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Thank you. Thank you. Good morning. Welcome in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, who calls and gathers us here this morning to serve and bless us with all His good and gracious gifts.
We’d like to especially welcome those of you who are visiting with us this morning. And if you would, in an effort to get to know you a little bit better, if you would, we ask that you would fill out one of those blue visitor cards in the pew back in front of you. Again, not just so we know you’re here, but so we can see if there’s some way that we might get to know you better and serve and bless you as well. And then just drop that in the offering plate when that comes by.
Our Liturgy this morning is Divine Service Setting 3. That’s on page 184 in the service book you may want to go ahead and mark that. You may also want to mark our Psalm this morning, which is Psalm 51, and we will pray the first 12 verses of that. The hymns are listed for you there in the service folder as well.
We do have the privilege and the joy this morning of celebrating the Lord’s Supper where our Lord Jesus Christ comes to us as both our host and our meal for the forgiveness of our sins. And it is our Lord’s desire, and indeed it is our desire as well, that all would commune at the Lord’s table.
We also believe and teach that unity of confession and doctrine come before unity of the altar. So if you’re not a member of this congregation or another Lutheran Church Missouri Synod congregation, we just ask that you would refrain from communion this morning. But we would also encourage and invite you to come forward if you so desire to receive a pastoral blessing. And you would just indicate that by crossing your arms across your chest at the altar.
I believe that’s all we need in the way of pre-service announcements. We will stand and sing our opening hymn, 700 Love Divine, All Loves Excelling.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Beloved in the Lord, let us draw near with a true heart, and confess our sins unto God our Father, beseeching Him in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to grant us forgiveness.
Our help is in the name of the Lord.
I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord.
You may kneel or stand. O Almighty God, merciful Father! I, a poor miserable sinner, confess unto you all my sins and iniquities with which I have ever offended you, and justly deserved your temporal and eternal punishment; but I am heartily sorry for them, and sincerely repent of them: and I pray you of your boundless mercy, and for the sake of the holy innocent bitter sufferings and death of your beloved Son Jesus Christ, to be gracious and merciful to me, a poor sinful man.
Upon this your confession, I by virtue of my office as a called and ordained servant of the Word announce the grace of God unto 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.” Amen.
Please stand. Thank you. Thank you. Glory be to God on high.
The Lord be with you. Let us pray. O God, the strength of all who trust in you, mercifully accept our prayers; and because through the weakness of our mortal nature we can do no good thing, grant us your grace to keep your commandments that we may please you in both will and deed.
Through Jesus Christ our Lord, Who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God now and forever.
The Old Testament reading for the first Sunday after Trinity is from Genesis chapter 15.
“After these things, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: ‘Fear not, Abram; I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.’
“But Abram said, “O Lord God, what will you give me? For I continue childless, and the heir of my house is Eleazar of Damascus.”
And Abram said, “Behold, you have given me no offspring, and a member of my household will be my heir.”
And behold, the word of the Lord came to him. This man shall not be your heir; your very own son shall be your heir.”
And he brought him outside, and said, “Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them.”
Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.”
And he believed the Lord, and he counted it to him as righteousness.
This is the word of the Lord.
The Epistle is from 1 John chapter four.
So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is Love, and whoever abides in Love abides in God, and God abides in him.
By this is Love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment; because as He is, so also are we in this world.
There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment; and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.
We love because He first loved us. If anyone says: I love God, and hates his brother, he is a liar. For he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen.
This commandment we have from Him: Whoever loves God must also love his brother.
This is the word of the Lord. Thank you.
The Holy Gospel, according to St. Luke the Sixteenth Chapter
Jesus said: “There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen, and who feasted sumptuously every day; and at his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man’s table.
Moreover, even the dogs came and licked his sores. The poor man died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s side.
“The rich man also died, and was buried; and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes, and saw Abraham far off, and Lazarus at his side.
And he called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me! Send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame.’
But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner bad things. But now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish. Besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us.’
And he said, “Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father’s house; for I have five brothers, so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment.”
Abraham said, “They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.”
And he said, “No, father Abraham; but if some one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.”
He said to him, “If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.”
This is the gospel of the Lord.”
