Trinirty 11 2025

 

Bethany Lutheran Church

Springdale, Arkansas

Pastor Gregory Jackson

The Hymn #462             I Love Thy Kingdom

"Timothy Dwight is one of the renowned names in early American History. Dwight was born in Northampton Massachusetts, on May 14, 1752. His grandfather was Jonathan Edwards on his mother’s side. At the age of 17, he graduated from Yale College. For a time he served as a chaplain with George Washington in the American Revolutionary War. After the war he served as a minister, representative of Connecticut State Legislature, faculty member and in 1795 the College’s President. While he was there, he raised the academic standards and brought a spiritual emphasis to the campus. Before that, the students at Yale had been influenced by Rousseau and the French Revolutionary ideals. It was thought that there were less than ten Christians on campus. His leadership brought a spiritual revival which spread to other parts of New England college campuses." https://www.hymnal.net/en/hymn/h/853

The Absolution
The Introit p. 16

Introit

God is in His holy habitation: 

He is God who setteth the solitary in families.

The God of Israel is He that giveth strength: 

and power unto His people.

Psalm. Let God arise, let His enemies be scattered: 

let them also that hate Him flee before Him.

The Gloria Patri
The Kyrie p. 17
The Gloria in Excelsis
The Salutation and Collect p. 19

Collect

Almighty and everlasting God, who art always more ready to hear than we to pray and art wont to give more than either we desire or deserve, pour down upon us the abundance of Thy mercy, forgiving us those things whereof our conscience is afraid, and giving us those good things which we are not worthy to ask but through the merits and mediation of Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, who liveth, etc.

The Epistle and Gradual       

Gradual

My heart trusteth in God, and I am helped: 

therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; 

and with my song will I praise Him.

V. Unto Thee will I cry, O Lord, my Rock: 

be not silent to me; hear the voice at my supplications. 

Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

V. Lord, Thou hast been our Dwelling Place in all generations. 

Hallelujah!

The Gospel              

Glory be to Thee, O Lord!
Praise be to Thee, O Christ!
The Nicene Creed             p. 22

The Sermon Hymn #282                   Lord Jesus Christ

 The Gospel Preached by Paul

The Communion Hymn #207   Like the Golden Sun Ascending - Kingo

[Some parts of the Danish rural population firmly held to Kingo's hymns during the Pietist and Rationalist periods, contributing to their survival.]

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 #575                       Before the Lord We Bow - F. Scott Key                 

In Our Prayers

• Diagnosis and Treatment - Doc Lito and family;  Sarah Buck is much improved; Pastor Jim Shrader and Chris.  
• BibleJohn is getting a complete KJV audio Bible. It is reasonable and battery operated. 
• Two Old Testament classes will be resumed in mid-September.
• Revelation  3 - Tuesday and Thursday at 10 AM Central.

KJV 1 Corinthians15:1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; 2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. 3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: 5 And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: 6 After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. 7 After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. 8 And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time. 9 For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.

KJV Luke 18: 9 And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: 10 Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. 11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. 13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

The Gospel Preached by Paul

KJV 1 Corinthians15:1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;

The Apostle Paul labored with his tent making and with trying to teach opponents about the Gospel. He spent two years preaching in Corinth (Acts 18) and dealt with all kinds of problems and scandals. The Apostle's three-fold declaration is a powerful message based on the Word - the Gospel! not frivolities and merches. 

Paul has three weapons of grace -

Preaching to the people,

The listeners receiving the sermons and lectures,

Standing up to the truth of the Gospel.

His primary battle was against faith in Jesus Christ. He could throw all the sins of the world against them, but the Gospel had to heal them and show God's grace in Jesus Christ, who came to forgive, pardon, and draw near.

2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.

Here is back and forth from Paul, as shown in blue - people are saved by preaching, listening to the Word, and standing up to the truth. It is too bad that people use the word "preach" as if it is a long-winded, angry harangue. That sounds a lot more like the people who  hate this country. They endlessly rail at people, angry and condemning all the time.

Jeremiah is the prophet known for his lengthen speeches against evil. He was so good at that the word jeremiad became a copy of Jeremiah's stance. I always use this passage to show what Jeremiah preached - the most beautiful passage in the Old Testament.

Jeremiah 31 Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:

32 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the Lord:

33 But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the Lord, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.

34 And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the Lord: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.

