- The melody site is linked here.
- TLH Lyrics site is linked here.
The Hymn #530 Thy Ways O Lord
The Confession of Sins
The Absolution
The Introit p. 16
The Introit
Hear, O Lord, when I cry with my voice:
Thou hast been my Help.
Leave me not, neither forsake me:
O God of my salvation.
Psalm. The Lord is my Light and my Salvation: whom shall I fear?
The Gloria Patri
The Kyrie p. 17
The Gloria in Excelsis
The Salutation and Collect p. 19
Collect
O God, who hast prepared for them that love Thee such good things as pass man’s understanding, pour into our hearts such love toward Thee that we, loving Thee above all things, may obtain Thy promises, which exceed all that we can desire; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth, etc.
The Epistle and Gradual
Gradual
Behold, O God, our Shield: and look upon Thy servants.
V. O Lord God of hosts: hear our prayer. Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
V. The king shall joy in Thy strength: and in Thy salvation, how greatly shall he rejoice! Hallelujah!
The Gospel
Glory be to Thee, O Lord!
Praise be to Thee, O Christ!
The Nicene Creed p. 22
The Sermon Hymn # 649 Jesus Savior Pilot Me
The Greatest Miracle
The Communion Hymn #530 Thy Ways, O Lord
The Preface p. 24
The Sanctus p. 26
The Lord's Prayer p. 27
The Words of Institution
The Agnus Dei p. 28
The Nunc Dimittis p. 29
The Benediction p. 31
The Hymn #52 Almighty Father, Bless the Word
- Esther Estrada lands in America on July 20th. Glen Kotten and Esther will marry on July 23rd.
- Christina Jackson's birthday is July 20th.
- In our prayers - Kermit and Maria Way, Christina's brother-in-law. Pastor Jim Shrader and his wife. Pastor K.
- Next Sunday's service will be posted on the blog and linked in the left column.
- Ask for your free copy of the KJV book; send the address and phone number. Amazon insists. Extra copies for others - ask for them too.
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| By Norma A. Boeckler |
KJV 1 Peter 3:8 Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: 9 Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing. 10 For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile: 11 Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it. 12 For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil. 13 And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good? 14 But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled; 15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
KJV Luke 5:1 And it came to pass, that, as the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he stood by the lake of Gennesaret, 2 And saw two ships standing by the lake: but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing their nets. 3 And he entered into one of the ships, which was Simon's, and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land. And he sat down, and taught the people out of the ship. 4 Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught. 5 And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net. 6 And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake. 7 And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink. 8 When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord. 9 For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken: 10 And so was also James, and John, the sons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon. And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men. 11 And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him.
O Jesus Christ, Thou Son of the living God, who hast given us Thy holy word, and hast bountifully provided for all our temporal wants, we confess that we are unworthy of all these mercies, and that we have rather deserved punishment: But we beseech Thee, forgive us our sins, and prosper and bless us in our several callings, that by Thy strength we may be sustained and defended, now and forever, and so praise and glorify Thee eternally, Thou who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Ghost, one true God, world without end. Amen.
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| Norma A. Boecker - The Draught of Fish |
KJV Luke 5:1 And it came to pass, that, as the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he stood by the lake of Gennesaret, [Sea of Galilee]
Introductory Background
This miracle depends on whether we believe in the Word of God, revealed in the Scriptures, or reject them based on human reason. In Judaism, where so many are expected to know Hebrew, there is no difference between God's Word and God's will. That was associated with the rabbis as well, as spokesmen for God's Word.
Human reason cannot comprehend how miracles take place, and people often brag about their lack of trust in God doing anything.
One source of rationalism is the Masonic Lodge and versions of that group. They treat all religions as the same and forbid praying in the Name of Jesus. That works well because it seems to be so tolerant and peaceful, but all forms of unionism (divergent confessions worshiping and praying together) lead to rationalism and atheism.
Another source of rationalism is Pietism, or Masonry Lite. The foundation of Spener's Pietism is downplaying Biblical doctrine and creating unity based on works, not faith. Halle University was founded to teach Pietism. Bypassing doctrinal clarity and agreement, Halle quickly became the mother ship of Biblical rationalism. Their Biblical professors are considered today - the greatest and bravest of Bible scholars because they published their books (sometimes anonymously) questioning the truth of the Scriptures.
The Lutheran Church in America's Fortress Press published a series of "scholarly" books based on those early days at Halle University where the scholars used their positions to question and attack the Scriptures.
The Tower of Babel style of modern translations (including the Beck Bible) stems from Wescott and Hort secretly giving their Greek New Testament to the KJV revision scholars in Britain and America, 10 years before their new Bible came out. The scholars were not dumb sheep, but wolves who largely agreed with Westcott and Hort, and those ridiculous theories have been rejected since then. This all comes down to the fraudulent Codex Vaticanus and Codex Sinaiticus used to displace 5,000 individual examples of the Majority or Byzantine text.
This rationalistic attitude toward the revealed Word of God means that each individual has his own view of what is acceptable in the Bible. Once they got away with erasing verses from the New Testament (more often than most people imagine), they made the Word of God little more than a rabbit's foot, good luck and all that.
As many realize, this attitude spreads easily because it is individualistic, personal, and subjective. But the superior attitude also spreads easily among entire generations. As I have pointed out to some, more than once, it only takes a few changes in the oversight board for a school to start changing faculty members. Methodists said about one of their own who denied the Virgin Birth - "Oh, we can afford ONE professor like that." One became ALL in short order.
