Worship Helps for Pentecost 15
Artwork: Gideon choosing his soldiers
Artist: Gustave Dore’
Worship Theme: Many think numerous roads lead to eternal
glory. “It doesn’t matter what religion you practice—or whether you have none,
“they say. “All that matters is that you try to treat others well and do the
best you can.” Yet while religions may espouse some noble goals for earthly
living, all these goals lead people away from Christ. All fall far short of
what God demands for entrance into heaven: perfection (Matthew 5:48). The good news
is Jesus came to be perfect in our place. He has given us his perfection in
God’s sight (2 Corinthians 5:21). Through faith in him we have eternal life.
Jesus is the only way, the narrow door.
Old Testament: Judges 7:1-8
Early
in the morning, Jerub-Baal (that is, Gideon) and all his men camped at the
spring of Harod. The camp of Midian was north of them in the valley near the
hill of Moreh. 2 The LORD said to Gideon, "You have too many
men for me to deliver Midian into their hands. In order that Israel may not
boast against me that her own strength has saved her, 3 announce now
to the people, 'Anyone who trembles with fear may turn back and leave Mount
Gilead.'" So twenty-two thousand men left, while ten thousand remained.
4 But the LORD said to Gideon, "There are still too many men. Take
them down to the water, and I will sift them for you there. If I say, 'This one
shall go with you,' he shall go; but if I say, 'This one shall not go with
you,' he shall not go." 5 So Gideon took the men down to the
water. There the LORD told him, "Separate those who lap the water with
their tongues like a dog from those who kneel down to drink." 6
Three hundred men lapped with their hands to their mouths. All the rest got
down on their knees to drink. 7 The LORD said to Gideon, "With
the three hundred men that lapped I will save you and give the Midianites into
your hands. Let all the other men go, each to his own place." 8
So Gideon sent the rest of the Israelites to their tents but kept the three
hundred, who took over the provisions and trumpets of the others. Now the camp
of Midian lay below him in the valley.
1. At first Gideon had 32,000 men to fight against the
Midianites. To how many did the LORD reduce his troops?
2. Why did the LORD do such a strange thing? (See 7:2.)
Epistle: Romans 9:1-9
I speak the truth in Christ-- I am not lying, my
conscience confirms it in the Holy Spirit-- 2 I have great sorrow
and unceasing anguish in my heart. 3 For I could wish that I myself
were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, those of my
own race, 4 the people of Israel. Theirs is the adoption as sons;
theirs the divine glory, the covenants, the receiving of the law, the temple
worship and the promises. 5 Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them
is traced the human ancestry of Christ, who is God over all, forever praised!
Amen. 6 It is not as though God's word had failed. For not all who
are descended from Israel are Israel. 7 Nor because they are his
descendants are they all Abraham's children. On the contrary, "It is
through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned." 8 In other
words, it is not the natural children who are God's children, but it is the
children of the promise who are regarded as Abraham's offspring. 9
For this was how the promise was stated: "At the appointed time I will
return, and Sarah will have a son."
3. What could
Paul have wished, if it were possible?
4. Why did so many Jews in Paul’s day reject the gospel of
Christ Jesus? Was it God’s fault in some way?
Gospel: Luke 13:22-30
Then Jesus went through the towns and villages, teaching
as he made his way to Jerusalem. 23 Someone asked him, "Lord,
are only a few people going to be saved?" He said to them, 24
"Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell
you, will try to enter and will not be able to. 25 Once the owner of
the house gets up and closes the door, you will stand outside knocking and
pleading, 'Sir, open the door for us.' "But he will answer, 'I don't know
you or where you come from.' 26 "Then you will say, 'We ate and
drank with you, and you taught in our streets.' 27 "But he will
reply, 'I don't know you or where you come from. Away from me, all you
evildoers!' 28 "There will be weeping there, and gnashing of
teeth, when you see Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the
kingdom of God, but you yourselves thrown out. 29 People will come
from east and west and north and south, and will take their places at the feast
in the kingdom of God. 30 Indeed there are those who are last who
will be first, and first who will be last."
5. Why does Jesus describe the entrance into heaven as
being a “narrow door,” and how does one enter through this narrow door?
