Brothers and sisters, greetings in the name of Jesus. I encourage you to attend Bible study and Worship tomorrow. With His Word and His Holy Supper, Jesus feeds, nourishes, and refreshes our souls. Don’t starve your souls.
Sunday July 28 is the Tenth Sunday after Pentecost. We will follow a modified version of the liturgy of Divine Service Setting 3 beginning on page 184 in the Lutheran Service Book. In our catechism review we will consider Baptism (and Luther’s explanation) located on page 325 of the service book. Hymns chosen for the day are #873 Christ Whose Glory Fills the Skies; #793 Praise, My Soul, the King of Heaven; #754 Entrust Your Days and Burdens; #563 Jesus Thy Blood and Righteousness; and #715 Jesus, Savior, Pilot Me.
Scripture readings assigned to the day are Psalm 136:1, 23-26; Genesis 9:8-17; Ephesians 3:14-21; and Mark 6:45-56.
Psalm 136 gives thanks God as our Creator and our Deliverer. The great God who controls the vast universe, setting the sun and moon and stars into their orbits, also hears us and cares for our individual needs. The psalmist recounts God’s activity in the history of Israel, rescuing them from the oppression of slavery, protecting them from enemies, and providing for them as He led them through the wilderness to the Promised Land. The verses we will read Sunday emphasize the truth and importance of God’s steadfast love. He remembers you. You are not insignificant to Him. By the death and resurrection of His Son Jesus, God has delivered you from the slavery and oppression of sin. By His Holy Spirit, He leads you to the promised land of heaven, caring for you and protecting you during your earthly journey. You are never alone.
In recent months many people in the Houston region have experienced the effects of street and river flooding. The Old Testament Lesson recounts the conversation between God and Noah and his sons following God’s judgment against sin demonstrated by the devastating world-wide flood. God makes a promise:’ never again will shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of the flood, and never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth.’ To mark the covenant, God sets a rainbow in the sky. We might think of rainbows as mere physical phenomena—rain drops acting as a prism refracting light. But God sees the rainbow and remembers His promise. The rainbow thus becomes a sign to us of God’s faithfulness. He keeps His promises. God promises to use the water of baptism to drown the ‘old man’ in us, in a sense burying us, that we would be raised to new and eternal life in Jesus. God promises that all who believe in Jesus and are baptized will be saved and receive eternal life in heaven.
In Chapter 3 of his letter to the Ephesians, St. Paul writes about the impact of his call to be a messenger of the gospel. As we read last week, through Jesus God has granted to us Gentiles the same promises of protection and deliverance once granted to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Because Jesus’ death has paid for your sin and reconciled you to God, you can be confident to approach God and ask Him for anything. In the verses to be read this Sunday, Paul records his prayer that the Ephesians (and all Christians) would continue to grow in faith to know the enormity of God’s love. Praise God for His love toward us, giving His Son as a sacrifice to redeem us from sin so we could live with Him forever.
In St. Mark’s gospel account, he reports on miracles, and gives example after example of Jesus’ divine power. The evidence is clear; Jesus is truly God. Mark also depicts the struggles disciples have in trusting Jesus. In the verses to be read Sunday, Mark reports about an event when Jesus once again reveals His divine power and His care for His disciples. Jesus had just completed a miracle, feeding over 5000 people with two fish and five loaves of bread. Afterward, traveling at night, the disciples were struggling against the wind to cross the Sea of Galilee. Most of the disciples were experienced with traveling by boat. But the vastness of the sea, and the resistance of the wind, and the unknown caused by the darkness, combined to cause the disciples great frustration and anxiety. Jesus came to their aid, miraculously walking upon the water. At first, this caused the disciples even greater alarm. They thought they were seeing a ghost!! Jesus assures them of His presence, urging them to take heart and to not be afraid. Have you ever felt like the disciples? In their frustration, anxiety, and fear, they had already forgotten the obvious miracle they had witnessed mere hours earlier. Mark comments that their hearts were hardened. Our troubles and struggles too often blind us to the miracles Jesus is performing around us every day. In our frustration, anxiety, and fears we too often overlook His presence. Jesus gives words of comfort and encouragement to you. ‘Take heart, it is I. Do not be afraid.’
COLLECT: Almighty and most merciful God, the protector of all who trust in You, strengthen our faith and give us courage to believe that in Your love You will rescue us from all adversities; through Jesus Christ your Son, our Lord and Savior, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Please let me know if you have any prayer requests or questions about Sunday’s lessons. We are approaching the time of a new school year. Let me know if you would be interested in attending a daytime or evening Bible study. God bless you. Pastor Boster