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.
Together, this worship will glorify the Son of God.
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Well, probably the first question that comes up anytime we’re presented with this gospel lesson about the rich man and Lazarus is Jesus teaching us here about an actual event or is this just another one of the parables?
And it seems like it should be a parable. It falls right there in line with all these other parables that we read and we hear about in Luke and it comes really just after this one about the dishonest manager so kind of this theme of financial propriety comes in.
But it doesn’t really matter, I think, whether it’s one or the other because really what we all want to know and what we all ought to think about is what is Jesus teaching about here.
Now we want to remember too, right, that parables are not fables. They’re not fables being told primarily for the effect of some kind of moral instruction although there’s certainly that component but rather they’re being told and Jesus is teaching them so that we may understand the kingdom of God.
And in this particular case that we may understand what happens as a result of belief and unbelief, what happens with immediacy.
So for those who say this is not a parable, it’s a historical account, they inevitably point to the fact that Jesus actually uses a proper name there. He uses the name Lazarus to identify this poor beggar.
And so they use this as well, this is proof that this really happened. I mean, not to mention Abraham is also in the parable. Abraham was a real person because it’s true, really, that we don’t see these proper names being used elsewhere in parables.
I think maybe perhaps Jesus he really has a good reason for using this name because the name Lazarus actually means one whom God helps. So maybe Jesus is actually just using this name to represent anybody, any poor miserable sinner who comes to faith in him.
So Lazarus refers to anyone who has faith. Maybe kind of like the way we sometimes use the name Adam to represent all of mankind.
And Jesus is going to teach about Abraham, of course, because the Pharisees really delight in that. They are proud to be the sons of Abraham.
And really, Jesus is going to use their pride against them to teach them what they ought to really care about with Abraham, what’s really important. It’s not necessarily the reason that they think.
Abraham trusted and he believed, and all that that they now actually the Pharisees refused to believe and hear.
And so Lazarus likewise trusted and believed the word of God. Now if we compare these two guys, this rich man and Lazarus, they really could not be more opposite of one another.
Maybe we consider this rich man first simply because he is the first one named here. But actually he’s not named. He isn’t even identified at all.
Now some of the Latin texts, the Vulgate in particular, assigns the name Deves to this man. That is Latin for rich.
Whether that’s his real name or not, no matter, we see really what we need to see when that is what a lavish lifestyle this guy led. Jesus tells us this man was clothed in purple and fine linen.
We know purple is the color of wealth. It’s the color of royalty with any purple clothing being made from this very expensive dye.
And linen is expensive, time consuming to make. It’s at the same time strong and yet delicate in its feel. Far more expensive than other fabrics.
So this man lacks for nothing. He is, as Jesus tells us, feasting sumptuously every day. Not occasionally. Every day. Desiring far more than daily bread.
And so this rich man had what seems to be at least an epicurean lifestyle, perhaps even a hedonistic one.
And that was his approach to life, that only the best would do and there ought to be plenty of it.
And then there’s poor Lazarus. I mean, what a miserable sight this guy had to be laying there in the gate with this affliction of sores over his whole body, the result of who knows some disease or perhaps even just malnutrition.
And he somehow every day manages to work his way over to this rich man’s gate, hoping that he is going to get just a morsel or two of what is left over from these sumptuous feasts.
And he’ll be satisfied with just the scraps the ones that would otherwise be tossed to the dogs that are out there begging with him.
“And then if it could get worse, it does! He suffers even further humiliation with these dogs lapping at his sores dogs unclean scavengers in this world.
Now, we often call dogs man’s best friend, but for Lazarus they’re just another degradation of his pitiful condition.
And we’re not really given any particular insight into his faith, but we know for sure that he believed because Jesus tells us that when he died, he was carried by the angels to Abraham’s side.
So we know that this poor man Lazarus, his soul joined alongside those others, the patriarchs and faith, all who had come to faith, all who had been counted righteous by faith.
And it just so happens that the rich man also dies, but there are going to be no angels to carry him away.
And unlike Lazarus in this world he probably had people to mourn his death. Jesus tells us he was buried he makes note of that he was probably buried in a tomb among all the wealthy.
