he, God’s priest to His people, ought to show God’s love to this beaten man, he quickly turned it away. Clearly this was a dangerous spot and he should move on before he too fell victim. So, he crossed the road to get away from the sorry sight, turned, and went on his way.
A little more time passed, and a Levite came along. The groans of the wounded man caught his attention. The Levite drew his robes more closely around him and hurried on by. He was to serve in the temple and did not wish to soil his hands and make himself unclean with the stranger’s blood.
Was there no one to take pity on this poor, man, hanging by a thread to life? No one to stand by him; no one to comfort him; no one to help him? It is a dreadful thing to die, but even worse, to die alone, a victim of people’s cold and loveless nature.
Next came the soft plop, plop of a donkey’s plodding hooves. The
man riding him was a merchant, a Samaritan. Hardly would anyone expect this man to stop. He was no fellow countryman of the wounded traveler; indeed, the Jews despised Samaritans and looked on them as adversaries. All his life the Samaritan had endured insults.
But look how this man knew the heart of God, better than the church workers who had come down the road before him. As an outcast, he knew the love and mercy of God towards those who were downcast and attacked. Climbing off his donkey’s back, he examined the traveler’s wounds, poured in wine as a disinfectant and oil as a healing balm. Taking some of the cloth he perhaps had hoped to sell in the market, he tore off strips for bandages and bound up the traveler’s wounds. Lifting the man onto the donkey’s back, he walked beside him to support him and brought him to the nearest inn.
That night the Samaritan stayed up, nursing the wounded man back to health. As the next day showed improvement in his patient, he left him in the care of the innkeeper. “Here is money,” he said. “Take care of him, and when I stop on my way back, I will pay you anything more that you spend on him.”
When Jesus had something important to teach His disciples, he often told them a story like this, called a parable. Think of a parable as an earthly story having a heavenly or eternal meaning. On the day he spoke this parable, they were on their way to Bethany, probably walking on the same road as in his story.
There was a stranger with them, an expert in the law of Moses. As they walked, they talked about the meaning of God’s commandments in our everyday lives and how to get to heaven. They summarized the essence of the commandments saying, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind; and love your neighbor as yourself.”
What should I do? How far does God expect me to go in this loving other people? You love your father and mother, your brothers and sisters, your children, your friends at church, and those with whom you grew up. Even that is not always easy. How many others are included? “Who is my neighbor?” the man asked. “Only the guy next door?” The story was Jesus’ answer to that question.
You are to love every man, every man who needs your help, regardless of other people’s feelings about him – every single one! No matter whether you like him or not. No matter whether he is of the same race or not. No matter even if he is your enemy or has been mean to you. The love about which Jesus spoke means that you do everything you can to help those upon whom trouble has fallen, even if they are not lovable. You do this for one reason, as God’s redeemed people you walk in the footsteps of your Savior who loved us when we were unlovable.
We all were unlovable before God. Our souls were deformed with sin, and our actions betrayed it. Did we keep the commandments? Not if you look closely at their full meanings. We weren’t dying on a road somewhere, among the rocky cliffs of earth. No, but we were dying eternally before God, heaven barred from us. In fact, we were already dead in our sin. Dead! And God brought us back to life for His Son’s sake, who gave up His life to pay the price for our sin, just like this Samaritan in the story did everything he could to heal the one the robbers had beaten and left for dead.
In reality, this story is not as much about us as many people think. Oh, yes, we are here in the story, for Jesus was answering the lawyer’s question as to who is my neighbor and how I get to heaven. But in all honesty the Good Samaritan is Christ Himself. Can’t you see in the actions of the Samaritan a picture of your Savior? And now He turns to us who ask, “What should I do to be saved?”, for that, after all, is the question that started this whole matter. It was a question about eternal salvation. And He says, “As I have loved you, so you must love one another (Jn.13:14). Imitate my love.”
