ELEVENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
A Good View
AS WE GATHER
The only way a sinful human being can dare to approach and worship an almighty God is if we also know that He is a God of mercy. God’s mighty power is known from the vastness of His creation, the stars and seas, light and darkness, tempests and storms (Job 38). “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” (Psalm 111:10). Yet we are told, “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Romans 10:13). “Therefore the Lord waits to be gracious to you, and therefore He exalts Himself to show mercy to you” (Isaiah 30:18). This “almighty and most merciful God” (Prayer of the Day) showed both His might and mercy when He became aware of His disciples’ peril on a storm-tossed sea. Walking on water wasn’t the point. It was the Lord’s coming to save us in our fear and distress (Matthew 14). As the catechism says of God’s commandments, “We should fear and love God.” We can trust the God who has harnessed His wrath with His love. Greater love has no one than the God who joined us in our misery, took our sin upon Himself, and died our death but now is risen to save us from every evil that threatens us or makes us afraid.
+ PREPARATION +
HYMN Praise the One Who Breaks the Darkness CH 293
Praise the One who breaks the darkness with a liberating light.
Praise the One who frees the pris’ners, turning blindness into sight.
Praise the One who preached the Gospel, healing ev’ry dread disease,
Calming storms and feeding thousands with the very bread of peace.
Praise the One who blessed the children with a strong yet gentle word.
Praise the One who drove out demons with a piercing two-edged sword.
Praise the One who brings cool water to the desert’s burning sand.
From this well comes living water quenching thirst in ev’ry land.
Praise the one true love incarnate: Christ, who suffered in our place.
Jesus died and rose for many that we may know God by grace.
Let us sing for joy and gladness, seeing what our God has done.
Praise the one redeeming glory, praise the One who makes us one.
INVOCATION
Pastor: In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit.
People: Amen.
OPENING SENTENCES Psalm 43:4; Matthew 14:30–31
Pastor: I will go to the altar of God,
People: to God my exceeding joy.
Pastor: “Lord, save me.”
People: “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”
CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION Matthew 14:33
Pastor: No doubt our needs are known by the God of mercy, chief of which is deliverance from sin and fear. Aware of our great need for forgiveness and faith, we cry out to our Creator and Redeemer.
People: Lord, save me from my little faith, my doubt, my fears, my sin. I come to You now because You have promised to come to me here with Your saving grasp of power and mercy. Forgive me of my sin and give me help and deliverance from all my fears, that I may worship You with a pure heart and say, “Truly You are the Son of God” and my Savior. Amen.
Pastor: The Lord your God has brought you out from the slavery of sin with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm of mercy by the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord. By His own command I announce to you as a called and ordained servant of the Word: I forgive you all your sins. Peace be with you, in the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit.
People: Amen.
+ WORD +
HYMN OF PRAISE Jesus, Name Above All Names LSB 970
Jesus, name above all names, Beautiful Savior, glorious Lord.
Emmanuel, God is with us, Blessed Redeemer, Living Word.
Jesus, loving shepherd, Vine of the branches, Son of God.
Prince of Peace, Wonderful Counselor, Lord of the universe, Light of the world.
Jesus, Way of salvation, King of kings, Lord of lords.
The Way, the Truth, and the Life, Mighty Creator, my Savior and friend.
PRAYER OF THE DAY
Pastor: Let us pray. Almighty and most merciful God, preserve us from all harm and danger that we, being ready in both body and soul, may cheerfully accomplish what You want done; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
People: Amen.
OLD TESTAMENT READING Job 38:4–18 (Who prescribed the limits of the sea?)
