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19 Now this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” 20 He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.” 21 They asked him, “Who then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” He answered, “No.” 22 They said to him then, “Who are you? Tell us so that we may give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say concerning yourself?” 23 John said, “I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ just as the prophet Isaiah said.” 24 Now those who were sent were from the Pharisees. 25 They asked him, “Why do you baptize then, if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?” 26 John answered them, “I baptize with water, but One stands among you, whom you do not know. 27 This is He who comes after me, who is preferred before me, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.” 28 These things took place in Bethany beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing. John 1:19-23

Who was John the Baptist? He confessed that he was not the Christ, he was not Elijah, nor was he the Prophet promised by Moses in Deuteronomy 18:15ff.

Who was he? “John said, ‘I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, “Make straight the way of the Lord,” just as the prophet Isaiah said’” (Cf. Isa. 40:3).

John was the messenger of God sent to prepare the way for the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ (cf. Mal. 3:1; 4:5-6). He prepared people for the coming of the Lord Jesus by calling upon all to repent of their sins and turn to the LORD God for forgiveness and life through faith in the Messiah who was about to appear and be offered up a perfect sacrifice for the sins of the world (cf. John 1:29).

Who are we as Christ’s Church in this world? What are we and all who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ to be in this world? We are not the Christ, but we are a voice “crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord.’” Through our called ministers, we continue to call upon all to repent of their sinful and rebellious ways and to look in faith to Christ Jesus, “the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29).

Jesus is coming again to judge the living and the dead. Soon He will appear in the clouds with all His holy angels and every eye will see Him (cf. Rev. 1:7; Matt. 24:29ff.)! Until then, we continue to be God’s voice, His witness, calling on all people to repent and believe on the LORD Jesus Christ (cf. Acts 1:8). In Jesus’ shed blood, there is forgiveness and life everlasting for all who repent and turn to Him in faith for salvation!

Dear LORD Jesus Christ, grant us Your Holy Spirit and embolden us to be Your voice in this world, calling on all to repent and trust in You for forgiveness and life everlasting! Amen.

[Scripture taken from The Holy Bible, Modern English Version. Copyright © 2014 by Military Bible Association. Published and distributed by Charisma House.]

In Psalm 130:6-8, we read: “My soul waiteth for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning: I say, more than they that watch for the morning. Let Israel hope in the LORD: for with the LORD there is mercy, and with him is plenteous redemption. And he shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities.”

Do you wonder if God’s people ever got tired of waiting? The opening verses of Matthew’s Gospel list 42 generations from Abraham to Christ (this doesn’t even include the generations from Adam to Abraham) – 14 from Abraham to David, 14 from David to the exile, and 14 from the exile up through Joseph, the husband of Mary the mother of Jesus.

And what of Joseph? He was the legal father of Jesus but not the actual father, for Jesus was born by the mighty working of God’s Spirit in the Virgin Mary. She was descended from Abraham and David through David’s son Nathan rather than through Solomon the ancestor of Joseph (cf. Matthew 1 and Luke 3).

Waiting and wondering when and how God would fulfill His promises had to be on their minds and, for many, their most significant role as listed in Scripture was simply being in the Messianic line and keeping that line intact until the Christ should come. Though they may not have even known it at the time, God’s plan of salvation was being fulfilled through them. Though in many cases their lives seemed no different from those of others, God was working through them to carry out His divine work of salvation.

And, imagine Joseph’s shock when the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream while he was considering quietly giving Mary a certificate of divorce rather than publicly accusing her of adultery!

The angel’s message? “Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins” (Matt. 1:20-21).

After generations of waiting for the LORD God to “redeem Israel from all his iniquities,” the LORD God – the eternal Son of God and ceator of all things – had taken on human flesh and blood and was in the womb of the Virgin Mary that He might “save his people from their sins.”

And, of course, we know from God’s Word, how the LORD God performed what He had promised. He was conceived and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered and died under Pontius Pilate. He was crucified, dead and buried. He rose again on the third day and ascended to the right hand of God the Father in heaven. And from there, He will come again to judge the living and the dead.