3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: 

Jesus offered Himself to Paul just as He does to us. Paul had no credibility except for Jesus coming to him, opening his eyes, and motivating him to spread this Word. That put Paul in the role of being the worst of all the Christians, the worst of the Jews against Jesus, and the Romans. The whole reality of this is sinners facing the truth of the Savior and learning what it means.

5 And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: 6 After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.

The miracle of Jesus was so great in His resurrection among many kinds of people - but no ancient denial (saved for the clergy and theologians today). Historians know - all of us know - they are missing the sealed tomb, the open tomb, the visits with startled believers sobbing and then realizing His resurrection. More than 500! Thousands spread because of the Apostles, Stephan the Martyr, and those who spread throughout from persecution and from sowing the seed of forgiveness and everlasting life.

7 After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. 8 And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time. 

The scattering was joyful, reaching all the Apostles, and Paul - who never imagined what the Son of God could do and expand the Gospel even more. There is a great yearning to know the Christian Faith because so much of our society is mixed up, and many suffer from the long-range damage of society. I asked one poor family why they drank that awful bottled, flavored liquid from the store. "Our waterpipes are so bad we cannot stand it." I pledged to leave a case of tap water every time I came by. One little girl tried her best to drag 24 bottles together. And there was so much more loss in the family because of drugs and alcohol. There are people listening or reading about being down so far everything looks like up. There is one path, which is the love and compassion of Jesus.

9 For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.

Smart-alecs of all generations have enjoyed making fun of the Apostle Paul. He was the lowest of all because he attacked and harmed the Christians he despised. For those who are beaten down and ashamed for their errors, mistakes, sins, abuse of alcohol and drugs - Paul was far worse. So whatever might be claimed, he is the example of the Good Shepherd's protection, healing, and blessing. Look over and see the many different things the Good Samaritan (Jesus, Luke 10) did to bring the broken and wounded, almost dead victim on the road. The by-passers symbolize those who will not help, but One does...always.

Trinity 10 2025.

  

The Hymn # 463                                For All the Saints

The Confession of Sins
The Absolution
The Introit p. 16

Introit

As for me, I will call upon God; 

and He shall hear my voice: 

He hath delivered my soul in peace from the battle that was against me.

God shall hear and afflict them, even He that abideth of old: 

Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and He shall sustain thee.

Psalm. Give ear to my prayer, O God: and hide not Thyself from my supplication.

The Gloria Patri
The Kyrie p. 17
The Gloria in Excelsis
The Salutation and Collect p. 19

Collect

O God, who declarest Thine almighty power chiefly in showing mercy and pity, mercifully grant unto us such a measure of Thy grace that we, running the way of Thy commandments, may obtain Thy gracious promises and be made partakers of Thy heavenly treasure; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, who liveth, etc.

The Epistle and Gradual     

  

Gradual

Keep me, O Lord, as the apple of the eye: 

hide me under the shadow of Thy wings.

V. Let my sentence come forth from Thy presence: 

let Thine eyes behold the things that are equal. Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

V. O Lord God of my salvation, 

I have cried day and night before Thee. Hallelujah!

The Gospel              

Glory be to Thee, O Lord!
Praise be to Thee, O Christ!
The Nicene Creed             p. 22

The Sermon Hymn #239         Come Thou Almighty King

Idols Have No Sight, No Hearing

The Communion Hymn # 246     Holy, Holy, Holy                   

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 #657                   Beautiful Savior

• Grand Canyon University has won against the President Biden's lawsuit, which was thrown out of the court for lack of credibility.
• Diagnosis and treatment - Sarah Buck is much better; Ed has severe back pain. Pastor Jim Shrader and Chris. Kermit Way.
• Included in our prayers - those suffering from emotional stress and those with metabolic disorders.

KJV 1 Corinthians 12:1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant. 2 Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led. 3 Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost. 4 Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. 6 And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. 7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. 8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; 9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; 10 To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: 11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.

KJV Luke 19:41 And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it, 42 Saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes. 43 For the days shall come upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side, 44 And shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation. 45 And he went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold therein, and them that bought; 46 Saying unto them, It is written, My house is the house of prayer: but ye have made it a den of thieves. 47 And he taught daily in the temple. But the chief priests and the scribes and the chief of the people sought to destroy him, 48 And could not find what they might do: for all the people were very attentive to hear him.

Tenth Sunday After Trinity

Almighty and everlasting God, who by Thy Holy Ghost hast revealed unto us the gospel of Thy Son, Jesus Christ: We beseech Thee so to quicken our hearts that we may sincerely receive Thy word, and not make light of it, or hear it without fruit, as did Thy people, the unbelieving Jews, but that we may fear Thee and daily grow in faith in Thy mercy, and finally obtain eternal salvation, through Thy Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, one true God, world without end. Amen.