And yet he is unknown to God. His name is not written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.
This rich man who was undoubtedly somebody in the world, he was probably well known, probably respected, perhaps even feared. And he’s now anonymous.
Nothing that he had in his early life is of any use to him now. There is no servant to call on, nobody that he can snap his fingers at and have them do his bidding.
He can’t even quench his thirst. The tongue that tongue that once savored the best foods and sampled the choicest wines well it’s now parched and swollen as he longs for even just the smallest drop of water to cool it.
And this man who put himself behind a gate, shutting out all others and shutting himself in with his own pleasures. Well, he’s now locked himself behind a gate of eternal misery.
So what does he do? He calls out to Father Abraham this father whom he has disavowed his entire life calling on this father in blood since he can’t call out to his heavenly father (not that he ever did that).
These words “Lord have mercy” that we cry out so often probably never came out of his mouth.
And so he appeals to his lineage, still idolatrous even in hell. Appealing not to faith but still in disbelief, not believing what it was that Abraham believed and not believing that he has deserved what he has gotten.
But all this sorrow that he has is not going to deliver him from the torment of hell for though he may be related to Abraham by genealogy, they surely do not share anything in common in a spiritual relationship.
We can be sure that this man heard from Moses and the prophets his entire life, and yet he remains unrepentant as though he even knows what that word is.
He continues to blame everybody but himself, even without saying it. He’s blaming God for his predicament, and miraculously now all of a sudden he seems to show concern for his brothers.
He even rebukes Abraham. Abraham, his father, when Abraham refuses to send anybody to him, to refuse to send Lazarus to his brothers.
But the man claims if someone goes to them from the dead they will repent. Again, if he even knows what that means.
Because he doesn’t believe that repentance will come by hearing the words of Moses and the prophets. No, his brothers will only repent if they are given some kind of sign.
This is the only way that you can make them believe this is what’s waiting for them. So he says, send this lowly Lazarus to warn my brothers.
I mean, at least he finally acknowledged Lazarus’ existence. But he’s still telling people what to do, even from the flames of hell.
He’s still arrogant. And worse, he doesn’t really want his brothers to believe. He doesn’t want them to confess faith. He just wants them to avoid the punishment of unbelief.
So Abraham says, you know this can’t be. There will be no witnesses to go to them who they haven’t already heard from.
They won’t believe the dead because they have all that is needed to believe already.
And so there is indeed this question of whether this is a parable. But there’s also this question of this confusing picture of the rich man in hell being able to see the two who are obviously in heaven.
Because we ask ourselves, is this possible? We don’t think so.
So does this make it a parable? I don’t think we want to turn this into a doctrinal discussion about what happens to the soul when we die this morning, although we can say that it’s well established in our Christian doctrine that the soul does live on, but the body sleeps.
There are several places in the Old Testament where we hear this or the Scriptures speak of those whose souls are now at peace not being aware of what’s going on elsewhere.
And we do really want to confess that our soul is in one of two places at death, and that’s what we really need to care about. It’s in one of two places between our death and our resurrection.
And so we have this morning this warning about what happens at death, about the judgment that heaven and hell are forever separated.
And maybe in some way that’s why we want this to be a parable. We don’t want it to be real. We want there to be second chances, especially for those we know who do not believe.
But the Word of God tells us otherwise, and that’s why we have to continue to preach and to teach, and especially this morning about the judgment that comes when we die.
Now, earlier I mentioned this is not a fable. This isn’t just a study in morals.
And there’s other things that it’s not either. It’s not necessarily a lesson about the evils of riches. We know that Abraham was a rich man.
And there’s nothing wrong with having nice clothes and there’s nothing wrong with feasting every once in a while. The Scripture is full of feasting.
But we have to know that wealth can be dangerous when we allow it to disorder our priorities and our desires.
And that also we cannot see wealth. We cannot see the good things that we have in our life as a testament to our goodness.
Our Scripture does not reveal and we ought not teach a gospel of earthly prosperity as a result of our faith, because after all we should not judge by what we see.
This rich man I’m sure there were plenty of people who considered him to be blessed, no matter what he really believed.
And as for the opposite, Lazarus was probably thought to be some great sinner, one who had done something surely he had done something to bring this miserable condition upon himself deserving of it.
