Fourth Sunday In Lent
March 14th, 2010… this my son was dead and is alive again;
he was lost and is found.
FOURTH SUNDAY IN LENT
Celebrate the Father’s love!
February 28, 2010
AS WE GATHER
God’s message to us today seems foolish in the eyes of the world (1 Corinthians 1:18). The love of the forgiving father toward the undeserving prodigal son in today’s Gospel seemed foolish to the brother who remained at home. And yet, it is God’s “foolish,” selfless, loving plan to welcome home all who stray and to impart this same “foolish,” forgiving love to His faithful ones. Celebrate the Father’s love!
”The Lord be with you”
Ruth 2:4, Luke 1:28, and 2 Thessalonians 3:16
OLD TESTAMENT READING Isaiah 12:1-6
EPISTLE 1 Corinthians 1:18-31
HOLY GOSPEL Luke 15:1-3, 11-32
Listen to Sermon 2010-03-14
HYMN ….”God Loved the World So that He Gave” TLH 245 Lyrics
HYMN OF THE DAY ” Lord, To Thee I Make Confession ” TLH 326 Lyrics
MUSIC DURING DISTRIBUTION
“Salvation Unto Us Has Come” TLH 377 Lyrics
CLOSING HYMN Today Thy Mercy Calls Us TLH 279 Lyrics
CALENDAR
Wednesday, Lent Midweek 5 7.00 PM The Savior’s Side, John 19.28-35
Sunday, March 21st 9.15 AM Christian Education Hour
10:30 AM Divine Service
WORSHIP HELPS-FIFTH SUNDAY IN LENT
LUTHER ONCE WROTE…..
From Martin Luther’s 1528 Confession of Faith
Accordingly my advice has been and still is to leave the foundations and cloistery with their vows, and come out into the true Christian orders, so that one may escape the abominations of masses, and of blasphemous sanctity, as virginity, poverty, obedience, by which they attempt to be saved. For, praiseworthy as it was in the beginning of the Christian Church to observe the state of virginity, so horrible is it now, since by it they deny the help and grace of Christ; for it is possible to live as a virgin, widow and in chastity without such horrible abominations.
A READING FROM THE BOOK OF CONCORD
4TH SUNDAY IN LENT
FORMULA OF CONCORDIA, SOLID DECLARATION
ARTICLE V: LAW AND GOSPEL
In its proper sense, Gospel does not mean the preaching of repentance, but only the preaching of God’s grace. This follows directly after the preaching of repentance, as Christ says, “Repent and believe in the gospel” (Mark 1:15).
Likewise the term repentance is not used in the Holy Scriptures in one and the same sense. In some passages of Holy Scripture it is used and taken to mean a person’s entire conversion. For example, “Unless you repent, you will all likewise perish” (Luke 13:5). And, “There will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents” (Luke 15:7). But in this passage (Mark 1:15) and elsewhere, when repentance and faith in Christ (Acts 20:21), or repentance and forgiveness of sins, are mentioned as distinct, to repent means nothing other than to truly acknowledge sins, to be heartily sorry for them, and to stop doing them. This knowledge comes from the Law. It is not enough for saving conversion to God if faith in Christ is not added. The comforting preaching of the Holy Gospel offers His merits to all penitent sinners who are terrified by the preaching of the Law. The Gospel proclaims the forgiveness of sins, not to course and self-secure hearts, but to the bruised or penitent (Luke 4:18). The preaching of the Gospel must be added so that the repentance may lead to salvation and not to the Law’s contrition or terrors. (paragraphs 6-9)
Condensed from CONCORDIA: THE LUTHERAN CONFESSIONS, copyright 2005 by Concordia Publishing House. Used by permission. All rights reserved.