Fourth Sunday of Easter – May 8, 2022

Theme for Worship: Fulfilled works march victorious over empty words. The world is full of talkers. There are plenty of people who say they care about you. What sets the Good Shepherd apart is the fact that his words are followed by his works, including his willingness to lay down his life. Every word our Good Shepherd speaks to us is trustworthy!

Hymn: 570 God Loved the World So That He Gave

1 God loved the world so that he gave
his only Son the lost to save
that all who would in him believe
should everlasting life receive.

2 Christ is the solid rock of faith,
who was made flesh and suffered death.
All who confide in him alone
are built on this chief cornerstone.

3 God would not have the sinner die;
his Son with saving grace is nigh.
His Spirit in the Word declares
that we in Christ are heaven’s heirs.

4 Be of good cheer, for God’s own Son
forgives the sins that you have done.
You’re justified by Jesus’ blood;
baptized, you are a child of God.

5 If you are sick, if death is near,
this truth your troubled heart can cheer:
Christ Jesus saves my soul from death;
this is the anchor of my faith!

6 Glory to God the Father, Son,
and Holy Spirit, Three in One!
To you, O blessèd Trinity,
be praise now and eternally!

Text: tr. August Crull, 1845–1923, alt.; Heiliges Lippen- und Hertzens- Opffer, Stettin, c. 1778

Text: Public domain

Invocation

In the name of the Father and of the T Son and of the Holy Spirit.

Amen.

Confession

If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.

If we confess our sins, God is faithful and just
and will forgive us our sins
and purify us from all unrighteousness.

Let us confess our sins to the Lord.

Holy God, gracious Father,
    I am sinful by nature
        and have sinned against you in my thoughts, words, and actions.
    I have not loved you with my whole heart;
    I have not loved others as I should.
        I deserve your punishment both now and forever.
    But Jesus, my Savior, paid for my sins
        with his innocent suffering and death.
    Trusting in him, I pray: God, have mercy on me, a sinner.

Absolution

Our gracious Father in heaven has been merciful to us. He sent his only Son, Jesus Christ, who gave his life as the atoning sacrifice for the sins of the whole world. Therefore, as a called servant of Christ and by his authority, I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the T Son and of the Holy Spirit.

Amen.

Lord, Have Mercy

In peace let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

For the peace from above and for our salvation, let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

For the peace of the whole world, for the well-being of the Church of God, and for the unity of all, let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

For this holy house and for all who offer here their worship and praise, let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

Help, save, comfort, and defend us, gracious Lord.

Amen.

Glory to God in the Highest

Refrain: Glory to God in the highest, and peace to his people on earth.

Lord God, heavenly King, almighty God and Father, we worship you, we give you thanks, we praise you for your glory. Refrain

Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father, Lord God, Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world; have mercy on us. You are seated at the right hand of the Father; receive our prayer. Refrain

For you alone are the Holy One, you alone are the Lord, you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit in the glory of God the Father. Amen. Amen. Refrain

Salutation

The Lord be with you.

And also with you.

Prayer of the Day:

Let us pray.

O Lord Jesus Christ, you are the Good Shepherd who laid down your life for the sheep. Lead us now to the still waters of your life-giving Word that we may abide in your Father’s house forevermore; for you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Amen.

First Reading: Acts 13:15,16a,26–39

¹⁵After the reading of the Law and the Prophets, the leaders of the synagogue sent a message to them, saying, “Gentlemen, brothers, if you have a word of encouragement for the people, say it.”

¹⁶Then Paul stood up, motioned with his hand, and said,

²⁶“Gentlemen, brothers, sons of Abraham’s family, and those among you who fear God, this message of salvation has been sent to you. ²⁷The people of Jerusalem and their rulers did not recognize him, and by condemning him they fulfilled the statements of the prophets that are read every Sabbath. ²⁸Though they found no grounds for a death sentence, they asked Pilate to have him executed. ²⁹When they carried out everything that was written about him, they took him down from the cross and laid him in a tomb. ³⁰But God raised him from the dead, ³¹and for many days he was seen by those who had come up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem. These same individuals are now his witnesses to the people.

³²“We are preaching to you the good news about the promise that was made to our fathers. ³³God has fulfilled this promise for us, their children, by raising up Jesus. As it is also written in the second Psalm:

You are my Son.

Today I have begotten you.

³⁴“That God would raise him from the dead never again to be subject to decay, God said in this way:

I will give you the holy and sure blessings promised to David.

³⁵“Therefore he also says in another place:

You will not let your Holy One see decay.

³⁶“For David, after he had served God’s purpose in his own generation, fell asleep, was laid to rest with his fathers, and saw decay. ³⁷But the One God raised did not see decay.

³⁸“So, gentlemen, brothers, let it be known to you that through this Jesus forgiveness of sins is being proclaimed to you, also forgiveness from everything from which you could not be justified through the law of Moses. ³⁹In this Jesus, everyone who believes is justified.

Psalm of the Day: 23F My Shepherd Will Supply My Need

1     My shepherd will supply my need,
    Jehovah is his name;
in pastures fresh he makes me feed
    beside the living stream.
He brings my wand’ring spirit back
    when I forsake his ways
and leads me, for his mercy’s sake,
    in paths of truth and grace.

2     When I walk through the shades of death,
    his presence is my stay;
one word of his supporting breath
    drives all my fears away.
His hand, in sight of all my foes,
    will still my table spread;
my cup with blessings overflows;
    his oil anoints my head.

