Make a Godly Walkabout in Life

by Pastor Edwin Lehmann on October 11, 2024 in

The Twentieth Sunday after Trinity         October 13, 2024

Text:  Ephesians 5:15-21       Historic Series                   24:2468

Theme:  Make a Godly Walkabout in Life.

Have you ever made “walkabout”? If you were Australian, you may have.  It’s a term they use to describe a trip that is taken – a walkabout.
When I travelled in Europe and Asia as a young man, we made friends with Australians while working in Holland.  They called our time together a “walkabout.” We were on a trip, a journey, an excursion from home.
Years ago, a “walkabout” described a rite of passage that a young man made during his adolescent years.  He left home and went off into the outback to live for months. It was a survival journey, a learning-about-life journey. It helped mature the young man for adult life. Today a “walkabout” describes any journey or adventure one makes in life.
The Apostle Paul describes our time on earth as a “walkabout.” Some English Bibles translate his words, “Be very careful, then, how you live.” Literally, Paul wrote in Greek, “So then, accurately watch how you walk about.” On your journey in life, wherever you as a Christian go, watch where you are walking and how you are walking.” Make a Godly Walkabout in Life.
Did you ever think of your life as a Christian “walkabout”?  As you walk in life you explore, you experience, and you enjoy many things.  But Paul reminds us, as children of the light on whom Christ shines, Make a Godly Walkabout in Life. Live Life Carefully in the Lord…
I. …Watching where you are going.
Paul writes, “Consider carefully how you walk.” As we Christians go about in life, we are to have our eyes open and take good note of things around us so that we place our steps accurately (akribws), carefully. If not, we put ourselves in danger and spiritual harm. The world apart from God will seek to trip our souls. The devil will try to make us fall.  We must walk “accurately, carefully” in our faith.
It brings to mind the picture of a toddler learning how to walk.  He looks around, smiles, and is so proud of himself for what he is doing. But he’s not really watching his feet nor placing his steps accurately. Wobbling here and there, soon, down he goes.  His eyes are open, but he’s not paying good attention to where he is going.  Likewise, if we don’t keep our good wits about us in our lives while walkabout, we will go down because “the days are evil.”
Make a Godly Walkabout in Life, watching where you are going.  The foolish person doesn’t watch and often pays for his inattentiveness.  The wise person watches and benefits because he…
II. …learns what the Lord wants him to do.
See, by ourselves, we don’t know the Lord’s will. Oh, in my human pride I always like to think I know what’s right and what’s best. But I am careless at times, not just physically but a spiritually. Without the Lord’s guidance enlightening my careless heart, I don’t know what is right on my own. So, I need to learn the Lord’s will about things.  I need to learn what the Lord wants me to do, not just what I want to do.  How do I learn what God’s will is?
Many people ask that question. “What does the Lord want me to do?” It’s not really a tough question to answer because it’s all here – in the Bible.  Here He tells me what He wants me to do and to be.  The challenge does not come in knowing what God’s will is; it comes in taking it to heart, understanding how to carry it out, and doing it.
It’s actually quite simple. The Lord wants me to love Him with my entire being.  Then He wants me to love my neighbor as myself.  Just as much as I do not want to harm myself, so I would not want to harm my neighbor in any way.  Is that so difficult to understand?  Everything else that He wants me to do flows from these.  And then I faithfully use His gifts to me to do what He wants.
To do that involves making the most of my time that God gives me. Literally, Paul writes: “redeeming the time” or “buying out the right time.” The “right time” means the perfect time, the right season.
For example, now is the season, it’s the right time for picking my raspberries.  That time won’t last forever, and it’s pretty well at the end now.  If I wait, I’ll miss out on the season. So, I pick when the picking’s good. I buy when the buying is good.  “Buy it out; buy it up,” God says.  “Purchase what the season offers. Put in the effort that gains the most.”  It’s unwise; it’s careless to hold back and to wait for a later time that often fails to arrive.  Make the most of the opportunity that God gives.
Maybe God would like me to enjoy raspberries.  But His main concern is with my soul and the souls of others around me, because the days are evil.  It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to look around and see the evil that goes on today.
I need to watch where I’m going, lest I walk into the devil’s trap.  I need to be wise, not foolish, and learn what the Lord wants me to do.  It’s time; it’s the right time that God in His grace has given us to walk in the light of Christ – to grow in faith, to rejoice in forgiveness, to grow in love, to grow in an active life for God and doing good works to His glory, our good, and the good of those around us.  It’s the right time, because we live in evil days.
So, step up! dear friends.  You won’t get this time back.  Tomorrow today will be gone, and the present opportunities lost.  So, “Carpe diem!”  seize the moment as the Romans would say. Seize the day. “Buy out” the market of God’s grace. The time is right, the opportunities boundless, the need great.  Make the most of it all.  And as you walkabout in life, watching where you are going, learning what the Lord wants you to do …
III.  …fill up your spirit.
Paul writes, “Do not get drunk on wine, which causes you to lose control.  Instead, be filled with the Spirit by speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making music with your hearts to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by submitting to one another in reverence for Christ.”
“Sing! Sing with joy in your heart!” Paul writes.  Now I know that some people don’t sing very well.  In fact, sometimes they are embarrassed to sing because they can’t.  But you don’t have to sing with your voice to make joyful music before God.  In fact, Paul says, “make music in your heart to the Lord,” and the psalmist adds, “You clothed me with joy that my heart may sing to you” (Ps.30).
I like to sing.  I love to sing hymns.  If I’m mowing the yard or working outside, I’m often humming or just letting hymns run through my mind.  And if I’m at church, I often sing loudly. In fact, when the kids were young, they used to tell me to quiet down because I was hurting their ears.  I never listened to them because I like to sing hymns – loudly – and they probably won’t get me to quit that because my heart is glad for the saving gifts God has given me in Christ Jesus.  I just have to sing, and God gave me a voice to do it.
But you don’t have to sing with your voice. Some people can’t. Yet every Christian has a heart and every Christian’s heart is glad when he or she truly understands what the Savior has done for them.  The heart of the Christian sings for joy, even if the voice isn’t good at singing.
The point is joy – being filled in spirit with the eternally happy things that the Holy Spirit gives us through faith in Jesus.  Sing with the voice or sing with the heart. The point is joyfully. Boy, if we could only bottle such joy and pour it out on ourselves.”
Why don’t I wear a smile on my face more often, whether singing in church during a worship service or in going about my everyday life?  Don’t I have plenty to smile about in the Lord Jesus?  Oh my; I sure do!  His birth was announced as “good news of great joy for all people.”  And still today He is the reason we Christians “rejoice always” (Phlp.4:4).  So why the long face?
It’s the season for joy. I’m on a walkabout, a godly walk-about.  I want to live life carefully, accurately in the Lord, watching where I’m going, learning what He wants me to do, and filling my spirit with good things, the eternally happy things of God’s Spirit.   Now’s the time to do it.  Tomorrow may be too late.  God grant it to us in faith for Jesus’ sake. Amen.

