Service for Reformation Day 2021
Rev. Gregory Mech, pastor | October 31, 2021 | Reformation Day | Immanuel Lutheran Church – Joplin, Missouri | 8:00 or 10:30 am
Special thanks to all who helped to make this broadcast possible today:
Rev. Gregory Mech, DCE Jason Glaskey, organist Betty Lingenfelter, Altar Guild, Board of Elders, and all of our volunteers!
Jesus said, “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” John 8
We welcome you in Jesus’ Name on this Reformation Day 2021, to worship at Immanuel Lutheran Church LCMS in Joplin, Missouri! May you be fed by God’s life-giving Word as you worship with us in person or online. Please let us know how we can serve you, pray for you, or answer any questions you may have. immanueljoplin.com/CONTACT
Reformation Day
October 31, 2021
HYMN “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God” 656
A mighty fortress is our God,
A trusty shield and weapon;
He helps us free from every need
That hath us now o’ertaken.
The old evil foe
Now means deadly woe;
Deep guile and great might
Are his dread arms in fight;
On earth is not his equal.
With might of ours could naught be done,
Soon were our loss effected;
But for us fights the valiant One
Whom God Himself elected.
Ask ye, Who is this?
Jesus Christ it is,
Of Sabaoth Lord,
And there’s none other God;
He holds the field forever.
Though devils all the world should fill,
All eager to devour us,
We tremble not, we fear no ill;
They shall not overpower us.
This world’s prince may still
Scowl fierce as he will,
He can harm us none.
He’s judged; the deed is done;
One little word can fell him.
The Word they still shall let remain
Nor any thanks have for it;
He’s by our side upon the plain
With His good gifts and Spirit.
And take they our life,
Goods, fame, child and wife,
Though these all be gone,
Our victory has been won;
The Kingdom ours remaineth.
THE INVOCATION
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
THE CHIEF ARTICLE OF THE FAITH (Smalcald Articles, Part Two, Article 1)
The first and chief article [of the Christian faith] is this: Jesus Christ, our God and Lord, died for our sins and was raised again for our justification (Romans 4:24-25).
He alone is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29), and God has laid upon Him the iniquities of us all (Isaiah 53:6).
All have sinned and are justified freely, without their own works or merits, by His grace, through the redemption that is in Jesus Christ, in His blood (Romans 3:23-25).
This is necessary to believe. This cannot be otherwise acquired or grasped by any work, law, or merit.
Therefore it is clear and certain that this faith alone justifies us. As St. Paul says:
For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law (Romans 3:28).
That he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus (Romans 3:26). Nothing in this article can be yielded or surrendered, even though heaven and earth and everything else falls (Mark 13:31).
For there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved (Acts 4:12). And with His stripes we are healed (Isaiah 53:5).
Upon this article everything that we teach and practice depends …
HYMN “Salvation unto Us Has Come” 555: 1,6
Salvation unto us has come
By God’s good grace and favor;
Good works cannot avert our doom,
They help and save us never.
Faith looks to Jesus Christ alone,
Who did for all the world atone;
He is our one Redeemer.
Since Christ has full atonement made
And brought to us salvation,
Each Christian therefore may be glad
And build on this foundation.
Your grace alone, dear Lord, I plead.
Your death is now my life indeed,
For You have paid my ransom.
SALUTATION and COLLECT OF THE DAY
The Lord be with you.
And with Thy spirit.
Let us pray. Almighty and gracious Lord, pour out Your Holy Spirit on Your faithful people. Keep us steadfast in Your grace and truth, protect and deliver us in times of temptation, defend us against all enemies, and grant to Your Church Your saving peace; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Amen.
HYMN “Salvation unto Us Has Come” 555: 9,10
Faith clings to Jesus Christ alone
And rests in Him unceasing;
And by its fruits true faith is known,
With love and hope increasing.
For faith alone can justify;
Works serve our neighbor and supply
The proof that faith is living.
All blessing, honor, thanks, and praise
To Father, Son, and Spirit,
The God who saved us by His grace;
All glory to His merit.
O triune God in heaven above,
You have revealed Your saving love;
Your blessed name we hallow.
KIDS TALK
FIRST READING Revelation 14:6-7
Then I saw another angel flying directly overhead, with an eternal gospel to proclaim to those who dwell on earth, to every nation and tribe and language and people. And he said with a loud voice, “Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come, and worship him who made heaven and earth, the sea and the springs of water.”
This is the Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
PSALM Psalm 46:1-3, 10-11
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way.
Though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,
Though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling.
“Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted in the nations.
I will be exalted in the earth!”
The Lord of hosts is with us;
The God of Jacob is our fortress.
EPISTLE Romans 3:19-28
Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God. For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.
But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By a law of works? No, but by the law of faith. For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law.
This is the Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
GOSPEL John 8:31-36
The Holy Gospel according to St. John, the eighth chapter.
Glory to You, O Lord.
Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” They answered him, “We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, ‘You will become free’?” Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”
This is the Gospel of the Lord.
Praise be to You, O Christ.
HYMN “I Know My Faith Is Founded” 587: 1,2
I know my faith is founded
On Jesus Christ, my God and Lord;
And this my faith confessing,
Unmoved I stand on His sure Word.
Our reason cannot fathom
The truth of God profound;
Who trusts in human wisdom
Relies on shifting ground.
God’s Word is all-sufficient,
It makes divinely sure;
And trusting in its wisdom,
My faith shall rest secure.
Increase my faith, dear Savior,
For Satan seeks by night and day
To rob me of this treasure
And take my hope of bliss away.
But, Lord, with You beside me,
I shall be undismayed;
And led by Your good Spirit,
I shall be unafraid.
Abide with me, O Savior,
A firmer faith bestow;
Then I shall bid defiance
To every evil foe.
SERMON
THE LORD’S PRAYER (with Its Meaning, according to the Small Catechism)
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name.
What does this mean?
God’s name is certainly holy in itself, but we pray in this petition that it may be kept holy among us also.
How is God’s name kept holy?
God’s name is kept holy when the Word of God is taught in its truth and purity, and we, as the children of God, also lead holy lives according to it.
Help us to do this, dear Father in heaven!
But anyone who teaches or lives contrary to God’s Word profanes the name of God among us.
Protect us from this, heavenly Father!
Thy Kingdom come.
What does this mean?
The kingdom of God certainly comes by itself without our prayer, but we pray in this petition that it may come to us also. But how does God’s kingdom come?
God’s kingdom comes when our heavenly Father gives us His Holy Spirit, so that by His grace we believe His holy Word and lead godly lives here in time and there in eternity.
Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
What does this mean?
The good and gracious will of God is done even without our prayer, but we pray in this petition that it may be done among us also. But what is the will of God, and how is it accomplished among us?
God’s will is done when He breaks and hinders every evil plan and purpose of the devil, the world, and our sinful nature, which do not want us to hallow God’s name or let His kingdom come; and when He strengthens and keeps us firm in His Word and faith until we die. This is His good and gracious will.
Give us this day our daily bread,
Daily bread includes everything that has to do with the support and needs of the body, such as food, drink, clothing, shoes, house, home, land, animals, money, goods, a devout husband or wife, devout children, devout workers, devout and faithful rulers, good government, good weather, peace, health, self-control, good reputation, good friends, faithful neighbors, and the like.
God certainly gives daily bread to everyone without our prayers, even to all evil people, but we pray in this petition that God would lead us to realize this and to receive our daily bread with thanksgiving.
And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.
What does this mean?
We pray in this petition that our Father in heaven would not look at our sins, or deny our prayer because of them.
We are neither worthy of the things for which we pray, nor have we deserved them, but we ask that He would give them all to us by grace, for we daily sin much and surely deserve nothing but punishment. So we too will sincerely forgive and gladly do good to those who sin against us.
And lead us not into temptation
What does this mean? God tempts no one.
We pray in this petition that God would guard and keep us so that the devil, the world, and our sinful nature may not deceive us or mislead us into false belief, despair, and other great shame and vice. Although we are attacked by these things, we pray that we may finally overcome them and win the victory.
But deliver us from evil. For Thine is the Kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever.
We pray in this petition, in summary, that our Father in heaven would rescue us from every evil of body and soul, possessions and reputation, and finally, when our last hour comes, give us a blessed end, and graciously take us from this valley of sorrow to Himself in heaven.
Amen.
BENEDICTION
With these words the servants of God place the name of God upon His people:
The LORD bless you and keep you.
The LORD make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you.
The LORD look upon you with favor and give you peace.
Amen.
HYMN “Be Strong in the Lord” 665: 1,2 (to the tune “Hanover” LSB 804)
Be strong in the Lord In armor of light,
With helmet and sword, With shield for the fight;
On prayer be dependent, Be belted and shod,
In breastplate resplendent: The armor of God.
Integrity gird You round to impart
The truth of His Word as truth in your heart;
His righteousness wearing As breastplate of mail,
His victory sharing, Be strong to prevail.
Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Created by Lutheran Service Builder Smalcald Article quote from Concordia: The Lutheran Confessions, © 2006 Concordia Publishing House, page 263.
ANNOUNCEMENTS, THANKSGIVING and BLESSINGS
IMMANUEL’S MISSION PRAYER
Heavenly Father, We pray to see the future as You see it, so we may live the present as You will it. We pray we may be grounded in Christ as a Lutheran congregation, and guided by Your grace as we walk in forgiveness. We pray we are growing continually in faith as servants in Christ’s Kingdom proclaiming the Gospel. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
COMMON DOXOLOGY 805
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heav’nly host:
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
Amen.
From Lutheran Service Book © 2006 Concordia Publishing House. Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Created by Lutheran Service Builder © 2006 Concordia Publishing House.
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