Bethany Lutheran Church
The Twelfth Sunday after Trinity, 2023
Pastor Gregory L. Jackson
The Confession of Sins
The Absolution
The Introit p. 16
The Absolution
The Introit p. 16
Introit
Make haste, O God, to deliver me:
make haste to help me, O Lord.
Let them be ashamed and confounded:
that seek after my soul.
Psalm. Let them be turned backward and put to confusion:
that desire my hurt.
The Gloria Patri
The Kyrie p. 17
The Gloria in Excelsis
The Salutation and Collect p. 19
The Kyrie p. 17
The Gloria in Excelsis
The Salutation and Collect p. 19
Collect
Almighty and merciful God, of whose only gift it cometh that Thy faithful people do unto Thee true and laudable service, grant, we beseech Thee, that we may so faithfully serve Thee in this life that we fail not finally to attain Thy heavenly promises; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, who liveth, etc.
The Epistle and Gradual
Gradual
I will bless the Lord at all times:
His praise shall continually be in my mouth.
V. My soul shall make her boast in the Lord:
the humble shall hear thereof and be glad.
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
V. Sing aloud unto God, our Strength:
make a joyful noise unto the God of Jacob. 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
Miracles and Sharing
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
Closing Hymn #283 God's Word Is Our Great Heritage
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
Closing Hymn #283 God's Word Is Our Great Heritage
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| Norma A. Boeckler |
In Our Prayers and Announcements
- Medical Treatment - Sarah Buck, Lori Howell, Randy Anderson, Robert Northcutt, Kermit and Maria Way, Pastor Jim Shrader and Chris Shrader.
- Ranger Bob's daily IV infusions will continue another three weeks, more or less.
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KJV 2 Corinthians 3:4 And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward: 5 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God; 6 Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life. 7 But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away: 8 How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious? 9 For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory. 10 For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excelleth. 11 For if that which is done away was glorious, much more that which remaineth is glorious.
Covenant or Testament
Lenski 2 Corinthians 3:3
p. 921
The Revised Versions’s translation “3. new covenant” (“testament” in the margin) is not an advance on the A. V.’s “a new testament.” Commentators also waver. See the author’s exposition of I Cor. 11:25, from which we repeat only the main point: the Hebrew berith is “covenant,” which is rendered diatheke, “testament,” by the LXX which thus conserves the main idea of one-sidedness: this covenant is like every testament that is made by God to Israel and is not a mutual agreement between equals. Its substance was promise, Christ fulfilled the promise, and this fulfillment is now laid down in a testament. All believers are named as the heirs who're to be paid out with all the gospel blessings. We may call the ministers of God the administrators (I Cor. 4:1), yet they themselves are heirs. So in the New Testament diatheke = “testament.” And we should render, not “ministers of a new testament,” but as one concept: “new testament ministers.” The newness lies in the fulfillment of the former covenant promises by Christ.
KJV Mark 7:31 And again, departing from the coasts of Tyre and Sidon, he came unto the sea of Galilee, through the midst of the coasts of Decapolis. 32 And they bring unto him one that was deaf, and had an impediment in his speech; and they beseech him to put his hand upon him. 33 And he took him aside from the multitude, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spit, and touched his tongue; 34 And looking up to heaven, he sighed, and saith unto him, Ephphatha, that is, Be opened. 35 And straightway his ears were opened, and the string of his tongue was loosed, and he spake plain. 36 And he charged them that they should tell no man: but the more he charged them, so much the more a great deal they published it; 37 And were beyond measure astonished, saying, He hath done all things well: he maketh both the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak.
Twelfth Sunday After Trinity
Almighty and everlasting God, who hast created all things: We thank Thee that Thou hast given us sound bodies, and hast graciously preserved our tongues and other members from the power of the adversary: We beseech Thee, grant us Thy grace, that we may rightly use our ears and tongues; help us to hear Thy word diligently and devoutly, and with our tongues so to praise and magnify Thy grace, that no one shall be offended by our words, but that all may be edified thereby, through Thy beloved Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, one true God, world without end. Amen.
Luther on the Epistle text - Here
Luther on the Epistle text - Here
Miracles and Sharing
KJV Mark 7:31 And again, departing from the coasts of Tyre and Sidon, he came unto the sea of Galilee, through the midst of the coasts of Decapolis. 32 And they bring unto him one that was deaf, and had an impediment in his speech; and they beseech him to put his hand upon him.
As I have often said, the miracles of Jesus in the Gospel of Mark are often ignored, revised, and mocked, because the preachers or scholars do not accept what the Word of God clearly teaches. The miracles alone teach the divinity of Jesus Christ, and His work plants faith in the heart of those who see and hear His Word at work.
In faith our congregation prays for the divine miracles of healing, restoration, and improvement of our condition. The best practice is to take a time each day to name those whose situations move us to ask for God's power, wisdom, guidance, strength, patient, and grace - in the Name of Christ. Although God does this already, even without our asking, it is good to suffer with (com-passion) with others and show our love for others - family, friends, neighbors, and contrary people.
This wish came from someone reading the blog - "When you finally die, everyone will be so happy." It is difficult to calculate how many people read that and laughed.
Praying for miracles and remaining steadfast in our faith in God means - more and more miracles will become apparent. If we falter and become dis-couraged (losing courage), we can turn to the Scriptural passages that en-courage us. My favorite is Ephesians 3, where God begins to answer prayer before we think to ask, and that He gives us more than we could even imagine. The inert person will say to himself, "Really? Really? Before I ask? More than I can ask?" Even the most dedicated believer will see that, upon reading the verses because the efficacious Word (fueled by the Holy Spirit) will enlarge and deepen our understanding of the miraculous power of God.
KJV Ephesians 3:7 Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working (efficacy, OT, Isaiah 55:8ff) of his power.8 Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ (Genesis 1, John 1):10 To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,11 According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:12 In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him (through the Faith of Jesus).13 Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.14 For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,15 Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit (the Holy Spirit in the Word, John 16:13) in the inner man;17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us (the Spirit working in the Word in us),21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.
33 And he took him aside from the multitude, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spit, and touched his tongue; 34 And looking up to heaven, he sighed, and saith unto him, Ephphatha, that is, Be opened. 35 And straightway his ears were opened, and the string of his tongue was loosed, and he spake plain.
These two verses are puzzling at first, and mocked, but let's look at each phrase.
Jesus took the man aside from the crowd, because the man could not hear or speak. Jesus used touching to help the man understand and be healed, ears and tongue. What was the man with neither ability? - confused, frightened, and unable to understand. Jesus commanded "Be opened!" for bystanders. The man heard! and he spoke plainly!
36 And he charged them that they should tell no man: but the more he charged them, so much the more a great deal they published it;
Two forces are at work because of this miracle. One is the warning not to spread this around. That is because of people wanting to make Jesus the Messiah, in the mold of King David the warrior. That was achieved only 40 years after Jesus' death and resurrection, when the Zealots provoked the Roman Empire to come down with a massive army and destroy Jerusalem. On the other hand, Jesus' miracles were intended to establish faith in Him, at the very least believing in His divinity. The cheering and jeering went together.
37 And were beyond measure astonished, saying, He hath done all things well: he maketh both the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak.
The Gospel of Mark concentrates on the miracle work of the Son of God. Matthew connects the Old Testament with the Messianic predictions, revealing especially to Jewish people that Jesus is the fulfillment of the entire Old Testament. Mark provides a concentration of miracles to show the Gentiles or pagans how powerful He is.