6. True or false:
Many people will be surprised come Judgment Day that they stand condemned.
Answers:
1. The LORD reduced Gideon’s troops first to 10,000, then
to 300 men.
2. The LORD did not want anyone in Israel to boast against
the LORD that their own strength had saved them from their enemy. All people
today, even those who are on God’s side, are prone to the same temptation.
3. Paul could have wished that he were cursed and cut off
from Christ for the sake of other Jewish people.
4. Many Jews of Paul’s day rejected the gospel, but it was
not God’s fault. God had given them every advantage. God’s Word did not fail,
either: Paul says that just because a person has Abraham’s blood in his or her
veins, does not mean that person is a true heir of Abraham. All who trust in
Jesus are sons of Abraham (Galatians 3:7).
5. The door into heaven is “narrow” because there is only
one way into heaven, not many ways. Jesus said, “No one comes to the Father
except through me” (John 14:6). Apart from trusting in Jesus as your Savior,
you will not be saved. (See Mark 16:16 and Acts 4:12.) In another respect,
however, the door into heaven is “wide” because Jesus has paid for the sins of
all people (1 John 2:2), and because of his sacrifice God has declared all
people “not guilty” in his courtroom (Romans 3:24). Only those who trust
in Jesus for salvation receive the benefit of his sacrifice. Those who do not
enter into glory cannot blame God. The fault will be entirely their own.
6. True. Sadly, many will be surprised at the final
judgment. Both here and in Matthew 7:21-23 Jesus shows that many will be
shocked at being shut out of heaven. Such will be the destiny for those who
rely on anything or anyone but Jesus to be rescued from the fire of hell which
we all deserve.
Putting your faith into action
Jesus
was the master teacher. What did he teach? He taught the gospel. He taught that
there is forgiveness and salvation in him, that God’s love has been shown to
all people in him. That was his message and mission. He and he alone is the
door to eternal life. Jesus Christ is our greatest treasure. The gifts God
gives us to enjoy and use here on earth are transitory. The gift of salvation
through Jesus is a gift that lasts forever. May we use what God gives us here
on earth to spread his name so that many might enter the narrow door of heaven.
Because of fleshly lusts, God’s regenerate children need
the daily instruction and admonition, of the Law in this life. But they also
need frequent punishments. So they will
follow God’s Spirit, as it is written:
It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn
Your statutes. (Psalm 119:71) I discipline my body and keep it under control,
lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified. (1 Corinthians
9:27) If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then
you are illegitimate children and not sons. (Hebrews 12:8) Dr. Luther explained
this in the Epistle [Ephesians 4:22-28].
We must explain what the Gospel does and Law’s office in
this matter, regarding believers’ good works. The Law says it is God’s will
that we should walk in a new life. But
it does not give the power to do it. The
Holy Spirit renews the heart. He is given and received, not through the Law,
but through the preaching of the Gospel.
Thereafter, the Holy Spirit uses the Law in order to teach the
regenerate from it and to point out and show them in the Ten Commandments what
is the “will of God, what is acceptable and perfect” in what “good works, which
God prepared beforehand, that we should walk”.
– Formula of Concord, Solid Declaration, Article VI, The Third Use of
God’s Law (paragraphs 9-12)
Hymns: 539; 431; 310; 399
1 To God be the glory; great things he has
done!
He so loved the world that he
gave us his Son,
Who yielded his life an
atonement for sin
And opened the life-gate that
all may go in.
Refrain:
Praise the Lord! Praise the
Lord! Let the earth hear his voice!
Praise the Lord! Praise the
Lord! Let the people rejoice!
Oh, come to the Father
through Jesus the Son
And give him the glory—great
things he has done!
2 Oh, perfect redemption, the purchase of
blood,
To ev’ry believer the promise
of God;
The vilest offender who truly
believes,
That moment from Jesus a
pardon receives.
Refrain
3 Great things he has taught us, great things
he has done,
And great our rejoicing
through Jesus the Son,
But purer and higher and
greater will be
Our joy and our wonder when
Jesus we see.
Refrain
Text: Fanny J. Crosby,
1820–1915, alt.
Comments
Post a Comment