Worship Helps for Pentecost 18


Title: Christ teacheth humility
Artist: Robert Scott Lauder

Worship Theme: True greatness is a paradox.  It grows out of seeing ourselves as small and God as great.  Such greatness has its center in love—both God’s great love for us in Christ and our love for our neighbor.  Such love leads to genuine, humble service.

Old Testament: Numbers 12:1–15  
Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because of the Cushite woman he had married (for he had married a Cushite woman). 2They said, “Has the Lord really spoken only through Moses? Hasn’t he also spoken through us?” The Lord heard this.
3(Now the man Moses was very humble, more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth.)
4Right then the Lord spoke suddenly to Moses, Aaron, and Miriam, “You three come out to the Tent of Meeting!”
The three of them came out. 5The Lord came down in a pillar of cloud and stood at the entrance to the tent. He called Aaron and Miriam, and they both came forward. 6He said, “Now listen to my words: If there is a prophet among you, I, the Lord, will make myself known to him in a vision. In a dream I will speak with him. 7Not so, however, with my servant Moses. He is faithful in my whole household. 8With him I speak face to face, clearly, and not in riddles. He sees the form of the Lord. Why then were you not afraid to speak against my servant, against Moses?” 9The Lord’s anger burned against them, and he left.
10The cloud went up from above the tent, and immediately Miriam was leprous, as white as snow. Aaron turned to Miriam and saw that she was leprous.
11Aaron said to Moses, “My lord, please do not hold this sin against us. We have acted foolishly. We have sinned. 12Please do not let her be like a stillborn infant that comes out of its mother’s womb with its flesh half-eaten away.”
13Moses cried out to the Lord, “God, please heal her, please!”
14The Lord said to Moses, “If her father had merely spit in her face, would she not be disgraced for seven days? Have her confined outside of the camp for seven days, and after that she can be brought back in.”
15Miriam was confined outside of the camp for seven days, and the people did not set out until Miriam was brought back in.

1. Why did Miriam and Aaron oppose their brother Moses?

2. When God punished Miriam with leprosy, a skin disease, how did Moses show his humility?

Epistle: James 3:13–18  
13Who among you is wise and intelligent? Let him by his good way of living show that he does things in wise humility. 14But if you have bitter envy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not boast and lie, contrary to the truth. 15This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but it is worldly, unspiritual, and demonic. 16In fact, where there is envy and selfish ambition, there will also be disorder and every bad practice. 17But the wisdom that comes from above is first pure, then also peaceful, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial, and sincere. 18And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who practice peace.

3. Who are the truly wise whom James mentions?

4. What does James mean when he says that “peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness”?

Gospel: Mark 9:30–37  
30They went on from there and passed through Galilee. He did not want anyone to know this, 31because he was teaching his disciples. He told them, “The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men, and they will kill him. But three days after he is killed, he will rise.”
32But they did not understand the statement and were afraid to ask him about it.
33They came to Capernaum. When he was in the house, he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the way?” 34But they remained silent, because on the way they had argued with one another about who was the greatest. 35Jesus sat down, called the Twelve, and said to them, “If anyone wants to be first, he will be the last of all and the servant of all.” 36Then he took a little child and placed him in their midst. Taking the child in his arms, he said to them, 37“Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me. And whoever welcomes me, welcomes not just me but also him who sent me.”

5. Why were the disciples afraid to ask Jesus about his impending death?

6. How are we today like those disciples?

7. What was Jesus’ answer to the disciples’ desire to be first in the kingdom of God? 



Answers:
1. Miriam and Aaron opposed Moses because he had married a lady from Cush (the southern part of Egypt, in modern terms).

2. Moses showed his humility by crying out to the LORD to heal Miriam, instead of telling her that she had gotten what she had coming to her.