3     The sure provisions of my God
    attend me all my days;
oh, may his house be my abode
    and all my work be praise.
There would I find a settled rest
    while others go and come,
no more a stranger or a guest
    but like a child at home.

Text: Isaac Watts, alt.

Text: Public domain

Second Reading: Revelation 7:9–17

⁹After these things I looked, and there was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people, and language, standing in front of the throne and of the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and with palm branches in their hands. ¹⁰They called out with a loud voice and said:

Salvation comes from our God, who sits on the throne, and from the Lamb.

¹¹All the angels stood around the throne, the elders, and the four living creatures. They fell on their faces before the throne and worshipped God, ¹²saying:

Amen. Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and might belong to our God forever and ever. Amen.

¹³One of the elders spoke to me and said, “These people dressed in white robes, who are they and where did they come from?”

And I answered him, “Sir, you know.”

¹⁴And he said to me:

These are the ones who are coming out of the great tribulation.

They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

¹⁵Because of this they are in front of the throne of God,

and they serve him day and night in his temple.

He who sits on the throne will spread his tent over them.

¹⁶They will never be hungry or thirsty ever again.

The sun will never beat upon them, nor will any scorching heat,

¹⁷for the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd.

He will lead them to springs of living water.

And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.

Gospel Acclamation: Gospel Acclamation

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

I am the good shepherd;

I know my sheep and my sheep know me.

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel: John 10:22–30

²²Then the Festival of Dedication took place in Jerusalem. It was winter, ²³and Jesus was walking in the temple area in Solomon’s Colonnade.

²⁴So the Jews gathered around Jesus, asking, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.”

²⁵Jesus answered them, “I did tell you, but you do not believe. The works I am doing in my Father’s name testify about me. ²⁶But you do not believe, because you are not my sheep, as I said to you. ²⁷My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me. ²⁸I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand. ²⁹My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all. No one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. ³⁰I and the Father are one.”

Hymn of the Day: 552 The King of Love My Shepherd Is

1     The King of love my shepherd is,
    whose goodness fails me never;
I nothing lack if I am his,
    and he is mine forever.

2     Where streams of living water flow,
    my Savior gently leads me,
and where the verdant pastures grow,
    with food celestial feeds me.

3     Perverse and foolish oft I strayed,
    but yet in love he sought me
and on his shoulder gently laid
    and home, rejoicing, brought me.

4     In death’s dark vale I fear no ill
    with you, dear Lord, beside me,
your rod and staff my comfort still,
    your cross before to guide me.

5     You spread a table in my sight,
    a banquet here bestowing;
your oil of welcome, my delight;
    my cup is overflowing!

6     And so through all the length of days
    your goodness fails me never;
Good Shepherd, may I sing your praise
    within your house forever!

Text: Henry W. Baker, 1821–1877, alt. Text: Public domain

Sermon

Apostles’ Creed

I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,

suffered under Pontius Pilate,

was crucified, died, and was buried.

He descended into hell.

The third day he rose again from the dead.
He ascended into heaven

and is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty.
From there he will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,

the holy Christian Church,

the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,

the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.

Prayer of the Church

Offering

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Hymn: 551 Jesus, Shepherd of the Sheep

1 Jesus, shepherd of the sheep,
who your Father’s flock does keep,
safe we wake and safe we sleep,
guarded still by you.

2 In your promise firm we stand,
none can take us from your hand;
speak—we hear—at your command,
we will follow you.

3 By your blood our souls were bought,
by your life salvation wrought;
by your light our feet are taught,
Lord, to follow you.

4 Father, draw us to your Son;
we with joy will follow on
till the work of grace is done,
there to live with you.

5 We, in robes of glory dressed,
join th’‿assembly of the blest,
gathered to eternal rest
in the fold with you.

Text: Henry Cook, 1788–1868, alt.

Text: Public domain

Prayer

Lord’s Prayer

Our Father in heaven,

hallowed be your name,

your kingdom come,

your will be done

on earth as in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread.

Forgive us our sins,

as we forgive those

who sin against us.

Lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil.

For the kingdom, the power,

and the glory are yours

now and forever. Amen.

Blessing

The Lord bless you and keep you.

The Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you.

The Lord look on you with favor and T give you peace.

Amen.

Hymn: 553 The Lord’s My Shepherd

1     The Lord’s my shepherd; I’ll not want.
    He makes me down to lie
in pastures green; he leadeth me
    the quiet waters by.
He leadeth me, he leadeth me
    the quiet waters by.

2     My soul he doth restore again
    and me to walk doth make
within the paths of righteousness,
    e’en for his own name’s sake;
within the paths of righteousness,
    e’en for his own name’s sake.

3     Yea, though I walk in death’s dark vale,
    yet will I fear no ill;
for thou art with me, and thy rod
    and staff me comfort still;
for thou art with me, and thy rod
    and staff me comfort still.

4     My table thou hast furnished
    in presence of my foes;
my head thou dost with oil anoint,
    and my cup overflows.
My head thou dost with oil anoint,
    and my cup overflows.

5     Goodness and mercy all my life
    shall surely follow me,
and in God’s house forevermore
    my dwelling place shall be;
and in God’s house forevermore
    my dwelling place shall be.

Text: The Psalms of David in Meeter, Edinburgh, 1650

Text: Public domain

Acknowledgments

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, New International Version^®, NIV^®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.^TM Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

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