And Joseph’s role? to be the husband of Mary and the caretaker and protector of the Christ Child. Joseph did what any good husband and father would do! But God chose Joseph; it was a part of God’s plan.

Followers of Jesus have been waiting and waiting for Christ Jesus to come back to establish His glorious kingdom and keep His Word. Nearly 2,000 years have passed since Christ’s death, resurrection and ascension. Generations have come and gone. Believers say with the psalmist: “My soul waiteth for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning: I say, more than they that watch for the morning.”

As we await the Lord’s return, our lives may seem pretty mundane. It may appear that nothing significant is taking place. We read our Bibles at home and gather Sunday after Sunday to hear God’s Word proclaimed, to offer up our prayers and praises and to receive in the Lord’s Supper the body and blood of Jesus which was given and shed for us on the cross to redeem us from all our iniquities. We come away with the assurance of sins forgiven and the promise of eternal life in heaven.

And generations pass. We too may pass before Christ returns. It seems nothing is happening.

But all who wait in faith are a part of God’s plan of salvation. We are brought to Christ in Baptism, we hear the Word proclaimed and receive Christ’s Supper and are kept trusting in Christ and awaiting His return. We bring our children to Christ in Baptism. We share with them God’s Word and point them to their Savior.

And, though our lives may seem pretty insignificant, and though we might not see it, God is carrying out His plan. Through Word and Sacrament, our children and others are brought to faith in Christ and preserved in that faith. Christ is building and establishing His eternal kingdom in plain sight though we often don’t even see it.

We are not the Messiah and we’re not even in the Messianic line, but like John the Baptist we point people to Christ, and like Joseph we stand against the assaults of the world against Christ and His Word that future generations might still hear the saving Word, receive the Sacraments and trust in Christ their Savior.

Attending church services on Sunday and partaking of the Lord’s Supper, again and again, might seem pretty mundane and insignificant, but it isn’t. God comes to us through His Word and convinces us of our sinfulness and then points us to Christ Jesus and the redemption He accomplished for us. Through Baptism we are joined to Christ and guaranteed the blessings of forgiveness and life He won for us on the cross. And, in the Lord’s Supper, we partake of Christ’s sacrifice for the sins of all that we might be assured the price has been paid, atonement made, and that we are partakers of the pardon He won when He died upon the cross for our sins and rose again.

We gather again tomorrow. We come to hear God’s Word and to receive Christ’s Supper. What happens as we gather is significant and important. God will be at work though we may not see it.

Christ would have us examine ourselves and prepare ourselves for tomorrow. And so, I ask you before God: Do you acknowledge that you are a sinner and have sinned in thought, word and deed? Do you confess and agree with God that you are guilty and deserving of his wrath and punishment? Do you trust that Christ Jesus has truly redeemed you and made atonement for all your sins? Do you also believe that Jesus, in the Sacrament, gives you to partake of His body and blood which were given and shed that your sins might be forgiven you? As a fruit of your faith, do you truly desire and seek God’s help to amend your life and live it in accord with God’s Word?

If you are truly sorry for your sins and look to Christ and His atoning sacrifice upon the cross for pardon and forgiveness, I announce unto you the grace of God and, in the stead and by the command of my Lord Jesus Christ, forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.

[Scripture quotations are from the King James Version of the Bible.]

67 His father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied, saying, 68 “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for He has visited and redeemed His people, 69 and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of His servant David, 70 as He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets of long ago, 71 that we should be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us, 72 to perform the mercy promised to our fathers and to remember His holy covenant, 73 the oath which He swore to our father Abraham, 74 to grant us that we, being delivered out of the hand of our enemies, might serve Him without fear, 75 in holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our lives. 76 And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Highest; for you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways, 77 to give knowledge of salvation to His people by the remission of their sins, 78 through the tender mercy of our God, whereby the sunrise from on high has visited us; 79 to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.” Luke 1:67-79

In these prophetic words, Zachariah the priest, being filled with the Holy Spirit, spoke of the salvation God was providing in His only-begotten Son and of the ministry of his son, John the Baptist.