3. The truly wise people are the humble.  When one is truly wise, it shows in good deeds and in humility.  A truly wise person is pure, peace-loving, considerate, submissive, merciful, impartial, and sincere.  These virtues are the ones that imitate Christ’s own perfect gentleness and unselfish service to us.

4. James speaks of people who are humble and try to keep peace, instead of starting quarrels and perpetuating grudges.  They do things that lead to all sorts of good and right results.  He compares being lowly to putting a seed low into the ground, later the seed of humility will bring many beautiful results, though at first planting the seed may seem fruitless.

5. Jesus had told his disciples about the Son of Man (himself). “They will kill him.”  The thoughts of the Twelve seemed to stop with those words and not even hear Jesus say, “after three days he will rise.”  Betrayal and death did not fit their idea of a Messianic rule.

6. Many Christians today imagine that the chief mark of the church is worldly success and glory, and that the chief purpose of the Christian church relates to activities which put the message of a Savior crucified for sin into the background.  They don’t want to hear repeated references to the ugliness of personal sin and the divine necessity of a sacrificial cross to atone for that sin.

7. Jesus, through words and an impressive object lesson, shows that the way to true greatness in his kingdom lies in humble service. (See also Mark 10:43-44 and Luke 22:24-47)


Putting your faith into action
Look at the harvest of righteousness that the Lord sows through us. He begins by giving us true wisdom from heaven. It is the opposite of the worldly “wisdom” that prides itself in envy and selfishness. Examples of that foolishness abound all around us—and it rubs off on us! But God works through his Word to replace the world’s “wisdom” in us with his own. It is pure and selfless and it shows in our deeds. Thus the Lord shows the world his wisdom and peace through us. Through us he produces a harvest of righteousness. In other words, the good he works through us is not without effect. It produces results that will last.

A reading from the Book of Concord for Pentecost 18
            Baptism is no human plaything, but it is instituted by God Himself.  Furthermore, Baptism is most solemnly and strictly commanded so that we must be baptized or we cannot be saved.  I note this lest anyone regard Baptism as a silly matter, like putting on a new red coat.  For it is of the greatest importance that we value Baptism as excellent, glorious, and exalted. We contend and fight for Baptism chiefly because the world is now so full of sects arguing that Baptism is an outward thing and of no benefit.  God’s Word and command, institute, establish, and confirm Baptism.  What God institutes and commands cannot be an empty thing.  Up to now people could consider something great when the pope with his letters and bulls gave away indulgences, solely because of the letters and seals.  So we ought to value Baptism much more highly and more precious, because God has commanded it.  Besides, it is done in His name.  For these are the words, “Go, baptize.” However, do not baptize in your name, but in God’s name.
            To be baptized in God’s name is to be baptized not by men, but by God Himself. Therefore, although it is performed by human hands, it is still truly God’s own work.  From this fact everyone may readily conclude that Baptism is a far higher work than any work performed by a man or a saint.  What work can we do that is greater than God’s work? – Large Catechism, Part IV Baptism, paragraphs 6-10

1  With the Lord begin your task; Jesus will direct it.
For his aid and counsel ask; Jesus will perfect it.
Ev’ry morn with Jesus rise, And, when day is ended,
In his name then close your eyes; Be to him commended.

2  Let each day begin with prayer, Praise and adoration.
On the Lord cast ev’ry care; He is your salvation.
Morning, evening, and at night Jesus will be near you,
Save you from the tempter’s might, With his presence cheer you.

3  With your Savior at your side Foes need not alarm you;
In his promises confide And no ill can harm you.
All your trust and hope repose In the mighty Master,
Who in wisdom truly knows How to stem disaster.

4  If your task is thus begun With the Savior’s blessing,
Safely then your course will run, Naught your soul distressing.
Good will follow ev’rywhere While you here must wander;
You at last the joy will share In the mansions yonder.

Text: Morgen-und Abend-segen, Waldenburg, 1734, abr.; tr. W. Gustave Polack, 1890–1950, alt.


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