First Service
EIGHTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
Guided by Faith
October 12, 2025
AS WE GATHER
In our Readings today, we see not only where faith guides but also to whom it ultimately leads. In Ruth 1, we learn of Naomi’s difficulties as she faced numerous instances of grief. Yet her faith remained in the Lord and His provision, which would lead her to Judah. Faithful to her mother-in-law, Ruth would be guided not only to a new land but also to the knowledge of the one true God. In 2 Timothy 2, even amid imprisonment and suffering, Paul points young Timothy and all hearers in faith to remember Jesus Christ, reminding of the One who remains faithful despite earthly troubles. In Luke 17, ten lepers encounter Jesus and beg for His mercy. Jesus heals them all and then affirms the faith of the cleansed Samaritan, making him well spiritually. As we are called, gathered, and enlightened by the Holy Spirit, who gives and sustains the gift of faith still, we are guided by Scripture and led through it to our Savior, Jesus, in whose name we worship in our prayer, our praise, and our thanksgiving for all He has done.
+ PREPARATION +
HYMN Praise to the Lord, The Almighty TLH 39
Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of creation!
O my soul, praise Him, for He is Thy Health and Salvation!
Join the full throng: Wake, harp and psalter and song;
Sound forth in glad adoration!
Praise to the Lord, who o'er all things so wondrously reigneth,
Who, as on wings of an eagle, uplifteth, sustaineth.
Hast thou not seen How thy desires all have been
Granted in what He ordaineth?
Praise to the Lord, who hath fearfully, wondrously, made thee;
Health hath vouchsafed and, when heedlessly falling, hath stayed thee.
What need or grief Ever hath failed of relief?--
Wings of His mercy did shade thee.
Praise to the Lord, who doth prosper thy work and defend thee,
Who from the heavens the streams of His mercy doth send thee.
Ponder anew What the Almighty can do,
Who with His love doth befriend thee.
Praise to the Lord! Oh, let all that is in me adore Him!
All that hath life and breath, come now with praises before Him!
Let the Amen Sound from His people again; Gladly for aye we adore Him.
INVOCATION
Pastor: In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit.
People: Amen.
OPENING SENTENCES Psalm 111:1–8
Pastor: Praise the Lord! I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart, in the company of the upright, in the congregation.
People: Great are the works of the Lord, studied by all who delight in them.
Pastor: Full of splendor and majesty is His work, and His righteousness endures forever.
People: He has caused His wondrous works to be remembered; the Lord is gracious and merciful.
Pastor: He provides food for those who fear Him; He remembers His covenant forever.
People: He has shown His people the power of His works, in giving them the inheritance of the nations.
Pastor: The works of His hands are faithful and just; all His precepts are trustworthy;
People: they are established forever and ever, to be performed with faithfulness and uprightness.
CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION
Pastor: As we come before the Lord with humble and contrite hearts, we hear the words of encouragement from Paul to young Timothy: “You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus.”
People: God of grace, we ask Your forgiveness for the times we seek strength away from where You promise to be present with Your Word and in Your means of grace, and for the times we have not desired the grace found in Christ Jesus, our Lord.
Pastor: “Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.”
People: We confess we have chosen the easy way out when our following and serving of Jesus becomes difficult for our lives, forsaking Your name and the name You have given us in Baptism.
Pastor: “Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead.”
People: We confess we have not remembered the victory Jesus Christ has won for us over sin, death, and the devil, through His sacrificial death and rising from the dead. Because of this, we have not loved You with all our heart, soul, and strength, and have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. Forgive us, renew us, and lead us so that we may delight in Your will and walk in Your ways to the glory of Your holy name. Amen.
Pastor: The saying is trustworthy, for: If we have died with Him,
People: we will also live with Him;
Pastor: if we endure, we will also reign with Him;
People: if we deny Him, He also will deny us;
Pastor: if we are faithless,
People: He remains faithful—for He cannot deny Himself.
Pastor: Our faithful God, the one almighty God, in His mercy, has given His Son to die for you and for His sake forgives you all your sins. As a called and ordained servant of Christ and by His authority, I therefore forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit.
People: Amen.
Pastor: He sent redemption to His people; He has commanded His covenant forever.
People: Holy and awesome is His name!
Pastor: The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding.
People: His praise endures forever!
+ WORD +
HYMN OF PRAISE Give Thanks with A Grateful Heart CH 170
Give thanks with a grateful heart; Give thanks to the Holy One; Give thanks because He’s given Jesus Christ, His Son.
Give thanks with a grateful heart; Give thanks to the Holy One; Give thanks because He’s given Jesus Christ, His Son.
And now let the weak say “I am strong” Let the poor say “I am rich,” because of what the Lord has done for us.
And now let the weak say “I am strong” Let the poor say “I am rich,” because of what the Lord has done for us.
Give thanks!
PRAYER OF THE DAY
Pastor: Let us pray. Almighty God, You show mercy to Your people in all their troubles. Grant us always to recognize Your goodness, give thanks for Your compassion, and praise Your holy name; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
People: Amen.
OLD TESTAMENT READING Ruth 1:1–19a (Ruth’s loyalty to widow Naomi)
In the days when the judges ruled there was a famine in the land, and a man of Bethlehem in Judah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he and his wife and his two sons. 2 The name of the man was Elimelech and the name of his wife Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion. They were Ephrathites from Bethlehem in Judah. They went into the country of Moab and remained there. 3 But Elimelech, the husband of Naomi, died, and she was left with her two sons. 4 These took Moabite wives; the name of the one was Orpah and the name of the other Ruth. They lived there about ten years, 5 and both Mahlon and Chilion died, so that the woman was left without her two sons and her husband.