Jesus, Son of God and descended from David through the Virgin Mary, came into the world as promised from the very beginning. In Jesus, God Himself visited and redeemed His people.

Jesus bore upon the cross the punishment for the sins of the whole world and made atonement for God’s people and for all of mankind. He suffered, died and rose again that He might set us free from the curse and condemnation of our sins to live for Him and serve Him evermore!

John the Baptist, the son born to Zechariah in his old age, would be the prophet of the Highest, going before the Lord Jesus Christ — Jehovah God Himself in human flesh — to prepare His ways.

And how was John to prepare the people for the coming of their Lord? He was to give them knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins. He was to teach them of God’s mercy and forgiveness for the sake of the innocent sufferings and death of God’s Son, the Dayspring from on high who would visit them. He was to call upon all to repent of their evil ways and look in faith to Christ Jesus and His atoning sacrifice on the cross for the sins of the world for mercy and forgiveness. In this way, he would give light to those sitting in darkness and the shadow of death and guide their feet into the way of peace with the Lord their God.

People today are still sitting in spiritual darkness and the shadow of death. They do not know the LORD God and His mercy in Christ Jesus and are headed for an eternity of suffering and punishment apart from Him and His lovingkindness. Thus, the ministry of God’s Church today, as it prepares for the second coming of the Lord Jesus from heaven, is to give to people in this world knowledge of salvation by the remission of sins. The Church, through its ministers, is to call people to repentance and faith in the Messiah and Savior; for Jesus, God’s own dear Son, came into this world, redeemed all of mankind by suffering and dying on the cross for all sin and rose again on the third day.

Ministers of Christ proclaim the law of God that people might see their sinfulness and the error of their ways. And they make known the good news of God’s mercy and forgiveness in Christ Jesus that people might trust in Him alone for eternal salvation. In this way, the called servants of Jesus continue to give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death and guide their feet into the way of peace.

O gracious and merciful God, bring us all to repent of our sinful and erring ways and grant us mercy and forgiveness for the sake of the Son, Jesus Christ, that Dayspring from on High who has come to visit and redeem us. And, dear Lord Jesus, move us to share with others sitting in darkness and the shadow of death the knowledge of salvation by the forgiveness of their sins through faith in You and Your innocent sufferings and death in their stead. Amen.

[Scripture quoted from The Holy Bible, Modern English Version. Copyright © 2014 by Military Bible Association. Published and distributed by Charisma House.]

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Hymn: “Hark! A thrilling voice is sounding!”
1 Hark! A thrilling voice is sounding! “Christ is near,” we hear it say. “Cast away the works of darkness, All you children of the day!” 2 Startled at the solemn warning, Let the earthbound soul arise; Christ, its sun, all sloth dispelling, Shines upon the morning skies. 3 See, the Lamb, so long expected, Comes with pardon down from heav’n. Let us haste, with tears of sorrow, One and all, to be forgiv’n; 4 So, when next He comes in glory And the world is wrapped in fear, He will shield us with His mercy And with words of love draw near. 5 Honor, glory, might, dominion To the Father and the Son With the ever-living Spirit While eternal ages run! The voice of John the Baptist proclaims that Christ’s coming is near—news that thrills the longing hearts of all believers.
Latin, c. 5th–10th cent.; tr. Edward Caswall, 1814–78, alt. Public domain
MERTON 87 87 Luke 1:76–79 ; Is. 60:1–3 , 19–20 ; Eph. 5:8–14 ; Is. 25:7–9

Invocation
P: In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. +
C: Amen.

Confession
P: Beloved in the Lord! Let us draw near with a true heart, and confess our sins unto God our Father, beseeching Him, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to grant us forgiveness.

P: Our help is in the name of the Lord,
C: Who made heaven and earth.
P: I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord;
C: And You forgave the iniquity of my sin.

All: Almighty God, our Maker and Redeemer, we poor sinners confess unto You, that we are by nature sinful and unclean, and that we have sinned against You by thought, word and deed. Therefore, we flee for refuge to Your infinite mercy, seeking and imploring Your grace, for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

P: Almighty God, our Heavenly Father, has had mercy upon us, and has given His only-begotten Son to die for us, and for His sake forgives us all our sins. To those who believe in His Name, He gives power to become the sons of God, and has promised them His Holy Spirit. He that believes, and is baptized, shall be saved.
P: Grant this, Lord, unto us all. C: Amen.