Zion Lutheran Church of Springfield

4717 S Farm Rd 135 (Golden Avenue)

Church phone: 417.887.0886   Pastor’s cell phone: 417.693.3244 

www.zionluthchurch.com

 

The Twentieth Sunday after Trinity     October 13, 2024

 “Consider carefully, then, how you walk, not as unwise people but as wise people, redeeming (buying back, making good use of) the time.”   Ephesians 5:15-16

 Welcome:  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

“Not to us, O LORD, but to Your name be the glory.  Our God is in heaven. He does what pleases Him.  The LORD remembers us and will bless us. 

He will bless those who fear Him, small and great alike” (Psalm 115).

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

The Saved Face the End – Walking Wisely in Grace.  We have now entered the last part of the Church Year in which our thoughts are increasingly directed to the end times (Eschatology) and our preparation for it.  We cannot face the end and the last judgment without Christ’s righteousness. It is the “wedding garment” of grace that is wrapped around all who heed His invitation to come and believe in Him as the Savior.  Sadly, that garment provided by grace is offered to all, but rejected by many.

Therefore, today’s lessons encourage us to walk in wisdom, redeeming the time, i.e., “buying back” the time we have let go so that we make use of every opportunity of grace God puts before us.  We strive to shed the garments of the sinful flesh and to be clothed only in Christ’s garment of righteousness before it is too late.

To that end we pray: Grant, o merciful Lord, to Your faithful people pardon and peace that they may be cleansed from all their sins and serve You with a quiet mind, for Jesus’ sake we ask this.  Amen

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

(The Lessons of the Day are from the Historic Pericope Series of the Christian Church.)

The Old Testament Lesson: Proverbs 2:1-9

True wisdom throws itself upon the understanding and reverent fear of the Lord.  It desires Him above everything.  King Solomon calls us to such wisdom on our walk through this life towards the heavenly home.  Only the Lord can give it.  Gladly hear His wisdom, receive it, and implore Him for more.

