Home Worship 5/10
BIBLE STUDY
Zoom at 9am. Password 509
Here is the Bible study handout.
We will look at 1 Kings 21-22. Israel's most wicked king does something horrible, but repents! Maybe... Then he dies.
PRAYER TIME/FELLOWSHIP
Meet on Zoom at 10am. Password 509. It takes about 20 minutes. It's nice to see everyone and have a chance to find out what's going on with others or share what's going on with you.
WORSHIP SERVICE
Other options:
WORSHIP OPENING
Welcome everyone. It's time to worship God, so let's put aside planning and worrying and whatever might distract us, and spend the next few minutes focused on the Lord.
Zoom at 9am. Password 509
Here is the Bible study handout.
We will look at 1 Kings 21-22. Israel's most wicked king does something horrible, but repents! Maybe... Then he dies.
PRAYER TIME/FELLOWSHIP
Meet on Zoom at 10am. Password 509. It takes about 20 minutes. It's nice to see everyone and have a chance to find out what's going on with others or share what's going on with you.
WORSHIP SERVICE
Other options:
- Trinity Lutheran in Clear Lake, SD, has a very traditional, standard service fully recorded with organ and vocals. Last week was apparently a guest preacher, so maybe try again.
- You can check out The Vine's worship here. An hour video. Nothing else needed.
- Cross of Christ in Boise has services with music posted. A 30 minutes sermon with PDF bulletin and YouTube song options.
- Illumine, the hip WELS franchise in Rock Hill, SC/Seattle. Several short videos, sort of like what I have, but much hipper.
- One more: Southridge Church, formerly King of Kings, Kennewick.
- dozens of other great options.
WORSHIP OPENING
Welcome everyone. It's time to worship God, so let's put aside planning and worrying and whatever might distract us, and spend the next few minutes focused on the Lord.
OPENING IN THE NAME OF THE TRINITY
Leader: We worship in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION
Leader: "Beloved in the Lord: let us draw near with a true heart and confess our sins to God our Father, asking him in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to grant us forgiveness."
Speak along if you are able, or the leader can read and everyone agree in your hearts: Holy and merciful Father, I confess that I am by nature sinful and that I have disobeyed you in my thoughts, words, and actions. I have done what is evil and failed to do what is good. For this I deserve your punishment both now and in eternity. But I am truly sorry for my sins, and trusting in my Savior Jesus Christ, I pray: Lord, have mercy on me, a sinner.
(brief pause)
Leader: God, our heavenly Father, has been merciful to us and has given his only Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. In accord with his promise and by the authority he has given his church (John 20:23), I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
PRAYER FOR BLESSING ON WORSHIP
Leader: "Be with us now as we gather in your name. Bless us through the hearing of your word. Give us hearts that are eager to believe what you promise and obey what you command, through Jesus Christ, our Lord, Amen."
SCRIPTURE READINGS
We will now look at the story of Gideon, a man whom God used to bring deliverance to his people during what might have been Israel's darkest days. YOU DON'T HAVE TO READ IT OUT LOUD, I WILL READ IT IN THE AUDIO FILE BELOW.
FIRST READING: Judges 8:1-21
Leader: "Be with us now as we gather in your name. Bless us through the hearing of your word. Give us hearts that are eager to believe what you promise and obey what you command, through Jesus Christ, our Lord, Amen."
SCRIPTURE READINGS
We will now look at the story of Gideon, a man whom God used to bring deliverance to his people during what might have been Israel's darkest days. YOU DON'T HAVE TO READ IT OUT LOUD, I WILL READ IT IN THE AUDIO FILE BELOW.
FIRST READING: Judges 8:1-21
Or try this link: https://www.dropbox.com/s/ftmfg3ncykidmzs/Judges%208%20a.mp3?dl=0
Here's a map of the battle.
Then the people of Ephraim asked Gideon, “Why have you treated us this way? Why didn’t you send for us when you first went out to fight the Midianites?” And they argued heatedly with Gideon.
2 But Gideon replied, “What have I accomplished compared to you? Aren’t even the leftover grapes of Ephraim’s harvest better than the entire crop of my little clan of Abiezer? 3 God gave you victory over Oreb and Zeeb, the commanders of the Midianite army. What have I accomplished compared to that?” When the men of Ephraim heard Gideon’s answer, their anger subsided.
4 Gideon then crossed the Jordan River with his 300 men, and though exhausted, they continued to chase the enemy. 5 When they reached Succoth, Gideon asked the leaders of the town, “Please give my warriors some food. They are very tired. I am chasing Zebah and Zalmunna, the kings of Midian.”
6 But the officials of Succoth replied, “Catch Zebah and Zalmunna first, and then we will feed your army.”
7 So Gideon said, “After the LORD gives me victory over Zebah and Zalmunna, I will return and tear your flesh with the thorns and briers from the wilderness.”
8 From there Gideon went up to Peniel and again asked for food, but he got the same answer. 9 So he said to the people of Peniel, “After I return in victory, I will tear down this tower.”
