Worship Helps for Pentecost 9

Isle of Skye

Artist: Richard Ansdell

Worship Theme: Last week we saw how Jesus gives the Bread of Life through faithful public ministers. This week we focus more on their message. Public ministers must faithfully proclaim God’s Word. When pastors do not preach the whole truth of God, they destroy faith and turn people away from Jesus, for “faith comes from hearing the message” (Romans 10:17).  Nothing else will do.

Old Testament: Numbers 27:12–23   

¹²The Lord said to Moses, “Go up onto this mountain in the Abarim range and see the land which I have given to the Israelites. ¹³After you have seen it, you yourself will also be gathered to your people just as Aaron your brother was gathered. ¹⁴For when the community quarreled in the Wilderness of Zin, you both rebelled against my command to honor me as holy in their sight at the waters.” (This refers to the waters of Meribah Kadesh in the Wilderness of Zin.)

¹⁵Moses spoke to the Lord, ¹⁶“May the Lord, the God of the spirits of all flesh, appoint a man over the community, ¹⁷who will go out before them and come in before them, who will lead them out and bring them in, so that the community of the Lord will not be like sheep without a shepherd.”

¹⁸The Lord said to Moses, “Take Joshua son of Nun, a man in whom is the Spirit, and place your hand on him. ¹⁹Have him stand in front of Eleazar the priest and the entire community. You will commission him in their sight. ²⁰You will give some of your authority to him so that the entire Israelite community will listen to him. ²¹He will stand before Eleazar the priest, who will inquire for him before the Lord with the decision of the Urim. He and all the Israelites with him, the entire community, will go out at his command and come in at his command.”

²²Moses did just as the Lord commanded him. He took Joshua and had him stand in front of Eleazar the priest and the entire community. ²³He placed his hands on him and commissioned him, just as the Lord spoke through Moses.

1. Why did Moses ask that God appoint a man to replace him as leader of God’s people? (See 27:17.)

2. How did God describe Joshua, Moses’ replacement?

Epistle: Hebrews 13:7–8, 17–21   

⁷Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Carefully consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. ⁸Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

¹⁷Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls as men who will give an account. Obey them, so that they may do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no benefit to you.

¹⁸Pray for us, because we are sure that we have a good conscience, and because in everything we want to conduct ourselves in an honorable way. ¹⁹I urge you to do this even more, so that I may be restored to you quickly.

²⁰Now may the God of peace—who brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, in connection with his blood, which established the eternal testament— ²¹may he equip you with every good thing to do his will, as he works in us what is pleasing in his sight through Jesus Christ. To him be glory forever and ever. Amen.

3. What is the one reason why believers should obey faithful pastors and submit to their authority? (See 13:20.)

4. How does the writer to the Hebrews describe Jesus, now that the Father has raised him from the dead? (See 13:20.)

Gospel: Mark 6:30–34   

³⁰The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all that they had done and taught. ³¹He said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a secluded place and rest a while.” For there were so many people coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat. ³²They went away in the boat to a deserted place by themselves. ³³But many people saw them leave and knew where they were going. They ran there on foot from all the towns and arrived ahead of them. ³⁴When Jesus stepped out of the boat, he saw a large crowd. His heart went out to them because they were like sheep without a shepherd. He began to teach them many things.

5. What did Jesus want his disciples to have? What stopped them?

6. How did Jesus feel about the crowds that followed him? Why did he feel that way?

7. How did Jesus respond to the people’s needs?

Answers:

1. Moses asked God to appoint a replacement for him so that the LORD’s people would not be like sheep without a shepherd. (Isn’t Moses’ love for the Israelite people amazing, considering how often they complained about his leadership over the years?)

2. God described Joshua, Moses’ replacement, as a man in who was in the spirit.  This may mean a bold spirit of leadership or the Holy Spirit who gives such boldness.

3. Christians have good reason to obey faithful pastors and submit to their authority because Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever: Jesus’ words do not change. The grace we receive from him does not change.

4. The writer to the Hebrews (we are not certain who he was) describes Jesus as “the great Shepherd of the sheep.”

5. After they returned from a preaching trip, Jesus wanted his disciples to have a vacation. They didn’t get it, for large crowds followed them when they tried to get away.

6. Mark says that he had compassion on them because, spiritually-speaking, they were wandering aimlessly like lost sheep with no shepherd.

7. He began to give them the Bread of Life by his faithful Word, teaching them the truths of God.

Putting your faith into action

It is curious that a small wound in the body can cause death. A lead slug only a few millimeters in diameter can enter the body and the person dies. A knife wound only a few inches deep and confined to a small percentage of the total body is lethal. We all know the reason—the body works together as a unit. There is a relationship between every part and every other part. In the body of the church, you are an important part. The body may be able to live without you, but it certainly won’t be as strong. The church needs every member. Each congregation needs everyone to participate in using God’s gifts in support of the mission of the congregation. Your time, your abilities, and your finances, if missing, will be noticeable. Continue to be active in doing your part as a steward of God’s blessings in the church.

A reading from the Book of Concord for Pentecost 9

Confession is mentioned at different times in the Psalms. “ ‘I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,’ and You forgave the iniquity of my sin” (32:5).  Such confession of sin, which is made to God, is contrition itself.  When confession is made to God it must be made with the heart, not only with the voice.  Confession is contrition in which, feeling God’s anger, we confess that God is justly angry and that He cannot be reconciled by our works.  Yet, we seek for mercy because of God’s promise.  Such is the following confession, “Against You, You only, have I sinned … so that You may be justified in Your words and blameless in Your judgment” (Psalm 51:4).  This means, “I confess that I am a sinner and have merited eternal wrath.  Nor can I set my righteousnesses, my merits, against Your wrath.  So I declare that You are just when You condemn and punish us.  I declare that You are clear when hypocrites judge You to be unjust in punishing them or in condemning the well-deserving.  Yes, our merits cannot satisfy Your judgment.  But we will be justified if You justify us, if through Your mercy You count us righteous.”  Perhaps someone may also cite James 5:16, “Confess your sins to one another.”  But here the reference is not to confession made to priests, but is the reconciliation of brothers to each other.  Confession should be mutual. – Apology of the Augsburg Confession, Article XIIB, Confession and Satisfaction, paragraphs 10-12

375  The King ofLove My Shepherd Is

1  The King of love my shepherd is, Whose goodness fails me never;

I nothing lack if I am his, And he is mine forever.

2  Where streams of living water flow, My Savior gently leads me;

And where the verdant pastures grow, With food celestial feeds me.

3  Confused and foolish oft I strayed, But yet in love he sought me

And on his shoulder gently laid And home, rejoicing, brought me.

4  In death’s dark vale I fear no ill With you, dear Lord, beside me;

Your rod and staff my comfort still, Your cross before to guide me.

5  You spread a table in my sight, A banquet here bestowing;

Your oil of welcome, my delight; My cup is overflowing!

6  And so through all the length of days Your goodness fails me never.

Good Shepherd, may I sing your praise Within your house forever!