Psalm: Psalm 85 For the Music Director. A Psalm of the songs of Korah.
1 LORD, You have been favorable to Your land; You have brought back the captivity of Jacob. 2 You have forgiven the iniquity of Your people; You have covered all their sin. Selah 3 You have withdrawn all Your wrath; You have turned from the fierceness of Your anger. 4 Restore us, O God of our salvation, and put away Your indignation toward us. 5 Will You be angry with us forever? Will You draw out Your anger to all generations? 6 Will You not revive us again, that Your people may rejoice in You? 7 Show us Your mercy, O LORD, and grant us Your deliverance. 8 I will hear what God the LORD will speak, for He will speak peace to His people and to His saints, but let them not turn again to folly. 9 Surely His salvation is near to them who fear Him, that glory may dwell in our land. 10 Mercy and truth have met together; righteousness and peace have kissed. 11 Truth springs from the ground, and righteousness looks down from the sky. 12 Yes, the LORD gives that which is good, and our land shall yield its increase. 13 Righteousness shall go before Him and prepare a way for His footsteps.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Kyrie
C: Lord, have mercy upon us. Christ, have mercy upon us. Lord, have mercy upon us.

Collect
Lord Jesus Christ, we implore You to hear our prayers and to lighten the darkness of our hearts by Your gracious visitation; for You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Catechism Lesson: The Creed, Article II
155. Wherewith has Christ redeemed you? Not with gold or silver, but with His holy, precious blood and with His innocent suffering and death.
152) 1 Pet. 1:18-19. For you know that you were not redeemed from your vain way of life inherited from your fathers with perishable things, like silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.
293) 1 John 1:7. The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.
156. How does this work your redemption? Christ has thereby rendered satisfaction for me, and paid the penalty of my guilt.
294) 2 Cor. 5:21. God made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
295) Is. 53:4-5. Surely he has borne our grief and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon him, and by his stripes we are healed.

Old Testament Lesson: Isaiah 40:1-8
1 Comfort, O comfort, My people, says your God. 2 Speak kindly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that her warfare has ended, that her iniquity has been pardoned, that she has received of the hand of the LORD double for all her sins. 3 The voice of him who cries out, “Prepare the way of the LORD in the wilderness, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. 4 Let every valley be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low, and let the rough ground become a plain, and the rough places a plain; 5 then the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the LORD has spoken it.” 6 The voice said, “Cry out.” And he said, “What shall I cry out?” All flesh is grass, and all its loveliness is as the flower of the field. 7 The grass withers, the flower fades because the Spirit of the LORD blows upon it; surely the people are grass. 8 The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God shall stand forever.

Epistle Lesson: 1 Corinthians 4:1-5
1 Let a man so regard us as the ministers of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. 2 Moreover it is required in stewards that a man be found faithful. 3 But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by man’s judgment. I do not even judge myself. 4 For I know nothing against myself. Yet I am not justified by this. But He who judges me is the Lord. 5 Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time until the Lord comes. He will bring to light the hidden things of darkness and will reveal the purposes of the hearts. Then everyone will have commendation from God.

Gospel Lesson: Matthew 11:2-15
2 Now when John had heard in prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples, 3 and said to Him, “Are You He who should come, or should we look for another?” 4 Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: 5 The blind receive their sight and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them. 6 Blessed is he who does not fall away because of Me.” 7 As they departed, Jesus began to say to the crowds concerning John, “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? 8 If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Indeed, those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses. 9 Then what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and more than a prophet. 10 For this is he of whom it is written: ‘Look, I am sending My messenger before Your face, who will prepare Your way before You.’ 11 Truly I say to you, among those who are born of women, there has risen no one greater than John the Baptist. But he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 12 From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has forcefully advanced, and the strong take it by force. 13 For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John. 14 And if you are willing to receive it, he is Elijah, who is to come. 15 He who has ears to hear, let him hear.

