The Fifteenth Sunday after Trinity, 2014
Pastor Gregory L. Jackson
The Hymn #396 O For a Faith 4:18
The Confession of Sins
The Absolution
The Introit p. 16
The Gloria Patri
The Kyrie p. 17
The Gloria in Excelsis
The Salutation and Collect p. 19
The Epistle and Gradual
The Absolution
The Introit p. 16
The Gloria Patri
The Kyrie p. 17
The Gloria in Excelsis
The Salutation and Collect p. 19
The Epistle and Gradual
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 #657 Beautiful Savior 4:24
Consider the Lilies of the Field
The Communion Hymn # 305:1-5 Soul, Adorn Thyself 4:23
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 #23 Hallelujah! Let Praises Ring 4:77
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 #23 Hallelujah! Let Praises Ring 4:77
KJV Galatians 5:25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 26 Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another. 6:1 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. 2 Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. 3 For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself. 4 But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. 5 For every man shall bear his own burden. 6 Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things. 7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. 8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. 9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. 10 As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.
KJV Matthew 6:24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. 25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? 26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? 27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? 28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: 29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? 31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. 33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. 34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
FIFTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY
Lord God, heavenly Father, we thank Thee for all Thy benefits: that Thou hast given us life and graciously sustained us unto this day: We beseech Thee, take not Thy blessing from us; preserve us from covetousness, that we may serve Thee only, love and abide in Thee, and not defile ourselves by idolatrous love of mammon, but hope and trust only in Thy grace, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, one true God, world without end. Amen.
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| http://ichabodthegloryhasdeparted.blogspot.com/2013/04/norma-boecklers-new-book-treasury-of.html |
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Consider the Lilies of the Field
Matthew 6:28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: 29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
The Scriptures are based upon the foundation of Creation through God's Word. God commanded through the Son. When He said, Let there be light, light came into existence. And thus the entire universe came into being through the Word. It is one of those great ironies - and a sign of the times - that this Creation by the Word is so neglected.
One would never know from reading today that the great scientists of the past were also Creationists. They observed and saw Creation. There is perfect harmony between Creation and the efficacy of the Word in Lutheran doctrine, because that is the Biblical teaching. Just as God willing the universe into being by the Word, so He declares the Gospel Promises, fills us with faith, and gives us forgiveness through faith.
I am not going to prove Creation through the scientists of the past, but they had no trouble being pioneers in science who communicated in the language of Creation. America was described by one of the early scientists exactly that way. This land has more natural blessings than any other.
One is the Great Plains. The prairie grass sent down enormously deep roots, which were the foundation of creating soil, with the help of microbes and soil creatures. Prairie fires only made the soil more productive, since ash is good for the soil and roots simply sent up more plants to enjoy the sun and bison contributions. One herd ran beside an observer for days. We talk about man's wisdom, but how many can even imagine such a large system, the bison herd, sustained by food and water.
The Great Plains set up America as a great agricultural nation with the richest soil on earth, except for the Ukraine, a similar area. And it is based on the lilies of the field, the wild flowers that gave us 20 feet deep topsoil across the Midwest - with no trees in sight.
We all love flowers or no one would ask about flowers on the altar. The hybrid flowers are fun to grow. I recall one gardening specialist talking about "roses the size of dinner plates" and "Tropicana, which you can identify from 200 feet away." He was rather scornful of hybrids, but we like them.
There is no reason to scorn the wild flowers. My mother was a specialist in them. She would bend over and say, "Shepherd's Purse." From that time on I would spot Shepherd's Purse, a modest flower and seedpod, yet one our pet rabbits loved.
The structure and beauty of the wild flowers should fill us with as much joy and wonder as the new editions of the flowers God created. Consider the lilies of the field. They do not worry and work. They have no human skills of sewing and embroidery. Yet Solomon at the peak of his wealth never wore such beautiful clothing as these wild flowers.
This is a Gospel lesson about teaching us not to worry. God often delays answering our prayers. We wonder if we are forgotten, since the crooks and bullies are doing so well. But God rewards us with blessings that make us that much more thankful.
Here is one wild flower - the dandelion. The roots can make coffee. The leaves are packed with nutrition. The flowers are among the sweetest of all and can be used for making wine. People fret over getting rid of it.
Yesterday I began studying a book on planting for birds. I wanted to encourage the birds with a variety of easy to grow plants that were needed by many species. High on the list - dandelions. Birds love their seeds and use the parachute fuzz to line their nests.
Dandelions are good for the soil, drilling down with their taproots and bringing up nutrition, fanning out with their leaves and providing a shelter and food source for bacteria, protozoa, fungi, and earthworms.
And yet they are despised, plucked, poisoned, and cursed. When we had rabbits, we kept a special area where the dandelions grew without any interference, with enormous flowers and long stems. The rabbits jumped for joy when they saw their treats coming near.
Naturally, or Creationly, the rabbits recycle the soil's abundance by eating the greens and flowers. This shows the intricacies of God's design, where what we see and the unseen all work together to provide various material blessings.
Jesus says - look at these wildflowers and consider how much God has designed for your own benefit.
Matthew 6:30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?
This is the Jewish comparison, from the lesser to the greater. If God can do this for the wildflowers that we often overlook, how much more will He do for you - O ye of little faith.
The closing statement is one we find often in the Gospels. The problems begin with lack of faith among believers. The disciples believed in Jesus and followed Him, but they panicked when difficulties arose, even when they were short on food.
If people knew about the design of every single plant cell, a factory system by itself, they would be less likely to wonder if God can provide for them. I am not saying that as if it never occurred to me. We have had to start over many times, and yet God provided.
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| One plant cell makes the Ford River Rouge plant look like Tinker-Toys. |
Henry Ford invented the integrated factory site, the River Rouge Plant, where everything was made in one place and assembled. People wrote about that for decades, but they overlook the wildflowers that do the same without thinking.
Every plant cell has a wide variety of self-regulating mechanisms to feed the plant, generate the flowering and fruiting cycle. And the cells have to reproduce. New cells have their own jobs, just as "I am the flower that will fruit." And - "I am the fruit that will produce seed."
Because Jesus is the Creating Word, His teaching always directs us toward the Creation so we can see and experience what He is capable of doing.
31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
God takes care of believers and unbelievers alike. Luther says, "Go about your duties and God will direct you." The human condition is such that we become paralyzed with worry at times, as if God is no longer active, interested, or able. But the Promises of God say otherwise. This is directed at all of us so we do not crumple with anxiety but do our jobs with thankfulness to God. He knows our needs and will supply them.
33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. 34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
People are either seeking material gain first or spiritual wealth first. There can be no tie. I am always astonished by the cleverness of people who invent new jobs to survive. They invent ways to make a living from the shabbiest surroundings or the least likely circumstances. So Jesus says to start with the Kingdom and the righteousness of faith. If we lose that, we lose all, no matter what we have.
