SUNDAY’S DIVINE
SERVICE—BEWARE OF FALSE PROPHETS
Prophets
are those who "speak forth the Word of God." Therefore, a false prophet
is one who claims to be speaking God's Word but is actually speaking false
doctrine. Jesus says that we will recognize false prophets by their fruits.
What are the fruits of false prophets? False doctrine is the chief fruit of
false prophets. False doctrine leads people away from sole reliance upon Christ
to reliance upon themselves. Learning the truths of the Small Catechism is one
of the chief ways by which the sheep learn to recognize a false prophet.
Hearing and learning the basic truths of the Catechism guards us against the
seductive lies of those who would divert our faith from the only Savior from
sin, our Lord Jesus Christ.
PAUL’S FAREWELL
TO THE EPHESIAN CHURCH In today’s second reading from the book of Acts, the Apostle Paul meets
with the pastors of the congregations of Ephesus for what he believes might be
the last time he sees them upon this earth. He had been the missionary and
evangelist who had brought the Gospel to them. He had been their chief teacher
of the faith and had sent others to them to help in the training of pastors so
that their congregations would be well cared for. Now Paul bids them farewell.
He speaks to them about the nature of the Church in this world. It will always
be the church militant, struggling with sin, misbelief, and false doctrine from
within and without. Enemies of the faith will attack them. In Paul's final word
to the Ephesian pastors, he directs them to the only thing that will give them
safety: "The Word of God's grace." What is the "Word of
Grace"? It is the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Paul is encouraging them, never
to grow tired of preaching Jesus Christ and Him crucified. The preaching of
repentance and the forgiveness of sins is that which occurs again and again and
again. Everyone needs this preaching of the "Word of grace" because
it turns us away from self-reliance to reliance upon Christ Jesus and His death
for our sins. The only safety for the church in the midst of attacks upon her
faith is in this Gospel.
Lutherans for Life –
www.lutheransforlife.org
Life Thought: God “is able to do far more abundantly than all that we
ask or think” (Ephesians 3:20). His ability to work in this way gives us hope
in all our circumstances. A crisis pregnancy, a chronic disease, a loved one
with Alzheimer’s—God works way beyond anything we could possibly imagine.
Life Quote: “There are many
perspectives from which to view adoption. Perhaps we Christians will find
needed strength and encouragement and hope when we view it through our adoption
by God in Christ. Apart from Christ, all His children are adopted. He must know
something about it!” Rev. Dr. James I. Lamb, executive director of
Lutherans For Life
CALENDAR
Saturday July 28 5:30 pm Divine
Service
Sunday July 29 9:00 am Bible
Class
10:00
am Divine
Service
Wednesday August 1
7:30 pm AA
Thursday August 2 7:30 am LWML
Saturday August 4 5:30 pm Divine
Service
Vacation
Bible School
Join us for the Amazing Desert Journey, our Vacation Bible School
being held on August 6-August 10. Ask God to bring children and adults to our
program so they can know and grow in Jesus, our Savior! Registration is on the
back table.
NEXT WEEKS
LESSONS: THE NINTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY
“The master commended the unjust steward
because he had dealt shrewdly” (Luke 16:1–9). The steward’s shrewdness is
praiseworthy for two reasons. First, he knew the master would be merciful. He
trusted that the master would honor the debts he forgave in the master’s name.
In the same way, though we have squandered our heavenly Father’s possessions in
selfishness and sin, Jesus is the Steward who has canceled our debt, knowing
that His forgiveness will be honored by the Father because of the holy cross.
Secondly, the steward was shrewd in using oil and wheat to provide for his
earthly welfare. So also do these earthly elements aid us when pressed into
heavenly use in the anointing of baptism and the wheat of the Lord’s Supper.
Those who have the Sacraments will have an eternal home when the earthly fails.
These are our escape in temptation (1 Corinthians 10:6–13). For the Lord is our
strength and a shield to all who trust in Him (2 Samuel 22:26–34).
Collect: Let
Your merciful ears, O Lord, be open to the prayers of Your humble servants; and
that they may obtain their petitions, make them to ask such things as shall
please You; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord. Amen.
Old Testament: 2
Samuel 22:26–34
Epistle:
1 Corinthians 10:6–13
Holy Gospel:
Luke 16:1–9 (10–13)
Readings for the Week of 7th
Sunday after Trinity
July 29 Beware of False Prophets—Matthew 7:15-23
1
Samuel 14:47—15:9, Acts 24:1-23
July 30 Paul’s First Missionary Journey–Acts 12:25–13:12
1
Samuel 15:10-35, Acts 24:24–25:12
July 31 Paul Preaches in the Synagogue of Antioch—Acts 13:13-42
1
Samuel 16:1-23, Acts 25:13-27
August 1 Paul and Barnabas Preach in Iconium—Acts 13:42—14:7
1
Samuel 17:1-19, Acts 26:1-23
August 2 Paul and Barnabas Mistaken for Greek Gods–Acts 14:8-28
1
Samuel 17:20-47, Acts 26:24–27:8
August 3 The Jerusalem Council—Acts 15:1-21
1
Samuel 17:48—18:9, Acts 27:9-26
August 4 Sunday’s
readings
2
Samuel 22:26–34, 1 Corinthians 10:6–13, Luke 16:1–13
We
Thank Reverend Aaron Dickerson of Unity Lutheran Christian School for leading
worship this weekend.