No, the rich man was not condemned to hell for being rich, but for his unbelief.
Rather than believe and trust in the Lord he wanted to turn his riches into his own idol, into his own god, things to be held on to.
And the things of the world were most important to him, and he was proud to show all the things that he had in the world.
And when he looked around and saw those like Lazarus and Nee, he turned the other way. We know he was aware of Lazarus being there; he knows his name; he knows Lazarus was there hoping for just some small token of mercy.
Lazarus would be content with whatever he got, and yet this man spares nothing he gives nothing.
And so Lazarus lays there just for the dogs to acknowledge him and to lick his sores, and to give him what little mercy that they would, because the rich man certainly would not.
This also isn’t a lesson about helping the needy.
And although charity is something that we are called to do, an act of love in faith, we are called to do that.
We don’t want to focus on that either. And we don’t want to focus on Lazarus’ place in life, how he came to be where he was, what caused him to be poor, what caused him to be sick.
Rather, we want to focus on and think about what Lazarus has received in death.
So this turns not into a case of the rich versus the poor and material wealth. The rich man wasn’t sent to hell any more than Lazarus was saved because he was destitute.
It’s the faith of Lazarus that gave him eternal life. It’s the faith that we want to focus on, the faith that expects good things from God, not the things that we can acquire for ourselves and then call good.
Because the rich man had everything he needed except for one thing.
And Lazarus had a faith because he had heard the word of God.
He had heard those words written by Moses and he had heard those words written by the prophets.
And in hearing those words, he heard the promise of the gospel.
And so parable or not, this is reality. This is what will happen.
Is the promise that the Lord does not give us a second chance to repent and believe after death.
Before this, before death, there will be no signs that will be the proof that we need to think we need to believe.
No, our faith is founded in the sufficient words of the Gospel, just as Lazarus believed them, faith given to him by the Holy Spirit, as is given to us.
So ultimately, it really doesn’t make a difference if this is a parable or not.
It doesn’t change a thing about what Jesus has to teach us. Because Jesus shows us that it’s not where we’re at in life that matters.
It doesn’t matter if we’re rich or poor, that we have plenty or for need, whether we’re blessed with good health or whether we are afflicted by the ravages of time and disease, whether we are here among the greatest or we are one of the least.
Because we have all that we need that has been revealed in the Word of God and in the person and the work of Christ.
The one to whom the disciple Philip said, and he said of, we have found the one Moses wrote about in the law and about whom the prophets also wrote. Jesus of Nazareth.
And we have it in Jesus’ own testimony about himself, “Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the law of Moses, the prophets and the Psalms.”
So Holy Scripture gives us all that we need to know about God’s plan of salvation for us, that Christ was rich but he became poor for our sake and he became poor so that in his poverty we might be rich, not in earthly treasure but in eternal goods.
That we would then be clothed not like the rich man in purple and fine linen, but in the robe of his own righteousness; that we might feast not on the sumptuous treats of this world, but at the feast of His altar.
So dear Christians, this morning we do indeed leave with this warning from our Lord Jesus about seeing earthly blessings as eternal assurance, and we would do well to heed that.
But we also want to leave here this morning with joy in our hearts knowing that we have the promise.
We have the same promise which Abraham believed in and which was counted to him as righteousness.
And like Lazarus, we have this reward waiting for us, this reward of eternal life when the angels will indeed also carry us to Abraham’s side.
And so we live with the hope of salvation by this word alone through the suffering and the death and the resurrection of Christ alone.
And that yes, one day we will join with Abraham and Moses and the prophets and the apostles and the evangelists and with our brother Lazarus in the heavenly feast which will never end. Amen.
Now may the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.
You may kneel or stand. Let us pray. O Lord God, help our hearts to fear You rightly and to hope in Your steadfast love; hold your eye upon us and deliver us from death.
Lord, in your mercy.
Eternal Lord, grant to those ordained for your service the gift of the Holy Spirit Wisdom that comes down from above and grace to faithfully fulfill their holy calling where you have placed them.