6 Then she arose with her daughters-in-law to return from the country of Moab, for she had heard in the fields of Moab that the Lord had visited his people and given them food. 7 So she set out from the place where she was with her two daughters-in-law, and they went on the way to return to the land of Judah. 8 But Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, “Go, return each of you to her mother's house. May the Lord deal kindly with you, as you have dealt with the dead and with me. 9 The Lord grant that you may find rest, each of you in the house of her husband!” Then she kissed them, and they lifted up their voices and wept. 10 And they said to her, “No, we will return with you to your people.” 11 But Naomi said, “Turn back, my daughters; why will you go with me? Have I yet sons in my womb that they may become your husbands? 12 Turn back, my daughters; go your way, for I am too old to have a husband. If I should say I have hope, even if I should have a husband this night and should bear sons, 13 would you therefore wait till they were grown? Would you therefore refrain from marrying? No, my daughters, for it is exceedingly bitter to me for your sake that the hand of the Lord has gone out against me.” 14 Then they lifted up their voices and wept again. And Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clung to her.
15 And she said, “See, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods; return after your sister-in-law.” 16 But Ruth said, “Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God. 17 Where you die I will die, and there will I be buried. May the Lord do so to me and more also if anything but death parts me from you.” 18 And when Naomi saw that she was determined to go with her, she said no more. 19 So the two of them went on until they came to Bethlehem.
EPISTLE 2 Timothy 2:1–13 (A good soldier of Jesus Christ)
1You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, 2 and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also. 3 Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4 No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him. 5 An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. 6 It is the hard-working farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops. 7 Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything. 8 Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the offspring of David, as preached in my gospel, 9 for which I am suffering, bound with chains as a criminal. But the word of God is not bound! 10 Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. 11 The saying is trustworthy, for: If we have died with him, we will also live with him; 12 if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us;
13 if we are faithless, he remains faithful—for he cannot deny himself.
HOLY GOSPEL Luke 17:11–19 (Jesus cleanses ten lepers.)
11 On the way to Jerusalem he was passing along between Samaria and Galilee. 12 And as he entered a village, he was met by ten lepers, who stood at a distance 13 and lifted up their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.” 14 When he saw them he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went they were cleansed. 15 Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; 16 and he fell on his face at Jesus' feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan. 17 Then Jesus answered, “Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? 18 Was no one found to return and give praise to God except his foreigner?” 19 And he said to him, “Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well.”
CHILDREN’S MESSAGE
HYMN Onward Christian Soldiers TLH 658
Onward Christian soldiers, marching as to war, With the cross of Jesus going on before.
Christ, the royal master, leads against the foe Forward into battle see His banners go.
Refrain: Onward Christian soldiers, marching as to war,
With the cross of Jesus going on before.
Like a mighty army moves the church of God, Brothers, we are treading where the saints have trod.
We are not divided, all one body we, One in hope and doctrine, one in charity. (Refrain)
Crowns and thrones may perish, Kingdoms rise and wane, But the Church of Jesus Constant will remain.
Gates of hell can never 'Gainst that Church prevail; We have Christ's own promise, And that cannot fail. (Refrain)
Onward, then, ye faithful, Join our happy throng, Blend with ours your voices In the triumph-song;
Glory, laud, and honor Unto Christ the King; This, through countless ages, Men and angels sing. (Refrain)
SERMON
NICENE CREED
I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth and of all things visible and invisible.
And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of his Father before all worlds, God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father, by whom all things were made: who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary and was made man; and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate. He suffered and was buried. And the third day he rose again according to the Scriptures and ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of the Father. And he will come again with glory to judge both the living and the dead, whose kingdom will have no end.
And I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and Son together is worshiped and glorified, who spoke by the prophets. And I believe one holy Christian and apostolic Church, I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins, and I look for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen.
GREETING/ANNOUNCEMENTS
OFFERING
PRAYER OF THE CHURCH 2 Timothy 2:8, 13
Pastor: Let us pray for the people of God in Christ Jesus, for His church, and for all people according to their needs.
God of everlasting mercy, You offer Your salvation and redemption to all people with forgiveness assured through faith in Your Son. As You did for Your people of old, including Ruth and Naomi, grant us trust in Your provision and direction, even amid trials we may face. Help us to endure and to also point others to the help and hope You offer and sustain by Your grace. As we remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead,
People: hear our prayer, for You remain faithful.
Pastor: Ever-sustaining Lord, who strengthens by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, encourage us by Your servant Paul. As he endured persecution and prison for the sake of Your Gospel for the salvation of the world, sustain us in our faith and in our witness. Grant strength to endure the trials and sufferings in this world, and to remain firm in faith when we bear Your name as Your baptized and redeemed people. Soften hearts of those who reject Your Word and grace and pour out Your Spirit that many more may come to know Your mercy, which is known and shown through Your Son. As we remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead,
People: hear our prayer, for You remain faithful.
Pastor: Healing Lord, out of compassion, Jesus healed the ten lepers afflicted by disease. Be with those who suffer in body and mind with disease, diagnosis, and despair. We especially lift up to You those who have asked for our prayers, [including . . .]. For those afflictions and ailments known only to You, grant the comfort of Your presence and healing according to Your will. We thank You for the healing of our greatest afflictions faced against the world, the devil, and our sinful flesh. Through hardships, as we remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead,
People: hear our prayer, for You remain faithful.
Pastor: Into Your hands we commend all for whom we pray, trusting in Your mercy through Your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord.
People: Amen.