Bethany Lutheran Church
Springdale, Arkansas
Pastor Gregory Jackson
The Confession of Sins
The Absolution
The Introit p. 16
The Absolution
The Introit p. 16
Introit
O Lord, I have trusted in Thy mercy:
my heart shall rejoice in Thy salvation.
I will sing unto the Lord:
because He hath dealt bountifully with me.
Psalm. How long wilt Thou forget me, O Lord?
How long wilt Thou hide Thy face from me?
The Gloria Patri
The Kyrie p. 17
The Gloria in Excelsis
The Salutation and Collect p. 19
Collect
O God, the Strength of all them that put their trust in Thee, mercifully accept our prayers; and because through the weakness of our mortal nature we can do nothing without Thee, grant us the help of Thy grace that in keeping Thy commandments we may please Thee both in will and deed;
through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, who liveth, etc.
The Epistle and Gradual
Gradual
I said, Lord, be merciful unto me:
heal my soul, for I have sinned against Thee.
V. Blessed is he that considereth the poor:
the Lord will deliver him in time of trouble. Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
V. Give ear to my words, O Lord: consider my meditation. Hallelujah!
The Gospel
Glory be to Thee, O Lord!
Praise be to Thee, O Christ!
The Nicene Creed p. 22
Praise be to Thee, O Christ!
The Nicene Creed p. 22
The Sermon Hymn #429 Lord, Thee I Love - Winkworth translation
Division - One or the Other
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 #658 Onward Christian Soldiers
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 #658 Onward Christian Soldiers
Prayers and Announcements
- Those continuing in treatment and therapy - Kermit and Maria Way, Pastor Jim Shrader and his wife Chris, Dr. Cruz Family, Sarah Buck, Ivy Anderson's mother.
- We have a number of Biblical resource books and KJVs, concordances for those who want them.
KJV 1 John 4:16 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. 17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. 19 We love him, because he first loved us. 20 If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? 21 And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.
KJV Luke 16:19 There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: 20 And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, 21 And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. 22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; 23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. 24 And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. 25 But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. 26 And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence. 27 Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house: 28 For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. 29 Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. 30 And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. 31 And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.
First Sunday After Trinity
Lord God, heavenly Father, we beseech Thee so to rule and govern our hearts by Thy Holy Spirit, that we may not, like the rich man, hear Thy word in vain, and become so devoted to things temporal as to forget things eternal; but that we readily and according to our ability minister to such as are in need, and not defile ourselves with surfeiting and pride; in trial and misfortune keep us from despair, and grant us to put our trust wholly in Thy fatherly help and grace, so that in faith and Christian patience we may overcome all things, through Thy Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, one true God, world without end. Amen.
Lord, let at last Thine angels come, To Abram's bosom bear me home,
That I may die unfearing; And in its narrow chamber keep
My body safe in peaceful sleep
My body safe in peaceful sleep
Until Thy reappearing.
And then from death awaken me That these mine eyes with joy may see,
O Son of God, Thy glorious face, My Savior and my Fount of grace,
O Son of God, Thy glorious face, My Savior and my Fount of grace,
Lord Jesus Christ, My prayer attend, my prayer attend,
And I will praise Thee without end. TLH #429
And I will praise Thee without end. TLH #429
We Are Lazarus
KJV Luke 16:19 There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: 20 And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores,
The woven narrative of the Four Gospels
People express frustration when the Gospel stories are unique, when they overlap, and when they are almost the same. The truly dense persons (the professors and sceptics) find fault with one thing or another, but consider this - the Four Gospels are unified and beautified by providing a complete portrait of Jesus Christ with details and with unique stories like this one. For example, Luke has unique sections that we would never want to see missing, such as this parable, the Prodigal Son, and the Good Samaritan. Nor would we want to edit - in the Gospel of John - the I AM sermons, the emphasis on His divinity and on the work of the Holy Spirit. Consider this especially - the names of people suggest that these were known to the first generation of Christians. I see group pictures of classmates from 50 years ago and think, "There's the future bird colonel. There's the future wife of the Police Chief in Boston. She went to Broadway!" Similar captions are throughout the New Testament, including Paul's letters.
KJV Luke 16:19 There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: 20 And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores,
This is a parable, not a personal story, but a universal story about mankind. In only a few words Jesus contrasts the believer (Lazarus) with the rich man (no name). The theme of this parable is faith, because Lazarus had faith - taken up into heaven by the angels, to the bosom of Abraham (another way of saying heaven, used in Judaism). The rich man was buried - big funeral - and went to Hell.
The contrasting details are memorable. The rich man clothed himself in purple and fine linen and ate like a king every single day. Neither one was necessary every day, but he clearly enjoyed showing off and attracting a large crowd admiring him. But there was a beggar named Lazarus (God's help) who was left at his entrance to get food, so diseased that he had open wounds.
21 And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.
He could have been fed by the servants. The scraps alone would have been enjoyed by beggars. But he did not exist in the eyes of that crowd, who were beggars in their own way. His lowliness is described by the street dogs coming to him and licking his wounds. Lazarus could not have been anymore downtrodden than being tended by stray dogs, and hearing noise of the constant banquets every day.
