Reformation Sunday October 30, 2022

Theme for Worship The truth will set you free. A key principle Martin Luther established through the Reformation is sola scriptura, Scripture alone. Heirs of the Reformation still bind themselves to Scripture.

Hymn: 865 O Lord, Take Pity Once You’ve Seen

1 O Lord, take pity once you’ve seen
what’s leaving us so shaken:
your saints are few and far between—
we feel we’ve been forsaken.
So many call your Word untrue,
refusing to believe in you—
they have us far outnumbered.

2 May God root out all those who teach
religion that is twisted,
who say with bold, defiant speech:
“We cannot be resisted.
For we alone have right and might;
our views are welcomed with delight.
To whom must we now answer?”

3 Therefore God says: “I won’t delay!
My people’s hopes are waning.
Their sighs disclose their great dismay;
I’ve heard their sad complaining.
My healing Word will work as planned,
will bring relief, will make them stand,
will strengthen and uphold them.”

4 Dear Lord, the godless gather round
the guides whose teachings suit them.
Within your Church let there be found
the courage to refute them.
Preserve your Word and keep it pure,
and thus we shall remain secure
from evils that surround us!

Text: tr. Michael D. Schultz, b. 1963; Martin Luther, 1483–1546, abr.
Text: © 2021 Northwestern Publishing House. Used by permission: OneLicense no. 703297

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

The Word

Salutation

The Lord be with you.

And also with you.

Prayer of the Day:

Let us pray.

Gracious Lord, our refuge and strength, pour out your Holy Spirit on your faithful people. Keep them steadfast in your Word, protect and comfort them in all temptations, defend them against all their enemies, and bestow on the church your saving peace; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Amen.

First Reading: Jeremiah 31:31–34

³¹Yes, the days are coming, declares the Lord,

when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel

and with the house of Judah.

³²It will not be like the covenant I made with their fathers,

when I took them by the hand

and led them out of the land of Egypt.

They broke that covenant of mine,

although I was a husband to them, declares the Lord.

³³But this is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after those days,

declares the Lord.

I will put my law in their minds,

and I will write it on their hearts.

I will be their God,

and they will be my people.

³⁴No longer will each one teach his neighbor,

or each one teach his brother, saying, “Know the Lord,”

because they will all know me,

from the least of them to the greatest, declares the Lord,

for I will forgive their guilt,

and I will remember their sins no more.

Psalm of the Day: 46D A Mighty Fortress Is Our God

1 A mighty fortress is our God,
a trusty shield and weapon;
he helps us free from ev’ry need
that has us now o’ertaken.The old evil foe
now means deadly woe;
deep guile and great might
are his dread arms in fight;
on earth is not his equal.

2 With might of ours can naught be done,
soon were our loss effected;
but for us fights the valiant one
whom God himself elected.
You ask, “Who is this?”
Jesus Christ it is,
the almighty LORD,
and there’s no other God;
he holds the field forever.

3 Though devils all the world should fill,
all eager to devour us,
we tremble not, we fear no ill;
they shall not overpow’r us.
This world’s prince may still
scowl fierce as he will,
he can harm us none.
He’s judged; the deed is done;
one little word can fell him.

4 The Word they still shall let remain
nor any thanks have for it;
he’s by our side upon the plain
with his good gifts and Spirit.
And take they our life,
goods, fame, child and wife,
though all may be gone,
our victory is won;
the kingdom’s ours forever!

Text: tr. composite; Martin Luther
Text: Public domain

Second Reading: Galatians 5:1–6

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not allow anyone to put the yoke of slavery on you again. ²Look, I, Paul, tell you that if you allow yourselves to be circumcised, Christ will be of no benefit to you. ³I testify again to every man who allows himself to be circumcised that he is obligated to do the whole law. ⁴You who are trying to be declared righteous by the law are completely separated from Christ. You have fallen from grace.