The Epistle Lesson: Ephesians 5:15-21

Christian, live wisely in the fear and understanding of the Lord. Christians should make the most of the time and opportunities that the Lord puts before them to walk and work for His Kingdom. Walking according to His will and ways, they cheerfully uplift and serve one another in the grace given in Christ Jesus.

The Gospel Lesson: Matthew 22:1-14

The Parable of the Wedding Feast illustrates God’s gracious invitation to enjoy the blessings of salvation attached to His Son. Many refuse Him and will feel His wrath at their blatant acts of rejection.  Without being clothed in Christ robes of righteousness, one will not enter the heavenly banquet. So let us walk wisely in grace in this time given to us.

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

The Organist: Jane Rips                  The Preacher: Pastor Edwin Lehmann

Point to Ponder:  The fellow did not wear the robe!  The oriental king always supplied the robe for guests to wear.  But this fellow didn’t wear the robe! How unwise, and after it had been freely offered!  Thus, he became an intruder who imagined foolishly that he could take part in the king’s festivities on his own terms.  But how mistaken he was!

Likewise, there are people who want to get to heaven.  But they want to pass through the gates on their own terms. To them God’s ways and gracious invitation are not taken seriously.  They are set on clothing themselves the way they want.  But one’s own robes are tattered with sin.

It is not enough. In grace God provides what we need.  We need to be wearing Christ’s robe of righteousness.  Clothe yourself in Him as you seek to “walk wisely in grace, redeeming the time.”

Outline of  Our Worship

The Preparation

Opening Thoughts on the Service

The Entrance Hymn: #712

Order of Worship:     The Service: Setting One     page 154-160

Prayer of the Day

The Ministry of the Word

Proverbs 2:1-9

The Psalm: #115

Ephesians 5:15-21

Gospel Acclamation:    God’s Love     pg.161

Matthew 22:1-14

Hymn: #581

Sermon:  Ephesians 5:15-21     Make a Godly Walkabout in Life.

The Offertory: Hymn #942

The Apostles’ Creed pg.163

Our Response to the Word

Prayer of the Church: pg.164

The Offering

Hymn: #886

The Lord Blesses Us

The Closing Prayers and Blessing     Hymnal page 171

Closing Hymn: #582

Silent Prayer

The Twentieth Sunday after Trinity – Historic Series

Old Testament Lesson: Proverbs 2:1-9 – Wisdom Provides Protection.

1 My son, if you accept my words, if you store up my commands within you, 2 by paying attention to wisdom with your ear, by reaching out for understanding with your heart, 3 if indeed you call out for intelligence, if you raise your voice for understanding, 4 if you search for it like silver, if you hunt for it like hidden treasure,5 then you will understand the fear of the Lord, then you will find the knowledge of God, 6 because the Lord gives wisdom. Knowledge and understanding come from his mouth.
7 He stores up sound judgment for upright people. He is a shield for those who walk in integrity.
8 He protects those who walk on paths of justice. He guards the way of his favored ones.
9 Then you will understand righteousness, justice, and fairness—every good path.

Epistle Lesson: Ephesians 5:15-21 – Redeeming the Time. 

15 Consider carefully, then, how you walk, not as unwise people, but as wise people. 16 Make the most of your time, because the days are evil. 17 For this reason, do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18 And do not get drunk on wine, which causes you to lose control. Instead, be filled with the Spirit 19 by speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs (singing and making music with your hearts to the Lord), 20 by always giving thanks for everything to God the Father, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 21 and by submitting to one another in reverence for Christ.

Gospel Lesson: Matthew 22:1-14 – Parable of the Wedding Banquet.

1Jesus spoke to them again in parables. He said, 2 “The kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son. 3 He sent out his servants to summon those who were invited to the wedding banquet, but they did not want to come.

4 “Then he sent out other servants and said, ‘Tell those who are invited: Look, I have prepared my dinner. My oxen and my fattened cattle have been butchered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding banquet!’

5 “But those who were invited paid no attention and went off, one to his own farm, another to his business. 6 The rest seized the king’s servants, mistreated them, and killed them. 7 As a result, the king was very angry. He sent his army and killed those murderers and burned their town.

8 “Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding banquet is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy. 9 So go to the main crossroads and invite as many as you find to the wedding banquet.’ 10 Those servants went out to the roads and gathered together everyone they found, both good and bad, and the wedding hall was filled with guests. 11 But when the king came in to see the guests, he saw a man there who was not wearing wedding clothes. 12 He said to him, ‘Friend, how did you get in here without wearing wedding clothes?’ The man was speechless. 13 Then the king told the servants, ‘Tie him hand and foot and throw him into the outer darkness where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ 14 For many are called, but few are chosen.”