How badly our bruised and bleeding world stands in need of such unselfish love, spurred on by Christ and His love for us. How badly each of us need it too. In a day marked by so much self-centered greed and abuse, when people rob others blind and beat them into the ground for their personal advantage, when many don’t want to get involved or fear the personal ramifications for themselves of lending a helping hand, when cold-heartedness towards people who are different from us takes over, how important that we look to the Savior’s own dying love for us all and give ear to His plea, “As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” In gratitude we will imitate His love for us. That’s what we should do. And in such a love of faith centered in Him who redeemed us from sin and in reaching out to our neighbor we will inherit eternal life.
Not that such kind actions make us good enough in God’s sight, to save us. That could never be. But such actions are the genuine fruit of a faith that is grounded in Christ and what He has done for us.
What should I do to inherit eternal life? I can’t rely on myself any more than the beaten man could make himself whole. I must rely on Christ. And when I realize what good things He has done to save and help me, then in gratitude I will imitate His, my Good Samaritan’s, love to others. God grant it to us in faith for Jesus’ sake. Amen.
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 You can also find us on Facebook
The Eighth Sunday after Pentecost
August 4, 2019
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind; and love your neighbor as yourself.” Luke 10:27
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
“To You, O LORD, I lift my soul; in You I trust, my God. Remember, O LORD, Your great mercy and love. Remember not the sins of my youth and my rebellious ways; according to Your love remember me. Take away all my sins. I take refuge in You” (Psalm 25).
W h a t T h i s S u n d a y i s A b o u t
Love Is the Fulfillment of the Law. There are many robbers in this world and not so many Good Samaritans. Others pass by their neighbor who is in need without stopping. They don’t have the time. Still others will not reach out to help unless there is something to be gained. Alas, there are many robbers and not so many Good Samaritans.
It all stems from a lack of love. But there is hope. Where faith in the redeeming work of Christ is born and nourished, faith lives and love flourishes. In gratitude for God’s remembrance of him who had been beaten down in sin, the believer wants to fulfill God’s commands to love Him above all and to love one’s neighbor as himself. It’s what motivated the Good Samaritan to act as he did. Love is the fulfillment of the law. God grant it to us all.
To that end we pray: Almighty God we thank You for planting in us the seed of Your Word. By Your Spirit help us to receive it with joy and to bring forth fruits in faith, hope, and love; for Jesus’ sake. Amen.
– T h e W o r d o f G o d f o r T o d a y –
Old Testament Lesson: Deuteronomy 30:9-14
As Israel stood on the threshold of the Promised Land, Moses encouraged them to remain close to God’s Word. His Word was the foundation of their hope. It would never be far from them. In it they would be blessed as they loved Him with all their heart and soul.
Epistle Lesson: Colossians 1:1-14
Paul thanks God for the faith of the Colossians. It was a faith that sprang from the Gospel and revealed itself outwardly in their love for the saints. Paul prayed for their continuing growth in spiritual understanding and for living a life worthy of Christ.
Gospel Lesson: Luke 10:25-37
Who is my neighbor? Answer? Anyone to whom I can show love for my Savior and mercy to him by helping. As God’s mercy and love reached out to us in our need, so love reaches out to those in need. It springs from the hope and mercy God has shown to us in Christ.
O u r P r a c t i c e o f H o l y C o m m u n i o n
Out of deep love for the truth of God’s Word and precious souls, we follow the practice of Close Communion in our congregation. This has been the practice of Christians for centuries and reflects the Bible’s teaching on unity of faith in the reception of the Supper (1 Cor.10:17). It does not judge a person’s heart but anticipates agreement in that which God says. Since we do not wish to put anyone in the position of declaring such agreement with us before study in the Word is possible, we ask that only those who are communicant members of this or another Wisconsin Synod or ELS congregation come to receive the Sacrament.
The Week in Review:
Last Sunday’s Worship Attendance: 20; Bible Study: 14; Gardens Bible Class:5; Sunday School: 2; Midweek Bible Class: no class this week; Sunday’s Offering: $1211.