Idols Have No Sight, No Hearing

KJV 1 Corinthians 12:1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant. 2 Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led.

America is far more diminished than ever before, for two reasons. One is losing the close connection between the Bible as the Word of God and Spirit. Second is the avoidance of the Holy Spirit's meaning. The great egg-heads of the last century were keen on making the Bible rational, not divine. They previously opposed the clear meaning of the Scriptures, and they scoffed at the Holy Spirit, the Word, and Jesus (only a man, a good man and no more than that.)

     Notice in the opening that the Corinthians fell prey to dumb idols. That meant statues or other physical objects which could not speak (dumb). Even now we see people dangling pagan, anti-Christian symbols or objects that mean something to them. Paul spent two years teaching the Corinthians and many were not trained in what we call the Old Testament. Idols? forbidden. Paul had the extra burden of addressing the pagan evils so they would not fall prey to Satanism and opposition to the Savior.

Luther - "Paul had experience in this matter in the case of the beautiful and famed Church at Corinth in Achaia, which he himself planted and where he taught two years. Soon after his departure they began to disagree about their preachers and to attach themselves to certain ones — some to Paul, some to Peter, some to Apollos."

3 Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.

     "I couldn't help myself!" claims the modern cusser and blasphemer. Any error of that type is rewarding Satan, hurting our souls, and spraying filth on others. Has anyone counted the number of discussing words have fallen on your ears via conversation, angry outbursts, TV, media, movies, etc? It never stops and only gets worse. It starts at eroding our souls and eventually destroys us, if we hang onto the Father Below instead of our Savior Above, our Good Shepherd. Question - how is the big shepherd's crook? I bought a small version for dogs which kept pursuing Sassy Sue and me. The end of the object and GO HOME! ended the pursuits.

     This is a wonderful statement from Paul, speaking through the Holy Spirit. "...no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost."

4 Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. 6 And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.

This a great statement because even a family of four children will have very distinct differences. What God gives us is an essential part of life which we find in the family, in friendships, in the Scriptures. I have said to students, "No you will not learn the entire Old Testament in 8 weeks or even 80 years." The revelation of diversities - for us - is a great benefit. God is in everything and reveals everything as much as we can imagine. So the Holy Spirit is reveals through this wonderful, miraculous Book, one of a kind, precise, and full of thousands of insights. For believers, nothing exists apart from this Holy Spirit.

7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. 8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;

This blueprint from the Spirit allows every person to be different and yet unified. The essence is God's own work, not ours. One can say, "I do not have or want the Spirit," but that does not change the Spirit. Instead, the Spirit changes the person by virtue of the Word of God, whether the Word is spoken, read, or remembered. A slight attachment might not mean as much, but that can grow and multiply to infinity.

Prayer conveys the universal work of the Holy Spirit in the Word, which cannot have an effect unless they are together, Word and Spirit. Time or place of prayer? That can be a few minutes or hours. When prayer takes over through the Word and Spirit, the results take place, not only in tiny elements but also in great changes.

9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; 10 To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: 11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.

Who is to say what is a great work of God? People have forced me into a new congregation, in to a different location, a video camera!, so I have wondered, "Where are all the people who should be enjoying the Means of Grace, the Word and sacrament of Holy Communion?" America has sadly reached the point where every single person can ignore the Spirit in the Word because so much energy is used for electronic toys.

Nevertheless, Luther had a good understanding of this passage. When people are gathered, there are always differences. Perfection is never 100%. However, what God provides us is a great anchor and rock - a Bible filled with divine insight and faith in all that God has provided.

Trinity 9 - 2025

   

The crown symbolizes Stephan's cross to bear.

The Hymn #613           Jerusalem the Golden       

The Confession of Sins
The Absolution
The Introit p. 16

Introit

Behold, God is mine Helper: the Lord is with them that uphold my soul.

He shall reward evil unto mine enemies: cut them off in Thy truth, O Lord.

Psalm. Save me, O God, by Thy name: and judge me by Thy strength.

The Gloria Patri
The Kyrie p. 17
The Gloria in Excelsis
The Salutation and Collect p. 19

Collect

Let Thy merciful ears, O Lord, be open to the prayers of Thy humble servants; and that they may obtain their petitions, make them to ask such things as shall please Thee; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, who liveth, etc.