⁵Indeed, through the Spirit, we by faith are eagerly waiting for the sure hope of righteousness. ⁶For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision matters. Rather, it is faith working through love that matters.

Gospel Acclamation: John 8:31,32

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples.

Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel: John 8:31–36

³¹So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you remain in my word, you are really my disciples. ³²You will also know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

³³“We are Abraham’s descendants,” they answered, “and we have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say, ‘You will be set free’?”

³⁴Jesus answered, “Amen, Amen, I tell you: Everyone who keeps committing sin is a slave to sin. ³⁵But a slave does not remain in the family forever. A son does remain forever. ³⁶So if the Son sets you free, you really will be free.”

Hymn of the Day: 877 Reformation Song

1 Your Word alone is solid ground,
the mighty rock on which we build.
In ev’ry line the truth is found,
and ev’ry page with glory filled. (v. 2)

2 Thro’ faith alone we come to you;
we have no merit we can claim.
Sure that your promises are true,
we place our hope in Jesus’ name. (Refrain)

Ref Gloria, gloria, glory to God alone.
Gloria, gloria, glory to God alone.

3 In Christ alone we’re justified;
his righteousness is all our plea.
Your law’s demands are satisfied;
his perfect work has set us free. (Refrain)

4 By grace alone we have been saved;
all that we are has come from you.
Hearts that were once by sin enslaved
now by your pow’r have been made new. (Refrain)

Text: Bob Kauflin, b. 1955; Tim Chester, b. 1967
Text: © 2017 Sovereign Grace Praise, admin. IntegratedRights.com. Used by permission: OneLicense no. 703297

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: 707 Cling Tightly to the Word of God

1 Cling tightly to the Word of God
and Christ’s disciple be,
for then, belovèd, you will know
the truth that sets you free,
the truth that sets you free.

2 Recall in faith the precious gift
of your baptismal day,
when you were joined to Jesus’ death
that washed your sins away,
that washed your sins away.

3 For just as God raised up his Son
from death by his great might,
so too, in Christ, we now may live
as children of the light,
as children of the light.

4 Be strong! Stand firm! Come, walk the path
that saints before you trod,
with ready feet to bring good news
of Christ, the peace of God,
of Christ, the peace of God.

5 Know that his body and his blood
will feed your hungry soul
like manna in life’s wilderness,
until you reach your goal,
until you reach your goal.

6 Now fix your eyes on Jesus Christ;
“Come, follow me,” says he.
“Deny yourself, take up your cross;
come, lose your life for me,
come, lose your life for me.”

Text: Stephen P. Starke, b. 1955
Text: © 2005 Stephen P. Starke, admin. Concordia Publishing House. Used by permission: OneLicense no. 703297

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: 855 The Church’s One Foundation

1 The Church’s one foundation
is Jesus Christ, her Lord;
she is his new creation
by water and the Word.
From heav’n he came and sought her
to be his holy bride;
with his own blood he bought her,
and for her life he died.

2 Elect from ev’ry nation,
yet one o’er all the earth;
her charter of salvation:
one Lord, one faith, one birth.
One holy name she blesses,
partakes one holy food,
and to one hope she presses,
with ev’ry grace endued.

3 The Church shall never perish.
Her dear Lord, to defend,
to guide, sustain, and cherish,
is with her to the end.
Tho’ there be those that hate her
and strive to see her fail,
against both foe and traitor
she ever shall prevail.

4 Tho’ with a scornful wonder
the world sees her oppressed,
by schisms rent asunder,
by heresies distressed,
yet saints their watch are keeping;
their cry goes up, “How long?”
and soon the night of weeping
shall be the morn of song.

5 Mid toil and tribulation
and tumult of her war
she waits the consummation
of peace forevermore
till with the vision glorious
her longing eyes are blest,
and the great Church victorious
shall be the Church at rest.

Text: Samuel J. Stone, 1839–1900, abr., alt.
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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