Likewise, the Lutheran synods were infected with Calvinism first, then with the marketing genius of the ever-shrinking Fuller Seminary. Justification without Faith (Objective Justification) served well as the door opener for Karl Barth, Paul Tillich, Bultmann, and other rascals. Fuller blew the doors off by starting with the denominational leaders, who are never very bright and seldom serious about Bible doctrine. Slogans are easier to peddle.
I have identified seven (7) "conservative" Lutherans who earned Jesuit PhDs. Has that happened without effect?
Therefore, this miracle is so clear than only believers can grasp its meaning. For the rest, it is spiritual blindness and hardening of the heart.
KJV Luke 5:1 And it came to pass, that, as the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he stood by the lake of Gennesaret,
For Jesus to speak to a large crowd, He had to overcome the sound absorbing numbers. The remedy is either to put the speaker high up (Sermon on the Mount) with people at a lower level, or this example, Jesus in a boat with the sound reflected off the lake and people sitting on the ground rising above the water (risers!).
2 And saw two ships standing by the lake: but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing their nets.
We should always remember that Jesus chose humble workers to be Apostles, not high priests in glorious robes, chanting for the incense and the admiration of the onlookers. These fishermen were the instrument of God's grace, drawn in to listen, learn, and teach the Gospel.
3 And he entered into one of the ships, which was Simon's, and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land. And he sat down, and taught the people out of the ship.
Knowing Simon Peter's heart, Jesus stepped into that boat and asked to be taken away from the shore. From the boat, Jesus could resume the rabbi's position, sitting while He taught, as He did at the Sermon on the Mount. One part of this description is practical, but the other part takes us there, with the voice of Jesus using the Sea of Galilee as the soundboard He created at the very beginning.
He preached the nature of sin and His role as the promised Messiah. We know that from the reaction of Simon.
4 Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.
After the sermon, Jesus commanded Simon to move the boat out into the deep, where it would be harder to find the fish which eluded the fishermen all night long. Jesus did not give this command as a stranger but as the Lord of Simon, who was converted by the revelation - He is the Messiah, the King of Kings!
"Let down your nets for a catch of fish!" I have had almost 50 years of hearing marketing and sociology - "A good place for a new church, this suburb is already Lutheran and it is full of affluent young couples with children." Or - and this is both funny and sad - "Lutherans won't go to a church like this, which is hidden away down a minor street. But we can sell your church to Pentecostals. No matter where they have a church, the Pentecostals will come." Shortly after, my friend's church was closed and sold to Pentecostals.
The Gospel does not throw out the nets for the individual trophy fish, but for all, great and small, sinners and other sinners, strong and weak physically, fragile young and elderly. Is it not a marvel that Jesus gave the perfect description of Gospel conversion and the genius "Evangelism and Church Growth" commissions follow the marketing expertise of Tide detergent and McDonalds fries?
The Gospel Word is always effective, so when we hear, read, or remember it, the Spirit tugs at us, revives our faith and trust in God, and opens for us the eternal treasures which last forever even though despised by so many.
5 And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net.
This response combines the exasperation of a professional fisherman with the humility of a believer. "We spent our lives catching fish and spent all night trying. There are no fish. The nets are empty! But - your Word moves me to let down the net,"
Simon heard the sermon of Jesus - faith comes by hearing the Report (Romans 10). Faith in God changes our perspective from purely human to God-inspired.
6 And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake. 7 And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink.
To make this miracle certain and proof of the divinity of Jesus, the catch was far greater than anyone could wish. The boats were designed to be stable in carrying these loads, and the nets were strong and just repaired to be reliable. Nevertheless, both ships began to sink from the miraculous catch.
This is the nature of a miracle:
a. The miracle is from God and not something man could do, often it is just the opposite of what we think with the best of our knowledge and experience.
b. The miracle is not simply abundant, but overwhelmingly abundant, so people do not say, "Look at how I deserved this!" but instead "Only God could do this." And that includes the work of His Holy Angels, who clearly protect small children and foolish adults.
c. The miracle is intended to awaken us to the power and mercy of God, so we spend our lives thanking and praising God for Jesus Christ who accepted mockery, torture, and death to give us the ultimate miracle - eternal life.
8 When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord. 9 For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken:
First Jesus converted Peter through preaching the Gospel, what the Messiah is and will be. Secondly, beyond all doubts, Jesus showed the entire audience, but especially Peter and his companions, His power over His own Creation. So great is the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit that we can only be in awe. As one collect (prayer) says - God's power is made known chiefly in His mercy.
10 And so was also James, and John, the sons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon. And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men.
One moment, they were hungry and worn out, despairing for the lack of food. Next they were wealthy fish-mongers, but they turned away from their vocation when Jesus said, "From now on you will be gathering men through the Gospel - do not be afraid."
11 And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him.
The miracles revealed by Jesus Christ were an essential part of His preaching, as stated in the Gospel of John. The Savior also gave that power to the Apostles, who were witnesses of Jesus' miracles and also worked miracles.
The age of miracles did not stop with the Apostles, because God's power is always at hand - to save, to heal, to lift us up from despair. The greatest miracle of all is His forgiveness of sins for all contrite believers. We cannot overcome even the smallest of sins, and yet He has died for those sins and the great and terrible sins as well. To question His forgiveness is to deny His mercy and love. He is our great Good Shepherd, and we are His sheep. He leads us out, so we can follow Him to His heavenly palace. That is the greatest miracle of all.
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