Apostles’ Creed
All: I Believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of Heaven and earth. And in Jesus Christ His only Son, our Lord; Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, Born of the Virgin Mary; Suffered under Pontius Pilate, Was crucified, dead and buried; He descended into hell; The third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into Heaven and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; From thence He shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost; The holy Christian Church, the Communion of Saints; The Forgiveness of sins; The Resurrection of the body; And the Life everlasting. Amen.

Hymn: “On Jordan’s Bank the Baptist’s Cry”
1 On Jordan’s bank the Baptist’s cry Announces that the Lord is nigh; Awake and hearken, for he brings Glad tidings of the King of kings! 2 Then cleansed be ev’ry life from sin; Make straight the way for God within, And let us all our hearts prepare For Christ to come and enter there. 3 We hail Thee as our Savior, Lord, Our refuge and our great reward; Without Thy grace we waste away Like flow’rs that wither and decay. 4 Lay on the sick Thy healing hand And make the fallen strong to stand; Show us the glory of Thy face Till beauty springs in ev’ry place. 5 All praise, eternal Son, to Thee Whose advent sets Thy people free, Whom with the Father we adore And Holy Spirit evermore.
Charles Coffin, 1676–1749; tr. composite Public domain
PUER NOBIS L M Matt. 3:1–6 ; Is. 40:3

Sermon
Dear fellow-redeemed sinners, ransomed by the shed blood of Christ Jesus, our Savior. Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Is Jesus the promised Messiah and Savior?

Now when John had heard in prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples, and said to Him, “Are You He who should come, or should we look for another?” Matthew 11:2-3

Are you ever troubled by doubts concerning your faith? Have you ever doubted that Jesus really is God the Son in human flesh come into this world to save us from sin and everlasting punishment? Or, are you ever troubled by doubts about God’s mercy and forgiveness for you in Jesus Christ? Are my sins really forgiven? Will Christ come and receive me into the eternal joys of heaven?

John the Baptist boldly prepared the way for the coming of the Messiah and Savior by calling upon all to repent of their sinful and self-centered ways and pointing them to Jesus, God’s Son and the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (Luke 3:1ff.; John 1:29,34).

He was even so bold as to call upon King Herod to repent of his sinful ways, pointing out that he was sinning by having his brother Philip’s wife (Luke 3:19-20; Lev. 18:6,16).

But now, he was watching and hearing of Jesus from a dark prison cell. Jesus had not yet fulfilled those ancient prophecies which spoke of the Messiah judging the wicked and unbelieving world and establishing an everlasting kingdom in which righteousness dwells (cf. Ps. 96:13; 145:13; Dan. 2:44). Though he had been faithful, now he was awaiting his execution and Jesus seemingly was doing nothing about it.

Perhaps this is why John sent two of his disciples to Jesus. Or, perhaps, he was directing his disciples to Jesus for their own sakes. But coming to Jesus with our doubts and fears is a good place to bring them.

“Are You He who should come, or should we look for another?” they asked.

Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: The blind receive their sight and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them. Blessed is he who does not fall away because of Me” (Matt. 11:4-6; cf. Isa. 29:18; 35:3ff.; 61:1ff.; 28:16; 8:14f.).

Is Jesus the promised Messiah? Yes, He is the one promised — the Seed of the woman promised in Genesis 3:15, The virgin-born Immanuel of Isaiah 7:14, the Son of the Highest and Son of David promised by the angel in Luke 1:30-35, and the Redeemer of mankind spoken of in Galatians 4:4-5.

But why do we go on suffering in this world? Why has He not come to judge the living and the dead and to establish His everlasting kingdom?

“He is patient with us, because He does not want any to perish, but all to come to repentance” (2 Pet. 3:9).

And so we see, through the preaching of the Gospel, the spiritually blind seeing their sin and seeing in Christ Jesus their Savior, the spiritually lame walking and living for their God, those with incurable sins cleansed in the blood of Jesus, those who could not hear and understand the Word of God hearing and believing, those dead in their trespasses and sins raised to new life through faith in Christ Jesus (cf. Eph. 2:1ff.; John 5:25).

