10/19/25

As We Gather

In this series, Living Discipleship, we learn of God’s great love for people. The Scriptures teach that “God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whosoever believes on Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16 It is God’s desire that all be saved and come to the knowledge of His Son. 1 Timothy 2:4   This is a series that seeks to instruct us as Christians what it means to believe in Christ and live as his people in a world that runs counter to Christian thought and life. For the next 8-10 weeks we will learn more fully what it means to be a ‘living disciple’ as God’s redeemed children. Adult Sunday School will feature a more in-depth teaching for today’s message. Study materials provided. All are encouraged to participate… why this would be a good opportunity to invite a friend! 

Children Activity Bags We value children in our worship services. If needed, there is a family room available for families with children. The family room has a diaper changing table, a closed-circuit TV to watch the worship service, toys and books for children. The family room is located across from the kitchen in the long hallway, the first door on the right, just past the bathrooms. There are “King’s Kids” bags with activities for children to help them worship. They are near the usher’s station on a small rack. Please return the bag to the rack after the service.

Holy Communion The Scripture teaches the Lord’s Supper is a precious gift of God in which Christ gives us His true body and blood, together with the bread and wine, for the forgiveness of our sins and the strengthening of our faith. Because the Bible teaches that this Sacrament may also be spiritually harmful if misused, and that participation in the Lord’s Supper is an act of confession of faith, we ordinarily commune those who have been instructed in the teachings of our church and who have confessed their faith in these teachings. If you have a question, please speak to Pastor Ralph before the service. For those who prefer a non-alcoholic alternative, there is grape juice at the center of each tray. Those not receiving the Sacrament, including children, are invited to come to the altar, cross their arms over their chest, and receive a special blessing.

The Holy Trinity Applies Salvation to the Baptized “God is able to remove death and sin and all misery and to give us eternal righteousness, life and joy instead. Through what means does He do this? Through the blood of His dear Son. This is the price that was paid and by which these blessings have been procured for us that we might obtain favor with Him, as Christ says: “God so loved the world that he gave His only begotten Son.” But the Holy Spirit must enlighten and warm us with His fire so that by faith we may experience and feel these truths. Now, since this all takes place in the holy sacrament of Baptism, we should, in justice, not like a cow, consider it mere water but the very blood of the Son of God and the very fire of the Holy Spirit, in which the Son sanctifies us through His blood, the Holy Spirit bathes us with His fire, and the Father quickens us through his light a and splendor. This all three Persons are present, jointly produce the one divine result, and pour all their power into Baptism.”  What Luther Says # 133

Living Discipleship  – Life Giving Resources: The Water of Life

October 19, 2025

Welcome and Hand of Friendship

Opening Hymn                            All Christians Who Have Been Baptized     LSB  596  vs 1-3

Invocation, Confession and Absolution  (portions of Psalm 1)

P:   We gather in the name and at the invitation of our great and gracious triune God;

C:   In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

P:   Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked 

C:   or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. 

P:   But his delight is in the law of the Lord, 

C:   and on his law he meditates day and night. 

P:   He is like a tree planted by streams of water, 

C:   which yields its fruit in season 

P:   and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers. 

C:   Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away. 

P:   Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, 

C:   nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. 

P:   For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, 

C:   but the way of the wicked will perish. 

P:   Father in Heaven, 

C:   at the Baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River You proclaimed Him Your beloved Son and anointed Him with the Holy Spirit. Make all who are baptized in His name faithful in their calling as Your children and inheritors with Him of everlasting life; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

(Silence for Meditation)

P:   By the mercy of God we are redeemed by Jesus Christ, and in Him we are forgiven. The Holy Spirit brings the testimony of Jesus to declare that all your sins are forgiven in the name of the Father and of the ✠ Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

C:   Amen.

Hymn of Praise                        All Christians Who Have Been Baptized       LSB  596  vs 4-6

Prayer of the Day

All:   O blessed Lord, You have called, gathered, and enlightened us with the Holy Spirit through the washing and renewal we have in Holy Baptism. We have been born again, born from above by Your love that forgives us of our sin and gifts us with renewing strength in the Holy Spirit. As we learn of and receive Christ, make us bold to make known His death and resurrection to the world that all people might be saved; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

N T Lesson                   (Baptism brings people into the family of God)              Acts 2: 36-47

“Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.” ³⁷ When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” ³⁸ Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. ³⁹ The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.” ⁴⁰ With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” ⁴¹ Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day. ⁴² They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. ⁴³ Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. ⁴⁴ All the believers were together and had everything in common. ⁴⁵ Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. ⁴⁶ Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, ⁴⁷ praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

N T Lesson            (All who are baptized have been buried with Christ)        Romans 6: 1-6

What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? ² By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? ³ Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? ⁴ We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. ⁵ If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection. ⁶ For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin— ⁷ because anyone who has died has been freed from sin.  

