11/16/25

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 Greater the Love the More Like God “The more a person loves, the closer he approaches the image of God. The work of a painter or sculptor is, at the beginning, unlike that which he wants to have, Thus love begins in this life after we come to faith in the Son of God so that we become increasingly similar to God.”  What Luther Says # 2573

Living Discipleship 10 – Love Your Neighbor as Yourself

November 16, 2025

Welcome and Hand of Friendship

Opening Hymn           Church of God Elect and Glorious           LSB 646 vs 1-2 Tune 650

Invocation, Confession and Absolution  (portions of Psalm 138)

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:   I will praise you, O Lord, with all my heart; 

C:   before the “gods” I will sing your praise. 

P:   I will bow down toward your holy temple and will praise your name for your love and your faithfulness, 

C:   for you have exalted above all things your name and your word. 

P:   When I called, you answered me; you made me bold and stouthearted. 

C:   May all the kings of the earth praise you, O Lord, 

P:   when they hear the words of your mouth. 

C:   May they sing of the ways of the Lord, for the glory of the Lord is great. 

P:   Though the Lord is on high, he looks upon the lowly, 

C:   but the proud he knows from afar. 

P:   Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life; 

C:   you stretch out your hand against the anger of my foes, with your right hand you save me. 

P:   The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me; your love, O Lord, endures forever— 

C:   do not abandon the works of your hands. 

P:   Our Father in Heaven, 

C:    as we come before You we confess that we are by nature sinful and unclean and only deserve Your present and eternal punishment. We haven’t loved You with our whole heart, nor have we sought to and loved our neighbor as ourself. For the sake of Your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us. 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.

 (Silence for Meditation)

P:   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.

C:   Amen.

Hymn of Praise                           Church of God Elect and Glorious            LSB 646 vs 3-4  Tune 650                 

Prayer of the Day

All:   Heavenly Father, as we receive the forgiveness we did not earn, nor deserve, we thank you that Your ear is always open to hear from us: thankful for the good, fearful of the bad and sorrowful over the ugly. Keep our hearts and minds stayed on You and Your will for our lives that we may show forth the fruits of Your grace and mercy through our words and deeds. Continue to lead and guide us in the ways of everlasting life; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with You and the Holy Spirit are one God, now and forever. Amen.

O T Lesson                        (Prayer brings the repentance and blessing of God)         Isaiah 1: 13-20

Stop bringing meaningless offerings! Your incense is detestable to me. New Moons, Sabbaths and convocations— I cannot bear your evil assemblies. ¹⁴ Your New Moon festivals and your appointed feasts my soul hates. They have become a burden to me; I am weary of bearing them. ¹⁵When you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide my eyes from you; even if you offer many prayers, I will not listen. Your hands are full of blood; ¹⁶wash and make yourselves clean. Take your evil deeds out of my sight! Stop doing wrong, ¹⁷learn to do right! Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow. ¹⁸“Come now, let us reason together,” says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool. ¹⁹ If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the best from the land; ²⁰ but if you resist and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword.” For the mouth of the Lord has spoken. 

N T Lesson                        (Growing in the divine power we have been given)            1 Peter 1:3-11

His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. ⁴ Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. ⁵ For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; ⁶ and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; ