Worship Helps for Pentecost 19
Worship Theme: Sinners sin. We all sin. But we cannot
excuse our sin because we act like others. Sin requires radical surgery. Jesus
says: “If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off” (Mark 9:43 ). The good news is that Jesus was “cut off”
from his own Father through his death on the cross, in order to reunite us with
God and with one another. As his servants we are the “salt” of the earth,
standing out as we show allegiance to Jesus and the gospel.
Old Testament: Numbers 11:16 ,
24-29 The LORD said to Moses:
"Bring me seventy of Israel 's
elders who are known to you as leaders and officials among the people. Have
them come to the Tent of Meeting, that they may stand there with you. … 24
So Moses went out and told the people what the LORD had said. He brought together
seventy of their elders and had them stand around the Tent. 25 Then
the LORD came down in the cloud and spoke with him, and he took of the Spirit
that was on him and put the Spirit on the seventy elders. When the Spirit
rested on them, they prophesied, but they did not do so again. 26
However, two men, whose names were Eldad and Medad, had remained in the camp.
They were listed among the elders, but did not go out to the Tent. Yet the
Spirit also rested on them, and they prophesied in the camp. 27 A
young man ran and told Moses, "Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the
camp." 28 Joshua son of Nun, who had been Moses' aide since
youth, spoke up and said, "Moses, my lord, stop them!" 29
But Moses replied, "Are you jealous for my sake? I wish that all the
LORD's people were prophets and that the LORD would put his Spirit on
them!"
1. When Moses, exasperated, turned to God because the
Israelites were complaining about having to eat manna all the time, how did God
first respond? (See 11:16)
2. Why did a young man run and tell Moses about Eldad and
Medad, who were still in the camp?
3. Why didn’t Moses want Eldad and Medad to stop?
Epistle: Philippians 1:12-18a Now I
want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to
advance the gospel. 13 As a result, it has become clear throughout
the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ.
14 Because of my chains, most of the brothers in the Lord have been
encouraged to speak the word of God more courageously and fearlessly. 15
It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of
goodwill. 16 The latter do so in love, knowing that I am put here
for the defense of the gospel. 17 The former preach Christ out of
selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me
while I am in chains. 18 But what does it matter? The important
thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is
preached. And because of this I rejoice.
4. What had happened to Paul, which turned out,
surprisingly, to advance the gospel’s spread?
5. How did Paul react when others preached Christ out of
envy and rivalry?
Gospel: Mark 9:38 -50 "Teacher," said John, "we saw a
man driving out demons in your name and we told him to stop, because he was not
one of us." 39 "Do not stop him," Jesus said.
"No one who does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything
bad about me, 40 for whoever is not against us is for us. 41
I tell you the truth, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because
you belong to Christ will certainly not lose his reward. 42
"And if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin,
it would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a large millstone
tied around his neck. 43 If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off.
It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into hell,
where the fire never goes out. 44 45 And if your foot causes you to sin,
cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than to have two feet
and be thrown into hell. 46 47 And if your eye causes you to sin,
pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God
6. What prompted John to tattle to Jesus about a miracle
worker that was not one of the twelve?
7. Summarize the obligations of disciples for one another
according to Mark 9:42-50.
Answers:
1. Moses receives mercy in the leadership department: Now
70 men will help him lead the nation. But the people get their wish for meat,
and a plague with it for grumbling against the LORD.
2. A young man ran and told Moses about Eldad and Medad
because they were prophesying in the camp, instead of around the tent, like the
other elders. Joshua told Moses to have them stop.
3. Moses didn’t want them to stop because he wished that
all God’s people were prophets with the Spirit on them.
4. Paul was under house arrest in Rome for a long time.
5. Paul said, “The important thing is that in every way
Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice.”
6. Perhaps John was jealous. John said the disciples
stopped the man because he “was not one of us.” Do we look down on one other
Christians who are not part of our church body? Jesus said, “Do not stop
him…whoever is not against us is for us.” Likewise we confess in the Nicene
Creed that we believe in one, holy Christian apostolic church.
7. A disciple will do everything possible to save the life
of the soul. Participation in Christ’s Kingdom is worth any sacrifice. The hand
will not grasp what God forbids. The foot will not go where God’s “No
Trespassing” sign stands. The eye will not gaze on that which God hates. Keep
your “saltiness” by living for the Gospel and Christ Jesus.
Putting your faith
into action
When
the Israelites grumbled, Moses felt the weight of it as if he were carrying the
burden all alone. The Lord showed him in this Old Testament reading that he
could place his Spirit upon many leaders, and even upon the “unauthorized.”
Surprisingly effective service can be given by some from whom you least expect
it. For not one of us has all of God’s gifts, but each of us should look for
his God-given opportunities to serve while giving thanks for the gifts and
services of others.
It is forbidden to bring any disgrace upon our neighbor
regarding his wife. The sixth
commandment takes aim at adultery, because among the Jewish people it was
ordained and commanded that everyone must be married. The young were engaged to be married early,
and the virgin state was held in small esteem.
Yet neither were public prostitution and lewdness tolerated. Therefore, adultery was the most common form
of unchastity among them.
But among us there is such a shameful mess and the very
dregs of all vice and lewdness.
Therefore, this commandment is directed against all kinds of unchastity,
whatever it may be called. Not only is
the outward act of adultery forbidden, but also every kind of cause, motive,
and means of adultery. Then the heart,
the lips, and the whole body may be chaste and offer no opportunity, help, or
persuasion toward inchastity. We must also resist temptation, offer protection,
and rescue honor wherever there is danger and need. We must give help and counsel, so as to
maintain our neighbor’s honor. For
whenever you abandon this effort when you could resist unchastity, or whenever
you overlook it as if it did not concern you, you are as truly guilty of adultery
as the one doing the deed. Everyone must
live chastely himself and help his neighbor do the same. By this commandment God wishes to protect
every spouse so that no one trespasses against him or her. – Large Catechism, Ten
Commandments, paragraphs 200-205
Comments
Post a Comment