First Service
TENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
Clinging to Christ
August 17, 2025
AS WE GATHER
The verbal command “Hold on!” is one that gets our immediate attention. We know instinctively that holding on will keep us safe or secure in some way as we journey through life. The pages of Scripture call us to “hold on” to some very special things. In the letter to the Hebrews, the writer enjoins us: “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering” (Hebrews 10:23). Paul directs his coworker, Timothy, (and all of us) to “Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called” (1 Timothy 6:12) and encourages him to be “holding faith and a good conscience” (1 Timothy 1:19). Our worship together gives us the opportunity to hold on not only to our Lord Jesus Christ but also to one another as we journey on together toward our heavenly home.
+ PREPARATION +
HYMN Thy Strong Word LSB 578 vs 1, 3 & 5
Thy strong word did cleave the darkness; At Thy speaking it was done.
For created light we thank thee While Thine ordered seasons run.
Alleluia! Alleluia! Praise to thee who light dost send!
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia without end!
Thy strong Word bespeaks us righteous; Bright with Thine own holiness,
Glorious now, we press toward glory, And our lives our hope confess.
Alleluia! Alleluia! Praise to thee who light dost send!
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia without end!
Give us lips to sing Thy glory, Tongues Thy mercy to proclaim,
Throats that shout the hope that fills us, Mouths to speak thy holy name.
Alleluia! Alleluia! May the light which thou dost send
Fill our songs with alleluias, Alleluias without end!
INVOCATION
Pastor: In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit.
People: Amen.
OPENING SENTENCES Psalm 119:89–94
Pastor: Forever, O Lord, Your word is firmly fixed in the heavens.
People: Your faithfulness endures to all generations; You have established the earth, and it stands fast.
Pastor: By Your appointment they stand this day, for all things are Your servants.
People: If Your law had not been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction.
Pastor: I will never forget Your precepts, for by them You have given me life.
People: I am Yours; save me, for I have sought Your precepts.
CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION
Pastor: Let us now confess our sin to God, our merciful Father.
People: Gracious God, we admit and confess our sinfulness. We are by nature sinful and unclean. Daily we do things we ought not do and do not live up to our calling as Your people. We are not always careful listeners to Your Word and take for granted those who faithfully proclaim it to us. We know that we justly deserve Your punishment in this life and for eternity. But trusting in Your mercy, we come to You for forgiveness. Our trust is solely in the merits of Your Son, our Savior Jesus Christ. Have mercy on us, O God. Grant us remission of all our sins and lead us to renewed lives that reflect Your goodness and love.
Pastor: God is gracious and merciful and hears our supplications and joyfully restores us to His fold. By the command of our Lord Jesus Christ and as His called and ordained servant, I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit.
People: Amen.
+ WORD +
PRAISE SONG There Is a Redeemer CH 308
There is a Redeemer – Jesus, God’s own Son,
Precious Lamb of God, Messiah, Holy One.
Refrain: Thank You, O my Father, for giving us Your Son,
And leaving Your Spirit till the work on earth is done.
Jesus, my Redeemer, name above all names,
Precious Lamb of God, Messiah, hope for sinners slain. (Refrain)
When I stand in glory, I will see His face.
There I’ll serve my King forever in that holy place. (Refrain)
PRAYER OF THE DAY
Pastor: Let us pray. Merciful Lord, cleanse and defend Your church by the sacrifice of Christ. United with Him in Holy Baptism, give us grace to receive with thanksgiving the fruits of His redeeming work and daily follow in His way; through the same 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 Jeremiah 23:16–29 (The prophets bring words of warning from God.)
16 Thus says the Lord of hosts: “Do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you, filling you with vain hopes. They speak visions of their own minds, not from the mouth of the Lord. 17 They say continually to those who despise the word of the Lord, ‘It shall be well with you’; and to everyone who stubbornly follows his own heart, they say, ‘No disaster shall come upon you.’”
18 For who among them has stood in the council of the Lord to see and to hear his word, or who has paid attention to his word and listened? 19 Behold, the storm of the Lord! Wrath has gone forth,
a whirling tempest; it will burst upon the head of the wicked. 20 The anger of the Lord will not turn back until he has executed and accomplished the intents of his heart. In the latter days you will understand it clearly. 21 “I did not send the prophets, yet they ran;
I did not speak to them, yet they prophesied. 22 But if they had stood in my council, then they would have proclaimed my words to my people, and they would have turned them from their evil way, and from the evil of their deeds. 23 “Am I a God at hand, declares the Lord, and not a God far away? 24 Can a man hide himself in secret places so that I cannot see him? declares the Lord. Do I not fill heaven and earth? declares the Lord. 25 I have heard what the prophets have said who prophesy lies in my name, saying, ‘I have dreamed, I have dreamed!’ 26 How long shall there be lies in the heart of the prophets who prophesy lies, and who prophesy the deceit of their own heart, 27 who think to make my people forget my name by their dreams that they tell one another, even as their fathers forgot my name for Baal? 28 Let the prophet who has a dream tell the dream, but let him who has my word speak my word faithfully. What has straw in common with wheat? declares the Lord. 29 Is not my word like fire, declares the Lord, and like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces?
