FIFTH SUNDAY IN LENT
A New Thing in This Old World
April 6, 2025
AS WE GATHER
There is a hymn that refers to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, calling it an “old, old story” (“I Love to Tell the Story” by Arabella Katherine Hankey, 1834–1911). The fact that God’s plan of salvation began thousands of years ago, and that the Bible is the record of events in ancient history, does not mean that old equals irrelevant. Today, God says through His prophet Isaiah, “Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old” (Isaiah 43:18). But before you throw away your old Bible, your old catechism, or your old hymnal, listen up! “Behold, I am doing a new thing; . . . do you not perceive it?” (v. 19). In the pattern of the exodus of old and the deliverance from the Babylonian captivity of old, and as “the old rugged cross” of Christ made His resurrection from the dead possible, the “new thing” of God’s doing today is all about freeing you from the slavery of sin, death, boredom, worry, and fear; re-creating you “that I may be His own and live under Him in His kingdom and serve Him in everlasting righteousness, innocence, and blessedness” (explanation of the Second Article of the Apostles’ Creed, Small Catechism); renewing your life today by the forgiveness of your sins and in the sure and certain hope of new bodies for old in the new creation that awaits, as that old hymn concludes,
And when in scenes of glory I sing the new, new song,
’Twill be the old, old story That I have loved so long.
I love to tell the story; ’Twill be my theme in glory
To tell the old, old story Of Jesus and His love.
+ PREPARATION +
HYMN Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah TLH 54
Guide me, O Thou great Jehovah,
Pilgrim through this barren land.
I am weak but Thou art mighty;
Hold me with Thy powerful hand.
Bread of heaven, Feed me till I want no more.
Open now the crystal fountain
Whence the healing stream doth flow;
Let the fiery, cloudy pillar
Lead me all my journey through.
Strong Deliverer Be Thou still my Strength and Shield.
When I tread the verge of Jordan,
Bid my anxious fears subside;
Death of death and hell's Destruction,
Land me safe on Canaan's side.
Songs of praises I will ever give to Thee.
INVOCATION
Pastor: In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit.
People: Amen.
OPENING SENTENCES Isaiah 43:1; Psalm 126:3
Pastor: But now thus says the Lord, He who created you, . . . “Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
People: I have called you by name, you are Mine.”
Pastor: The Lord has done great things for us;
People: we are glad.
CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION Isaiah 43:1, adapt.
Pastor: As the Lord God delivered His chosen people from Egyptian slavery through the sea yet on dry ground, and as He delivered His chosen people from their captivity in Babylon of old, so has He now delivered His chosen people to this day from slavery to sin and death through the cross and resurrection of His Son, Jesus Christ. Remembering that your Holy Baptism is still a present reality today, let us return to the Lord our God in true repentance and faith.
People: Lord God, we confess that we have sinned against You and have fallen back into our old ways of neglecting You and our love for our neighbor. Create a new heart and spirit within us and make us to be Your new creation by faith in Your Son, Jesus Christ, that we may live under Him and serve Him in everlasting righteousness, innocence, and blessedness both today and forever.
Pastor: But now thus says the Lord, He who created you and formed you, “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are Mine.” Upon this, your confession, I, by virtue of my office, as a called and ordained servant of Christ, announce the grace of God to all of you, and in the stead and by the command of my Lord Jesus Christ I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit.
People: Amen.
+ WORD +
PRAYER OF THE DAY
Pastor: Let us pray. Almighty God, by Your great goodness mercifully look upon Your people that we may be governed and preserved evermore in body and soul; 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 Isaiah 43:16–21 (“Behold, I am doing a new thing.”)
16 Thus says the Lord, who makes a way in the sea, a path in the mighty waters, 17 who brings forth chariot and horse, army and warrior; they lie down, they cannot rise, they are extinguished, quenched like a wick: 18 “Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. 19 Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. 20 The wild beasts will honor me, the jackals and the ostriches, for I give water in the wilderness, rivers in the desert, to give drink to my chosen people, 21the people whom I formed for myself that they might declare my praise.
EPISTLE Philippians 3:8–14 (Righteousness through faith in Christ)
8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— 10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.
12 Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. 13 Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
HOLY GOSPEL Luke 20:9–20 (The parable of the wicked tenants)
9 And he began to tell the people this parable: “A man planted a vineyard and let it out to tenants and went into another country for a long while. 10 When the time came, he sent a servant to the tenants, so that they would give him some of the fruit of the vineyard. But the tenants beat him and sent him away empty-handed. 11 And he sent another servant. But they also beat and treated him shamefully, and sent him away empty-handed. 12 And he sent yet a third. This one also they wounded and cast out. 13 Then the owner of the vineyard said, ‘What shall I do? I will send my beloved son; perhaps they will respect him.’ 14 But when the tenants saw him, they said to themselves, ‘This is the heir. Let us kill him, so that the inheritance may be ours.’ 15 And they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. What then will the owner of the vineyard do to them? 16 He will come and destroy those tenants and give the vineyard to others.” When they heard this, they said, “Surely not!” 17 But he looked directly at them and said, “What then is this that is written: “‘The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone’? 18 Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces, and when it falls on anyone, it will crush him.” 19 The scribes and the chief priests sought to lay hands on him at that very hour, for they perceived that he had told this parable against them, but they feared the people. 20 So they watched him and sent spies, who pretended to be sincere, that they might catch him in something he said, so as to deliver him up to the authority and jurisdiction of the governor.
CHILDREN’S MESSAGE
HYMN Let Us Ever Walk With Jesus TLH 409
Let us ever walk with Jesus, Follow His example pure,
Flee the world, which would deceive us
And to sin our souls allure.
Ever in His footsteps treading, Body here, yet soul above,
Full of faith and hope and love,Let us do the Father's bidding.
Faithful Lord, abide with me; Savior, lead, I follow Thee.
Let us suffer here with Jesus, To His image, e'er conform;
Heaven's glory soon will please us, Sunshine follow on the storm.
Though we sow in tears of sorrow, We shall reap with heavenly joy;
And the fears that now annoy Shall be laughter on the morrow.
Christ, I suffer here with Thee; There, oh, share Thy joy with me!
Let us also die with Jesus.His death from the second death,
From our soul's destruction, frees us,
Quickens us with life's glad breath.
Let us mortify, while living, Flesh and blood and die to sin;
And the grave that shuts us in
Shall but prove the gate to heaven.
Jesus, here I die to Thee There to live eternally.
Let us gladly live with Jesus; Since He's risen from the dead,
Death and grave must soon release us.
Jesus, Thou art now our Head, We are truly Thine own members;
Where Thou livest, there live we. Take and own us constantly,
Faithful Friend, as Thy dear brethren.
Jesus, here I live to Thee, Also there eternally.
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
Pastor: Let us pray for the whole people of God in Christ Jesus, and for all people according to their needs.
O God, our Creator and Redeemer, we give thanks to You for Your whole world of nature and that You continue to sustain it in summer and winter, in seedtime and harvest, through times of trouble and in times of peace. We pray for peace continually that we may attend to Your Word and worship and proclaim Your majesty. Lord, in Your mercy,
People: hear our prayer.
Pastor: We give You thanks especially for our redemption from sin and everlasting death. Though even as You count us as Your redeemed people, still we struggle to be faithful. In Your mercy, You remain true to Your promises and continue to provide the everlasting invitation, salvation, and healing through the forgiveness of sins for the sake of Christ. Bless and empower Your whole church on earth with steadfast faith. Lord, in Your mercy,
People: hear our prayer.
Pastor: We pray for all those in the authority of government, that they may be guided in the way of truth and justice, providing for the peace and safety of all. Lord, in Your mercy,
People: hear our prayer.
Pastor: We pray also for all who are ill, the hungry, those in bondage, and all who travel. Grant that the prayers of all who turn to You in their need graciously come before You, so that they may receive Your help, provision, and comfort. Lord, in Your mercy,
People: hear our prayer.
Pastor: Almighty and eternal God, we adore You as the God and Father of our Lord and Savior Jesus, and with the whole church on earth and all the hosts of heaven we ascribe to You honor and blessing, thanksgiving and praise. For all Your works of mercy of old, we praise You. For Your gifts of deliverance, renewal of life and hope, and the promise of eternal life through the cross and resurrection of Your Son, we praise You. Hear us for His sake, living and reigning with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
People: Amen.