10 By this time Zebah and Zalmunna were in Karkor with about 15,000 warriors—all that remained of the allied armies of the east, for 120,000 had already been killed. 11 Gideon circled around by the caravan route east of Nobah and Jogbehah, taking the Midianite army by surprise. 12 Zebah and Zalmunna, the two Midianite kings, fled, but Gideon chased them down and captured all their warriors.
13 After this, Gideon returned from the battle by way of Heres Pass. 14 There he captured a young man from Succoth and demanded that he write down the names of all the seventy-seven officials and elders in the town. 15 Gideon then returned to Succoth and said to the leaders, “Here are Zebah and Zalmunna. When we were here before, you taunted me, saying, ‘Catch Zebah and Zalmunna first, and then we will feed your exhausted army.’ ” 16 Then Gideon took the elders of the town and taught them a lesson, punishing them with thorns and briers from the wilderness. 17 He also tore down the tower of Peniel and killed all the men in the town.
18 Then Gideon asked Zebah and Zalmunna, “The men you killed at Tabor—what were they like?”
“Like you,” they replied. “They all had the look of a king’s son.”
19 “They were my brothers, the sons of my own mother!” Gideon exclaimed. “As surely as the LORD lives, I wouldn’t kill you if you hadn’t killed them.”
20 Turning to Jether, his oldest son, he said, “Kill them!” But Jether did not draw his sword, for he was only a boy and was afraid.
21 Then Zebah and Zalmunna said to Gideon, “Be a man! Kill us yourself!” So Gideon killed them both and took the royal ornaments from the necks of their camels.
Here's a map of the battle.
Then the people of Ephraim asked Gideon, “Why have you treated us this way? Why didn’t you send for us when you first went out to fight the Midianites?” And they argued heatedly with Gideon.
2 But Gideon replied, “What have I accomplished compared to you? Aren’t even the leftover grapes of Ephraim’s harvest better than the entire crop of my little clan of Abiezer? 3 God gave you victory over Oreb and Zeeb, the commanders of the Midianite army. What have I accomplished compared to that?” When the men of Ephraim heard Gideon’s answer, their anger subsided.
4 Gideon then crossed the Jordan River with his 300 men, and though exhausted, they continued to chase the enemy. 5 When they reached Succoth, Gideon asked the leaders of the town, “Please give my warriors some food. They are very tired. I am chasing Zebah and Zalmunna, the kings of Midian.”
6 But the officials of Succoth replied, “Catch Zebah and Zalmunna first, and then we will feed your army.”
7 So Gideon said, “After the LORD gives me victory over Zebah and Zalmunna, I will return and tear your flesh with the thorns and briers from the wilderness.”
8 From there Gideon went up to Peniel and again asked for food, but he got the same answer. 9 So he said to the people of Peniel, “After I return in victory, I will tear down this tower.”
10 By this time Zebah and Zalmunna were in Karkor with about 15,000 warriors—all that remained of the allied armies of the east, for 120,000 had already been killed. 11 Gideon circled around by the caravan route east of Nobah and Jogbehah, taking the Midianite army by surprise. 12 Zebah and Zalmunna, the two Midianite kings, fled, but Gideon chased them down and captured all their warriors.
13 After this, Gideon returned from the battle by way of Heres Pass. 14 There he captured a young man from Succoth and demanded that he write down the names of all the seventy-seven officials and elders in the town. 15 Gideon then returned to Succoth and said to the leaders, “Here are Zebah and Zalmunna. When we were here before, you taunted me, saying, ‘Catch Zebah and Zalmunna first, and then we will feed your exhausted army.’ ” 16 Then Gideon took the elders of the town and taught them a lesson, punishing them with thorns and briers from the wilderness. 17 He also tore down the tower of Peniel and killed all the men in the town.
18 Then Gideon asked Zebah and Zalmunna, “The men you killed at Tabor—what were they like?”
“Like you,” they replied. “They all had the look of a king’s son.”
19 “They were my brothers, the sons of my own mother!” Gideon exclaimed. “As surely as the LORD lives, I wouldn’t kill you if you hadn’t killed them.”
20 Turning to Jether, his oldest son, he said, “Kill them!” But Jether did not draw his sword, for he was only a boy and was afraid.
21 Then Zebah and Zalmunna said to Gideon, “Be a man! Kill us yourself!” So Gideon killed them both and took the royal ornaments from the necks of their camels.
SECOND READING: Judges 8:22-35
Or try this link: https://www.dropbox.com/s/1o1axfvbvv7camr/judges%208%20b.mp3?dl=0www.dropbox.com/s/1o1axfvbvv7camr/judges%208%20b.mp3?dl=0
Gideon's ephod would have looked something like this
22 Then the Israelites said to Gideon, “Be our ruler! You and your son and your grandson will be our rulers, for you have rescued us from Midian.”
23 But Gideon replied, “I will not rule over you, nor will my son. The LORD will rule over you! 24 However, I do have one request—that each of you give me an earring from the plunder you collected from your fallen enemies.” (The enemies, being Ishmaelites, all wore gold earrings.)
25 “Gladly!” they replied. They spread out a cloak, and each one threw in a gold earring he had gathered from the plunder. 26 The weight of the gold earrings was forty-three pounds, not including the royal ornaments and pendants, the purple clothing worn by the kings of Midian, or the chains around the necks of their camels.
27 Gideon made a sacred ephod from the gold and put it in Ophrah, his hometown. But soon all the Israelites prostituted themselves by worshiping it, and it became a trap for Gideon and his family.
28 That is the story of how the people of Israel defeated Midian, which never recovered. Throughout the rest of Gideon’s lifetime—about forty years—there was peace in the land.
29 Then Gideon son of Joash returned home. 30 He had seventy sons born to him, for he had many wives. 31 He also had a concubine in Shechem, who gave birth to a son, whom he named Abimelech. 32 Gideon died when he was very old, and he was buried in the grave of his father, Joash, at Ophrah in the land of the clan of Abiezer.
33 As soon as Gideon died, the Israelites prostituted themselves by worshiping the images of Baal, making Baal-berith their god. 34 They forgot the LORD their God, who had rescued them from all their enemies surrounding them. 35 Nor did they show any loyalty to the family of Jerub-baal (that is, Gideon), despite all the good he had done for Israel.
THIRD READING: Matthew 13:18-23
Or try this link: www.dropbox.com/s/psq9rkekfgylajd/matt%2013.mp3?dl=0
18 “Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: 19 When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path. 20 The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. 21 But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. 22 The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful. 23 But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”
18 “Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: 19 When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path. 20 The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. 21 But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. 22 The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful. 23 But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”
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Lyrics:
Lord, keep us steadfast in your Word; Curb those who by deceit or sword
Would seek to overthrow your Son And to destroy what he has done.
Lord Jesus Christ, your pow'r make known, For you are Lord of lords alone;
Defend your Christendom that we May sing your praise eternally.
O Comforter of priceless worth, Send peace and unity on earth.
Support us in our final strife, And lead us out of death to life.
CREED
For fun, try to recite it from memory. If you need help, click here.
OFFERING
At this time you may write a check and mail it church, as described on this page, which also tells you how to set up online giving. Thank you to all those who have kept giving!
Also, if you'd like to offer your time, there is still plenty of raking and other outdoor work to do at the church. Contact Jake Laete to get specific instructions, or start with areas closest to the building.
CONNECTION CARD SUBSTITUTE
Instead of a connection card, leave an encouraging comment on our Facebook page! Or call a friend from church. Perhaps say hello to some of our shut-in members on Facebook (Jean Johnson, Carol Taylor, and Christine Glardon all use Facebook).
PRAYER
Take a moment to ask for prayer requests.
BLESSING
Leader: May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all, now and always. Amen.
Optional last song. This is a great song for our times!
Lord, keep us steadfast in your Word; Curb those who by deceit or sword
Would seek to overthrow your Son And to destroy what he has done.
Lord Jesus Christ, your pow'r make known, For you are Lord of lords alone;
Defend your Christendom that we May sing your praise eternally.
O Comforter of priceless worth, Send peace and unity on earth.
Support us in our final strife, And lead us out of death to life.
CREED
For fun, try to recite it from memory. If you need help, click here.
OFFERING
At this time you may write a check and mail it church, as described on this page, which also tells you how to set up online giving. Thank you to all those who have kept giving!
Also, if you'd like to offer your time, there is still plenty of raking and other outdoor work to do at the church. Contact Jake Laete to get specific instructions, or start with areas closest to the building.
CONNECTION CARD SUBSTITUTE
Instead of a connection card, leave an encouraging comment on our Facebook page! Or call a friend from church. Perhaps say hello to some of our shut-in members on Facebook (Jean Johnson, Carol Taylor, and Christine Glardon all use Facebook).
PRAYER
Take a moment to ask for prayer requests.
- Remember to include prayers of thanks and prayers asking for things, both for you and for others.
- Remember to ask for spiritual blessings as well as physical blessings.
- It is fine to have a short prayer. It doesn't need to sound super-fancy or ultra spiritual, just speak to God from the heart.
- Bring these thanks and requests to God in your own way, then close
- Leader: Lord we ask you to bless the following:
- Steve Anson's recovery from a broken hip
- Transitions for the Most and O'Haver families
- Carolyn Ratz's healing of a broken wrist
- Let this time of isolation be a time of spiritual growth for all of us at St. Matthew, and may we appreciate more the freedom we have to worship you together when this present crisis has passed
- We ask that the coronavirus crisis would pass sooner rather than later for the sake of those who have trouble with lonliness and depression, as well as those who cannot participate in online worship.
- Say the Lord's Prayer
BLESSING
Leader: May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all, now and always. Amen.
Optional last song. This is a great song for our times!