In the Small Catechism, we confess: “I believe that I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to Him; but the Holy Ghost has called me by the Gospel, enlightened me with His gifts, sanctified and kept me in the true faith; even as He calls, gathers, enlightens, and sanctifies the whole Christian Church on earth, and keeps it with Jesus Christ in the one true faith; in which Christian Church He forgives daily and richly all sins to me and all believers, and at the last day will raise up me and all the dead, and will give to me and to all believers in Christ everlasting life” (SC, Creed, Art. III).

And, when Jesus comes back on the Last Day, we and all believers will “be His own, and live under Him in His kingdom, and serve Him in everlasting righteousness, innocence, and blessedness, even as He is risen from the dead, lives and reigns to all eternity“ (SC, Creed, Art. II).

O gracious and merciful Savior, grant that we not doubt but take comfort in Your gracious working to establish Your kingdom and make us Your own. Amen.

P: The peace of God, which passeth all understanding, keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Offertory
ALL: Create in me a clean heart, O God: and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from Thy presence: and take not Thy Holy Spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of Thy salvation: and uphold me with Thy free Spirit. Amen.

General Prayer
Almighty and Everlasting God, who art worthy to be had in reverence by all the children of men, we give Thee most humble and hearty thanks for the innumerable blessings, both temporal and spiritual, which, without any merit or worthiness on our part, Thou hast bestowed upon us.
We praise Thee, especially, that Thou hast preserved unto us, in their purity, Thy saving Word, and the sacred ordinances of Thy house. And we beseech Thee, O Lord, to grant and preserve unto Thy holy Church, throughout the world, purity of doctrine, and faithful pastors who shall preach Thy Word with power; and help all who hear, rightly to understand, and truly to believe the same.
Be Thou the Protector and Defender of Thy people in all time of tribulation and danger and may we, in communion with Thy Church, and in brotherly unity with all our fellow-Christians, fight the good fight of faith, and in the end receive the salvation of our souls.
Bestow Thy grace upon all the nations of the earth. Especially do we entreat Thee to bless our land, and all its inhabitants, and all who are in authority. Cause Thy glory to dwell among us, and let mercy and truth, righteousness and peace, everywhere prevail. To this end, we commend to Thy care all our schools, and pray Thee to make them nurseries of useful knowledge and of Christian virtues, that they may bring forth the wholesome fruits of life.
Graciously defend us from all calamities by fire and water, from war and pestilence, from scarcity and famine. Protect and prosper everyone in his appropriate calling, and cause all useful arts to flourish among us. Be Thou the God and Father of the widow and the fatherless children, the Helper of the sick and the needy and the Comforter of the forsaken and distressed.
And as we are strangers and pilgrims on earth, help us by true faith and a godly life to prepare for the world to come; doing the work which Thou hast given us to do while it is day, before the night cometh when no man can work. And when our last hour shall come, support us by Thy power, and receive us into Thine everlasting kingdom; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, forever and ever. Amen.

Lord’s Prayer
Our Father, who art in heaven; Hallowed be Thy Name; Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven; Give us this day our daily bread; And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil; For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.

Benediction
P: The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make His face to shine upon you, and be gracious unto you; the LORD lift His countenance upon you, and give you peace.
C: Amen.

Hymn: “Almighty Father, Bless the Word”
1 Almighty Father, bless the Word Which through Your grace we now have heard. Oh, may the precious seed take root, Spring up, and bear abundant fruit! 2 We praise You for the means of grace As homeward now our steps we trace. Grant, Lord, that we who worshiped here May all at last in heav’n appear. 3 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.
Church Poetry , Philadelphia, 1823, sts. 1–2, alt.; Thomas Ken, 1637–1711, st. 3 Public domain
OLD HUNDREDTH L M Mark 4:26–29 ; Matt. 13:8–9

[Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, Modern English Version. Copyright © 2014 by Military Bible Association. Published and distributed by Charisma House. Some hymns in this service may be copyright protected and are used with permission under LSB Hymn License No. 100010399.]