Bless all places where your people teach and learn. We pray especially for our confirmands, for Lutheran schools, teachers, students; those away at college, our seminaries and seminarians guide teachers and students in all places that together we would marvel at your creation and appreciate the depth of your wisdom.
Lord in your mercy.
Holy Father, you promised great and abundant blessings to Abraham which he believed by faith.
Bless the hearts of Christian fathers to prize the gift of their children, and to work in their lives for the good of generations yet unseen.
LORD IN YOUR MERCY.
O Lord, you have called rulers to high positions that they might exercise their authority for the good of all whom you have entrusted to their care.
Grant them every good gift; and grant that we may not misuse the blessings of prosperity and security, but live peaceful and quiet lives, godly and dignified in every way.
LORD IN YOUR MERCY.
Merciful God, give to your servants all that is needed for this body and life.
Heal, strengthen, and comfort the sick and the suffering, the sorrowing and the dying.
And hear the prayers of all who call upon your saving name, especially Nick, April, Bev, Jeff, Libby, Betty, Cheryl, Ella, Linda, Camille, Rose, William, Michelle, Clara, Liz, Annabelle, Baba and Donna, Don, Diane, Eddie, John, Patricia, Phil, Terry and Paul and Ray.
Teach us to pray that our hearts may not be undone by anxiety and fear but rejoice in your grace sufficient for our every need.
Lord in your mercy.
Steadfast Lord you are love and you always reveal your love through your Son. Grant that all who come to your feast of love may worthily eat of Christ’s body and blood.
That whoever abides in this love forever abides in you and you in him.
Lord in your mercy.
Almighty God, as you have given us much, open our eyes to those truly in need and give us both wisdom and generosity to be your hands and voice.
Lord, in your mercy, Father of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Lazarus, and all who rest in you, keep us by your Spirit in true faith in Christ that when our last hour comes we may be gathered into your eternal home through the same Jesus Christ our Lord, Who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God now and forever.
My Lord, be with you. Lift up your hearts.
Let us give thanks unto the Lord our God. It is truly good writing, salutary, that we should at all times and in all places give thanks to you.
Holy Lord! Almighty Father! Everlasting God! Through Jesus Christ our Lord, who out of love for his fallen creation humbled himself by taking on the form of a servant, becoming obedient unto death, even death upon a cross, risen from the dead, He has freed us from eternal death and given us life everlasting.
Therefore with angels and archangels, And with all the company of heaven, We laud and magnify your glorious name, Evermore praising you and saying:
“O God! Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come; thy will be done. On earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil: for thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen.
Our Lord Jesus Christ on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said.
Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.
In the same way also he took the cup after supper, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them saying Drink of it, all of you.
This cup is the New Testament in my blood which is shed for you for the forgiveness of sins.
This do as often as you drink it in remembrance of me.”
Thank you. Eh, eh! Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
The body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ strengthen and preserve you in body and soul to a life everlasting. Depart in peace.
Oh, give thanks unto the Lord for He is good.
Let us pray We give thanks to you, Almighty God, that you have refreshed us through this salutary gift; and we implore you that of your mercy you would strengthen us through the same in faith toward you and in fervent love toward one another.
Through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, One God now and forever.
Bless we the Lord.
The Lord bless you and keep you.
The Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious unto you.
The Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace.
Oh, men, please be seated.
A few announcements before we go. Jonathan Hamilton wanted me to tell the young adults that there will be kind of an ad hoc brunch right after this. What he didn’t tell me is what’s a young adult? I don’t know. You may just show up and eat something. I don’t know. But if you have questions about that, you can see Jonathan also denied our men’s fire pit at 6:30.
You know, in the early service, I asked Carrie Best, I said, you know, a day like today, maybe you should start having an ice pit. That’s about the reaction I got at early service too.
Really take note of the Wednesday activities in the bulletin. We have our normal Wednesday evening Bible study, followed by individual confession and absolution, evening prayer, adult catechism class, other things coming up to make you aware of maybe our seniors ministry is this Thursday morning.
And then last, I needed to make another plug for the Lake Travis boat cruises. There’s still plenty of space for that. That is June 27th. I think there’s info in the service folder.
There’s probably something in the back as well. I think that’s all the announcements we have before we go this morning. God’s peace be with you.