The Epistle and Gradual       

Gradual

O Lord, our Lord, how excellent is Thy name in all the earth: 

who hast set Thy glory above the heavens. Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

V. Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord: 

that delighteth greatly in His commandments. Hallelujah!

The Gospel              

Glory be to Thee, O Lord!
Praise be to Thee, O Christ!
The Nicene Creed             p. 22

The Sermon Hymn #426         The Lord My Shepherd Is - Watts

        

                     Warning Against

The Communion Hymn #339        All Hail the Power

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 #46              On What Has Now Been Sown

Prayers and Announcements

• Sarah Buck; Pastor Jim Shrader and Chris Shrader; Kermit Way.
• Grand Canyon University is adjusting its faculty.

            

 

KJV 1 Corinthians 10:1 Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; 2 And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; 3 And did all eat the same spiritual meat; 4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ. 5 But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness. 6 Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.

KJV Luke 16:1 And he said also unto his disciples, There was a certain rich man, which had a steward; and the same was accused unto him that he had wasted his goods. 2 And he called him, and said unto him, How is it that I hear this of thee? give an account of thy stewardship; for thou mayest be no longer steward. 3 Then the steward said within himself, What shall I do? for my lord taketh away from me the stewardship: I cannot dig; to beg I am ashamed. 4 I am resolved what to do, that, when I am put out of the stewardship, they may receive me into their houses. 5 So he called every one of his lord's debtors unto him, and said unto the first, How much owest thou unto my lord? 6 And he said, An hundred measures of oil. And he said unto him, Take thy bill, and sit down quickly, and write fifty. 7 Then said he to another, And how much owest thou? And he said, An hundred measures of wheat. And he said unto him, Take thy bill, and write fourscore. 8 And the lord commended the unjust steward, because he had done wisely: for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light. 9 And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations.

Ninth Sunday After Trinity

Lord God, heavenly Father, who hast bountifully given us Thy blessing and our daily bread: We beseech Thee, preserve us from covetousness, and so quicken our hearts that we willingly share Thy blessed gifts with our needy brethren; that we may be found faithful stewards of Thy gifts, and abide in Thy grace when we shall be removed from our stewardship, and shall come before Thy judgment, through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, one true God, world without end, Amen.

Warning Against

Ninth Sunday After Trinity.— Warning to Christians Against Carnal Security and Its Evils. 1 Corinthians 10:6-13

KJV 1 Corinthians 10:1 Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;

At first people are going to wonder about - or even ignore - what was happening in Corinth. We just finished the Acts of the Apostles, featuring Luke and Paul and other great saints.  But the Corinth of those days is very much like today. There is a parallel today, with thinking America is above discipline and God's established Commandments. This balance goes back to the 10 Commandments, which are Gospel mixed in with the Law. (Torah means Teaching, which is central to the Old Testament.)

KJV Exodus 20:6 And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.

KJV Exodus 20:12 Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.

2 And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;

Sometimes Paul is difficult to understand. These suggests complete - three-fold like the Holy Trinity. Every single one was baptized into Moses on the great Exodus - (with a feast that would foretell the Innocent Lamb and miracles as well). Every single event is part of God's plan and impossible to refute. However, in the midst of great miracles in the Exodus and the giving of the Ten Commandments, everything fell apart.

3 And did all eat the same spiritual meat; 

Luther - At night a beautiful pillar of fire, an intense lightning-like brilliance, protected them. In addition, their bread came daily from heaven and they drank water from the rock. These providences were their Sacrament, and their sign that God was with them to protect. They believed on the promised Christ, the Son of God, their guide in the wilderness. Thus they were a noble, highly-favored and holy people. But with the great mass of the people, how long did faith last? No longer than until they came into the wilderness. There they began to despise God’s Word, to murmur against Moses and against God and to fall into idolatry. 

That is the same issue today. Those people seeking freedom risked their lives just to cross the ocean. Upon arrival, they had to find food, clothing, and shelter. They were often ravaged with disease as well. They looked back 100 years and saw how great that battle was. I learned that one of my forefathers in America was part of the battle for freedom.

America seems to be more involved with hedonism than anything else, reminding us of the idol fashioned when the 10 Commandments were established in stone. It only took a little time away from Moses before they went crazy. The tablets were smashed!

4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.

This is an extraordinary statement, which teaches us that everything belongs to God and that the Son of God was not only in that great Exodus but already there at the Passover Meal, before they left, and moving ahead of them and behind them, protecting and guiding them.