22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;
The beggar died and carried by the angels to be in heaven with Abraham, close to him (in his bosom). A funeral is not mentioned. But the rich man had a funeral and was buried. Often the most notorious are prepared for a grand exit.
Lazarus is symbolic of all those who have nothing but rely on Jesus Christ, because this is a parable about faith - those who have none and those who trust in the mercy of God. In addition, it points out how some mistakenly look down on those with so little because they trust in finery, possessions, and those people who admire the same things. They want to sit near the rich man and laugh with him, but they loathe and avoid the weak, sickly, aging, and imprisoned.
It does not take long to figure out who is avoiding Lazarus these days. Child not perfect? - how terrible! Have you tried these vitamins? Is it in the family? Elderly people? - they are honored as elderly in Asia and ignored here.
Small church? - you should see how big ours is! What are you doing wrong? Our neighbor asked me, "How large is your church?" I said, "We are world wide, in the Philippines, Australia, with connections in Canada... but still a small group." No one will put a small church on a magazine cover, but large ones are often treated with awe until they blow up for various reasons, not for their faith but for coveting wealth, property, limousines, private jets, and worse.
23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. 24 And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.
In the afterlife there are only two states. One is enjoying the peace and joy of eternal life. The other is the torment of eternal death and agony. The worst torture could be knowing the majesty and mercy of God but now out of reach and untouchable.
The rich man now wants to enjoy the state of Lazarus, just a little, but that is impossible.
4. For this rich man is not punished because he indulged in sumptuous fare and fine clothes; since many saints, kings and queens in ancient times wore costly apparel, as Solomon, Esther, David, Daniel and others; but because his heart was attached to them, sought them, trusted in and chose them, and because he found in them all his joy, delight and pleasure; and made them in fact his idols. This Christ indicates by the words “every day,” that he lived thus sumptuously daily, continuously. From this is seen that he diligently sought and chose such a life, was not forced to it nor was he in it by accident, or because of his office or to serve his neighbor; but he only thereby gratified his own lust, and lived to himself and served only himself.
5. Here one traces the secret sins of his heart as the evil fruit. For where faith is, there is no anxiety for fine clothing and sumptuous feasting, yea, there is no longing for riches, honor, pleasure, influence and all that is not God himself; but there is a seeking and a striving for and a cleaving to nothing except to God, the highest good alone; it is the same to him whether his food be dainty or plain, whether his clothing be fine or homespun. For although they even do wear costly clothes, possess great influence and honor, yet they esteem none of these things; but are forced to them, or come to them by accident, or they are compelled to use them in the service of others.
5. Here one traces the secret sins of his heart as the evil fruit. For where faith is, there is no anxiety for fine clothing and sumptuous feasting, yea, there is no longing for riches, honor, pleasure, influence and all that is not God himself; but there is a seeking and a striving for and a cleaving to nothing except to God, the highest good alone; it is the same to him whether his food be dainty or plain, whether his clothing be fine or homespun. For although they even do wear costly clothes, possess great influence and honor, yet they esteem none of these things; but are forced to them, or come to them by accident, or they are compelled to use them in the service of others.
My Old Testament students often land on King David, for his combination of infidelity and proxy murder. However, in faith, David repented of his sins and did not spare himself in confessing them to God and leaving an inspired record. He became Lazarus in that regard, because none of his power and wealth meant anything but his Psalms of contrition remain the standard of sorrow for sins and complete forgiveness. They are certainly the work of the Holy Spirit, but they are spoken through a man saying "Create in me a clean heart, O God."
25 But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. 26 And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.
This is a good example of those who have hardened their hearts against the Word and then find terror at the reality of God's Word. Like their behavior in life, they want to cut a deal appealing to them but it is not possible. Most importantly, the real treasure is spiritual and it cannot be taken away from believers.
27 Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house: 28 For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. 29 Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. 30 And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. 31 And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.
Efficacy of God's Word
This part of the parable can be summarized as the efficacy of God's Word. As I have said many times before, efficacy when changed to English letters is energy. That is not simply a word or word group in the Bible but a basic truth illustrated by the Holy Spirit working through the Word, always having an effect.
We had rain recently, then a real sod-soaker, and today a sprinkle more so far. Does anyone need to ask how long the grass and weeds are, how lush the flowers are, how tall the Joe Pye is? The greening and the growth come from rainfall. Rain and snow prove efficacy - water from the faucet is bleached and not the same.
The rich man ignored the plight of Lazarus, which is described clearly in the Scriptures, helping the poor. Now he wanted to save their proud necks. The brothers hardened themselves against the Word, so even if someone came to them from the dead, they would not listen.
So in telling this great parable, Jesus teaches us two things. One is that we should care for the weakest of the weak, the poorest of the poor - the unborn. Starting from there, we should respond to our neighbor's needs as if to Lazarus. Jesus said in the Judgment Parable - I was naked and you clothed Me, I was hungry and you fed me, thirst and you gave Me to drink, in prison and you visited Me. We are visiting several prisons in this area with the KJV Bible. The needs increase, so now I get orders for the small (for children) the medium (women's and men's prisons) and extra large print (geezers like me). What we can do is very little, but what God can do is endless.
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