Gospel Lesson             (Born again of water and of the Spirit!)                                 John 3: 1-8

Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council. ² He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him.” ³ In reply Jesus declared, “I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.” ⁴ “How can a man be born when he is old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb to be born!” ⁵ Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. ⁶ Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. ⁷ You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ ⁸ The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.” 

Message Song                        My Worth is Not in What I Own                            Getty/Kendrick

My worth is not in what I own; not in the strength of flesh and bone.

But in the costly wounds of love, at the cross.

My worth is not in skill or name;  in win or lose on pride or shame

But in the blood of Christ that flowed   at the cross

     Chorus    I rejoice in my Redeemer, Greatest treasure, Well-spring of my soul

I will trust in Him, no other; my soul is satisfied in Him alone. 

As summer flowers we fade and die: Fame, youth and beauty hurry by.

But life eternal calls to us    at the cross.

I will not boast in wealth or might,  or human wisdom’s fleeting light.

                         But I will boast in knowing Christ   at the cross.           Chorus

Two wonders here that I confess: My worth and my unworthiness.

                          My value fixed – my ransom paid    at the cross             Chorus

CCLI Song # 7024758 © Getty Music Publishing | Make Way Music For use solely with the SongSelect®

Terms of Use. All rights reserved. www.ccli.com CCLI License # 11390779

Life Giving Resources: The Water of Life In Holy Baptism…

1. the stain of sin is                           as God’s forgiveness provides ______________________ for your salvation.                                         Acts 2: 38; Ps. 103: 12-14; 1 Peter 3: 21ff

2. the clothing of                                   and                           into God’s kingdom is granted!

                                                                                                          Gal 3: 26-27; Col. 2: 11-12

3. Sinners are given the gift of                                           as the Holy Spirit                           and                     ______________through the Word of God.                               Titus 3: 4-7; 2 Tim. 3: 16-17

Nicene Creed

 C:   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 the Son together is worshiped and glorified, who spoke by the prophets. And I believe in 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.

Offering 

Offertory                                              Lord of all Hopefulness                                         LSB 738  vs 1-2

Prayers of the Church  

 After each petition:

 P:  Lord, in your mercy,

 C:  hear our prayer.

The Lord’s Prayer

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.

The Lord’s Supper

Preface                                                                      page 194 in the hymnal

P:  The Lord be with you.

C:  ♪ And with thy spirit.

P:  Lift up your hearts.

C:  ♪ We lift them up unto the Lord.

P:  Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

C:  ♪ It is meet and right so to do.

P:  It is truly good, right, and salutary …. And with the host of heaven we sing:

Sanctus — Holy, Holy, Holy                                          page 195 in the hymnal

C:  ♪ Ho -ly, ho-ly, ho-ly Lord God of Sa – ba – oth. Heaven and earth are full of Thy   

        glory. Hosanna, hosanna, hosanna in the highest. Blessed is He, blessed is He, 

        blessed is He who cometh in the name of the Lord.  Hosanna, hosanna, hosanna 

        in the highest.

The Words of Institution (Jesus Institutes the Lord’s Supper)

Pax Domini—The Peace of the Lord                  page 197 in the hymnal

P:  The peace of the Lord be with you always.

C:  ♪ Amen.

Agnus Dei – Lamb of God                                                                 page 198 in the hymnal                                      

C:  ♪ O Christ, Thou Lamb of God, that takest away the sin of the world; 

         have mercy upon us.

         O Christ, Thou Lamb of God, that takest away the sin of the world; 

         have mercy upon us.

         O Christ, Thou Lamb of God, that takest away the sin of the world; 

         grant us Thy peace.  A – men.

Distribution of Communion

Distribution Hymn                         All Who Believe and Are Baptized LSB  601

 Nunc Dimittis                                                                    page 199 in the hymnal        

C: ♪   Lord, now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace according to Thy Word, for mine  

       eyes have seen Thy salvation, which Thou hast prepared before the face of all people,

       a light to lighten the Gentiles and the glory of Thy people Israel. Glory be to the                 Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and 

        ever shall be, world without end.  Amen.

Post Communion Collect

All:  Lord Jesus Christ, we thank You for the meal of forgiveness, life and peace that we have received in, with and underneath the bread and wine of Holy Communion. May this, Your true body and blood continue its strengthening power of grace in our lives that we may love You with our whole hearts and our neighbors as ourselves. Amen.

Benediction                                                                                                        Numbers 6:24–26

P:   The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you. The Lord look upon you with favor and ✠ give you peace.

C:   Amen. Alleluia. Amen!

Closing Hymn                Baptized into Your Name Most Holy                     LSB 590                   

 Announcements 

Dismissal

P:   Go in peace as you serve the Lord.      

C:   Thanks be to God!   

Postlude