4 “Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding. 5 Who determined its measurements—surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it? 6 On what were its bases sunk, or who laid its cornerstone, 7 when the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy? 8 “Or who shut in the sea with doors when it burst out from the womb, 9 when I made clouds its garment and thick darkness its swaddling band, 10 and prescribed limits for it and set bars and doors, 11 and said, ‘Thus far shall you come, and no farther, and here shall your proud waves be stayed’? 12 “Have you commanded the morning since your days began, and caused the dawn to know its place, 13 that it might take hold of the skirts of the earth, and the wicked be shaken out of it? 14 It is changed like clay under the seal,
and its features stand out like a garment. 15 From the wicked their light is withheld, and their uplifted arm is broken. 16 “Have you entered into the springs of the sea, or walked in the recesses of the deep? 17 Have the gates of death been revealed to you, or have you seen the gates of deep darkness? 18 Have you comprehended the expanse of the earth? Declare, if you know all this.
EPISTLE Romans 10:5–17 (Who calls on the name of the Lord?)
5 For Moses writes about the righteousness that is based on the law, that the person who does the commandments shall live by them. 6 But the righteousness based on faith says, “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’” (that is, to bring Christ down) 7 “or ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). 8 But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); 9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. 11 For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. 13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” 16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” 17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
HOLY GOSPEL Matthew 14:22–33 (Who can walk on water?)
22 Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. 23 And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, 24 but the boat by this time was a long way from the land, beaten by the waves, for the wind was against them. 25 And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. 26 But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” and they cried out in fear. 27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.”
28 And Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” 29 He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.” 31 Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” 32 And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. 33 And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”
CHILDREN’S MESSAGE
HYMN It Is Well With My Soul CH 705
When peace like a river attendeth my way, When sorrows like sea billows roll,
Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say, “It is well, it is well with my soul.”
Refrain: It is well (it is well) with my soul (with my soul),
It is well, it is well with my soul.
Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control, That Christ hath regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul. (Refrain)
My sin – O, the bliss of this glorious tho’t – My sin, not in part, but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul! (Refrain)
And, Lord, haste the day when the faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll,
The trump shall resound and the Lord shall descend,
Even so – it is well with my soul. (Refrain)
SERMON
NICENE CREED
I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth and of all things visible and invisible.
And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of his Father before all worlds, God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father, by whom all things were made: who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary and was made man; and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate. He suffered and was buried. And the third day he rose again according to the Scriptures and ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of the Father. And he will come again with glory to judge both the living and the dead, whose kingdom will have no end.
And I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and Son together is worshiped and glorified, who spoke by the prophets. And I believe one holy Christian and apostolic Church, I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins, and I look for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen.
GREETING/ANNOUNCEMENTS
OFFERING
PRAYER OF THE CHURCH
Pastor: Let us pray for the whole people of God in Christ Jesus and for all people, according to their needs.
For the holy church throughout the world: that she always have confidence of divine help from the Lord and that her pastors and ministers be faithful in their proclamation of God’s mercy and grace for all people, serving her members with love and compassion, let us pray to the Lord.
People: Lord, have mercy.
Pastor: For all who cry out to God for deliverance and help: that their petitions be heard by the One who reaches out to all to rescue from danger and destruction, who can save by the grasp of His mighty hand of mercy, let us pray to the Lord.
People: Lord, have mercy.
Pastor: For our country and all the nations of the world: that leaders seek the ways of peace and freedom for the welfare and prosperity of the people they are called to serve, let us pray to the Lord.
People: Lord, have mercy.
Pastor: For all who are sick or suffering illness or injury, all who are in any trouble, those who are lonely or afraid, and especially those who are in need we pray especially for. . . that the Lord give strength, heal, and comfort all who call upon Him, let us pray to the Lord.
People: Lord, have mercy.
Pastor: For those who have gone before us with the sign of faith, we give thanks to the Lord. That we may be included in the fellowship of the saints in heaven now by faith in the Son of God and at last by God’s mercy and grace when He comes again in glory, let us pray to the Lord.
People: Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
Pastor: Into Your hands, O Lord, we commend all for whom we pray, trusting in Your mercy; through Your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord.
People: Amen.