The Holy Bible, Evangelical Heritage Version® (EHV®) © 2019

Calendar  &  Announcements  for  Zion  Evangelical  Lutheran  Church

 

Today

Oct.13

 Mon.

Oct.14

 Tues.

Oct.15

 Wed.

Oct.16

 Thurs.

Oct.17

 Fri.

Oct.18

 Sat.

Oct.19

 Next Sun.

Oct.20
9:00 am

Divine Worship Service

online -Facebook

10:15 am

Fellowship & Bible Study

 

 

20th Sunday after Trinity

 6 pm

Elders, Trustees, and Church Council Monthly

Meeting

 No Midweek Bible Class

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 2:00-6::30 pm

Renaissance & Reformation

Festival at Faith LC, Carthage,

2134 Grand Avenue

 10 am

Joint Worship Service with

Holy Communion

Zion and Peace  together at Peace on-line-Facebook

Fish Fry and Call Meeting

after worship

21s Sunday after Trinity

 

A Brief Bible Study on God’s Word for Today

Are you worried about the future? Are you sure of your heavenly inheritance? Are you dressed for reception into the heavenly wedding banquet? Thanks to Jesus and His perfect life and substitutionary death, we confidently answer all three questions in the affirmative. What a grand and glorious day it will be when we find ourselves seated at God’s heavenly banquet table!

The Gospel Lesson: Matthew 22:1-14 (the answers are found on the back side)

  1. God has invited everyone to His heavenly wedding feast, but so few attend. Why?
  2. Is it possible to sneak into God’s heavenly wedding banquet without proper attire?

Those We Remember In Our Prayers: Those We Remember In Our Prayers: Greg Miller; William & Laurie Moon; Libya, (Jodi Milam’s granddaughter); Barbara Long; Norine Richardson; Melissa Morlock-Jaeger; Liz Lisenby; Barbara Long; the family of Robbie Woessner (Bob and Geri’s son); Pastor Roger Neumann from Oskaloosa, IA; the family of Barbara Grant in Marshfield.

Joint Worship Service, Fish Fry, and Call Meeting  Like last year at this time, we will hold a joint gathering of Zion and Peace at Peace in Marshfield next Sunday.  There will be no service at Zion. Instead, we will hold a joint worship service at 10 am. Following worship, Peace will sponsor a fish fry to be followed by our 8th Call Meeting.  Please note the change for next Sunday and share with any of our members and friends. Any who would like to sing in a joint choir, see pastor.

Area Reformation Service  From Beautiful Savior LC, Bella Vista, AR: “We are excited to host another area joint Reformation Service on Sunday, November 3rd at 5:00 pm. Pastor Ross Chartrand from the new mission in Bentonville, AR will be the guest preacher.  A supper will follow the service.  Your singers/choir are invited to be part of an area choir for this service, with a rehearsal at 4:30 pm.  See your pastor for the hymns we will sing.  Please respond by October 20th to your pastor if you will be attending. We are looking forward to celebrating God’s Word and faithfulness with you on November 3rd.”

Upcoming Services and Events

Tuesday, October 15, 6 pm – Elders/Trustees and Monthly Church Council Meeting

Saturday, October 19, 2-6:30 pm – Renaissance/Reformation Festival at Faith LC, Carthage, MO (more information to follow)

Sunday, October 20, 10 am – Joint Worship Service at Peace with Zion; fish fry and Call Meeting afterwards

End of October into November – Neighborhood Women’s Thursday Bible Study begins (see Barbara Breidel for more info)

Sunday, November 3, 5 pm – Area Joint Reformation Service at Beautiful Savior, Bella Vista, AR; with supper following

The Week in Review

Last Sunday Worship: 33; Bible Study: 15; Midweek Bible Class: no class this week; Offerings: $2,241

 Next Sunday’s Lessons:               

21st Sunday after Trinity: 2 Samuel 7:17-29; Ephesians 6:10-17; John 4:46-54   (Historic Pericope Series)

Answer to Today’s Gospel Lesson Brief Study:

  1. Many people simply are indifferent and apathetic to God’s urgent call. Others are distracted by their own private, earthly affairs. As in the parable, some even go to the extent of being hostile toward the messengers of God’s invitation.
  2. Impossible. God has provided a wedding garment of spotless righteousness and purity for every sinner that He has invited to the feast, courtesy of His Son, Jesus Christ. The garment is required to cover the filth and nakedness of their sin. All intruding wannabe’s will be detected, sentenced, and thrust into the outer darkness of hell.

 

This week I am praying for……                 

 

Pastor Edwin Lehmann

Preacher: Pastor Edwin Lehmann

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