We Serve the Lord with Gladness:
Today’s Organist: Jane Rips Today’s Preacher: Pastor Edwin Lehmann
August’s Ushers: Jim Inniger, Matt Luetke, & Roger Lisenby
Outline of Our Worship
The Preparation
Opening Hymn: #492
Order of Worship: The Common Service: page 15
(Glory Be To God and The Psalm on pages 16-17 are not sung on Communion Sundays)
The Ministry of the Word
Deuteronomy 30:9-14
Colossians 1:1-14
Hymn Response: #488
Gospel Responses: pg,18
Luke 10:25-37
Nicene Creed: pg.18
Sermon Hymn: #434
Sermon: Luke 10:25-37 Lord, What Should I Do?
Our Response to the Word
The Offertory & Offering: Hymnal pg.20
Prayers & Lord’s Prayer
The Lord’s Blessing
Order of Holy Communion Hymnal pages 21-23
(Visitors: Please read the box on page 2 regarding Holy Communion)
Distribution Hymns: #312
Thanksgiving Prayer & Blessing
Hymnal pages 24-25
Closing Hymn: #323
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 August 4 Pentecost 8
9:00 am Divine Worship Service with Holy Communion
10:15 am Bible study for all ages
Monday August 5
Tuesday August 6
10 am Gardens Bible Study
Choir is recessed for summer
Wednesday August 7
Thursday August 8
11 am Midweek Bible Class
Friday August 9
Saturday August 10
Next Sunday August 11 Pentecost 9
9:00 am Divine Worship Service
10:15 am Bible study for all ages
A Brief Bible Study on God’s Word for Today
How can we know whether someone else has Christian faith or not? Since we can’t read people’s hearts, we can only discern Christian faith by its fruits in words and actions. The Scriptures tell us what the fruits of faith are (see Galatians 5:22,23) and those fruits can be summarized in one word: love. Our own faith-life is hidden from the eyes of others, but faith-life reveals itself in love for others, as St. James has written: “I will show you my faith by what I do” (James 2:18).
The Old Testament Lesson (Deuteronomy 30:9-14)
1. What summary of God’s law does Moses give the children of Israel in these verses?
2. In light of verses 11-14, what do many people seem to think they have to do in order to please the Lord God?
Prayer/Sick List Those We Remember In Our Prayers Bill Seutter; Emily Keeton; Geri Woessner; Erma Yancey; Eryn Chaffin at Siteman Cancer Center, St. Louis; Lou Schulz; Gail Stuesser.
Upcoming Dates
Tuesday, August 13 – Monthly Church Council Meeting at 7:30 pm
Saturday, September 21 – Zion Neighborhood Picnic (Look for upcoming notices for special planning meetings)
Monday-Tuesday, September 23-24 – Southern Conference Pastors’ Study Conference at Dardenne Prairie, MO
Forward in Christ’s latest edition for the month of August has arrived. Copies for family and friends can be found on a table in the narthex. Also, Meditations next series of daily devotions, beginning September 1, will be found there.
Point to Ponder Throughout the Week
“If in all things I am not motivated by love to God and to my fellow man, then all of my ‘gifts’ and all of my ‘accomplishments’ have no value in the sight of God. To Him they are like the dull clank of dead brass and the offensive jangle of a clanging cymbal (1 Cor.13:1). Let us beware of a loveless Christianity, one that can see a brother in dire need and merely says: ‘God bless you.’ Rather, let us come back again and again to Bethlehem and Calvary and melt our loveless hearts of stone in the warming rays of God’s eternal love. If God so loved us, how can we withhold the full measure of our love even from the least of those for whom our Savior died?” — Herman Gockel on “Love’s Supremacy”
Next Sunday’s Lessons:
Pentecost 9: Genesis 18:1-14; Colossians 1:21-29; Luke 10:38-42
Answers to Today’s Old Testament Lesson Brief Study:
3. Moses summarizes the law as obedience to God and his commandments. All of God’s commandments came be summarized in one word: love (see Mark 12:28-34; Romans 13:8-10).
2. These verses suggest that many people have thought the Lord is “too difficult” to please, that He requires all kinds of heroic acts on our part. But Moses argues with that false idea: “The word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so that you may obey it.” Simply put, God wants us to love Him and one another.
This week I am praying for……