Many catch the meaning of this because the Rock was Christ. Jesus said to Peter (the small rock) On this Rock(ledge) I will build My Church.

KJV Matthew 16:16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.

Matthew 16:17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.

18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter(rock), and upon this rock(ledge) I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

5 But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness. 6 Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.

The two Corinthians letters were written to discuss the problems they were having in many areas. They were not personal - for just a few people - but for the early Christian Church as a whole. On the positive side, the clashes were good for people to be wise about the many troubles they were having and addressing.

But we do not have to look far today to see how well known leaders have lusted after their own evil desires.

Shortened Trinity 8 2025

  

KJV Romans 8:12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. 13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. 14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. 15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. 16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: 17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

KJV Matthew 7:15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. 16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? 17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. 19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. 20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.  21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

Zion Rise! Zion Rise!

KJV Matthew 7:15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. 

The Sermon on the Mount begins with the Beatitudes in Chapter 5 and ends with the warning about false prophet. The conclusion of the Sermon is the house built on the Rock. Jesus is the Bedrock, as He taught with Peter as the little rock.

The warning is pivotal, teaching that among all teachers are the false teachers, which are seem to be appealing but actually predators not pals. People have trouble with "fruits," but that is not food but the outcome of efforts.

"Beware of false prophets" is ignored these days and even now is revealing the dangers following error and not the truth. I attended a Church Growth session in downtown Columbus (St. Paul "Lutheran") years ago [$80 fee, I let someone else pay]. The expert kept preaching/bragging - "Do this and you will have Happy Campers!" That congregation is almost completely gone now. 

Jesus did not (and does not) promote falsehood. The truth is freely available around the world. Those who pretend to be friendly are really the most dangerous, which we can see in many cults but also in neglect of the Word of God, which is the Word of Jesus and the Holy Spirit.

16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? 17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.

These comparisons are so clear - and ironic - so no one should ignore the message. There are good Bibles (one is easily the best) and good teachers, based on health rather than sugar and various temporary treats. Fact - it takes time to give up expensive but useless foods (ice cream, candies, chips) because of the craving and seductive label designs. 

18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. 19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. 20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

[Note the two "mission leaders" who ranted and raved against my essay on the Means of Grace. That became the final chapter of Liberalism, Its Cause and Cure, "The Means of Grace." ]

There is a simple but often ignored foundation in all of this. Or call it a comparison similar to verses 18ff.

A. Faith in Jesus Christ

versus

B. Production

The basis for all of Christianity, all of the Bible - is faith in Jesus the Good Shepherd. There are all kinds of false claims about Jesus - only a rabbi, not divine, a teacher but not part of the Trinity, someone who is much like Buddha, etc. etc.

Most of the world depends on production as proof of their success. All the synods we know have glamorous, expensive castles to prove they are successful, as Marvin Schwan boasted. They are equally rich in cash but impoverished. They do not know the best Bible in English - and they loathe Martin Luther as much as they slobber over their California gurus.

That comes down to the individual's faith in the Good Shepherd, which is first taught as early as newborn and baptized, renewed through teaching and learning when able. I remember well that my mother had me learn Psalm 23 by heart when she was my Sunday School teacher (Plymouth Congregational, Moline) as a young lad. She became a Lutheran and she lived in our house in Phoenix at the end, 90+ years. I read the 23rd Psalm to her - she had a hospital bed in the sunny living room. I said, "You taught me this, Mom." She passed into eternal life.

21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

This is the ultimate in distinguishing faith in the Good Shepherd from making a lot of noise, insisting that Jesus has done wonderful things outwardly Very dramatic and wonderful. Luther had a response to this, "A believer does not search for a cross to bear - it is already on his back."

Link ->Luther's Three Sermons on Matthew 7:15ff - Beware of False Prophets

Eighth Sunday After Trinity

Lord God, heavenly Father, we most heartily thank Thee that Thou hast caused us to come to the knowledge of Thy word. We pray Thee: graciously keep us steadfast in this knowledge unto death, that we may obtain eternal life; send us now and ever pious pastors, who faithfully preach Thy word, without offense or false doctrine, and grant them long life. Defend us from all false teachings, and frustrate Thou the counsels of all such as pervert Thy word, who come to us in sheep's clothing, but are inwardly ravening wolves, that Thy true Church may evermore be established among us, and be defended and preserved from such false teachers, through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, one true God, world without end. Amen.

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 #586                      A Pilgrim and a Stranger - Gerhardt