EPISTLE Hebrews 11:17–31; 12:1–3 (Running the Christian race)
17 By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was in the act of offering up his only son, 18 of whom it was said, “Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.” 19 He considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back. 20 By faith Isaac invoked future blessings on Jacob and Esau. 21 By faith Jacob, when dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, bowing in worship over the head of his staff. 22 By faith Joseph, at the end of his life, made mention of the exodus of the Israelites and gave directions concerning his bones.
23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw that the child was beautiful, and they were not afraid of the king's edict. 24 By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, 25 choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. 26 He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward. 27 By faith he left Egypt, not being afraid of the anger of the king, for he endured as seeing him who is invisible. 28 By faith he kept the Passover and sprinkled the blood, so that the Destroyer of the firstborn might not touch them. 29 By faith the people crossed the Red Sea as on dry land, but the Egyptians, when they attempted to do the same, were drowned. 30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days. 31 By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had given a friendly welcome to the spies.
1Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.
HOLY GOSPEL Luke 12:49–53 (Jesus speaks of His purpose of being on earth.)
49 “I came to cast fire on the earth, and would that it were already kindled! 50 I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how great is my distress until it is accomplished! 51 Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division. 52 For from now on in one house there will be five divided, three against two and two against three. 53 They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”
CHILDREN’S MESSAGE
HYMN Lord, Keep Us Steadfast in Thy Word TLH 261
Lord, keep us steadfast in Thy Word; Curb those who fain by craft and sword
Would wrest the Kingdom from Thy Son And set at naught all He hath done.
Lord Jesus Christ, Thy power make known, For Thou art Lord of lords alone;
Defend Thy Christendom that we May evermore sing praise to Thee.
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.
SERMON
CATECHISM The First Article
People: I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth.
Pastor: What does this mean?
People: I believe that God has made me and all creatures; that He has given me my body and soul, eyes, ears, and all my members, my reason and all my senses, and still takes care of them.
He also gives me clothing and shoes, food and drink, house and home, wife and children, land, animals, and all I have. He richly and daily provides me with all that I need to support this body and life.
He defends me against all danger and guards and protects me from all evil. All this He does only out of fatherly, divine goodness and mercy, without any merit or worthiness in me. For all this it is my duty to thank and praise, serve and obey Him.
This is most certainly true.
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:
We pray for the church, that God’s people may live confidently and would joyfully share the message of salvation in word and deed. And, remembering those who in each generation have faithfully spoken the Word of the Lord, we pray for His servants who today bring us the eternal message from our God through the faithful preaching of Law and Gospel in our midst. Lord, in Your mercy,
People: hear our prayer.
Pastor: We pray for the nations of the world, that the presence of Christ be experienced everywhere around the globe and that the Gospel message have free course in every land. And we pray for the gift of peace in the world and in our communities. Lord, in Your mercy,
People: hear our prayer.
Pastor: We pray for our land and for all people who are involved in the growing, processing, and distribution of food. Grant that there be a blessing of seasonal summer weather so that we may rejoice in the harvests that are now beginning and will continue through the coming months. Lord, in Your mercy,
People: hear our prayer.
Pastor: We pray for our families and for those who share in our Christian fellowship and join with us in worship. Help us to never take them for granted that we may encourage all to share joyfully in our work together to the glory of God. Lord, in Your mercy,
People: hear our prayer.
Pastor: We pray for those with special concerns and needs this day, including those who are hospitalized or in care facilities, those who are grieving at this time, the unemployed and underemployed, and the chronically ill and shut-in, [especially . . . ]. Help us to bring Your blessing to situations of need in all places. Lord, in Your mercy,
People: hear our prayer.
Pastor: God of the ages, we thank You for all those faithful people whose words and actions have guided us in the past, especially remembering those sisters and brothers in the faith no longer with us on earth, who now share in Your eternal presence. By the working of Your Holy Spirit, direct us to follow the leading of Jesus, our Great Shepherd, throughout our lives until that day when we stand in Your glorious presence in heaven.
People: Amen.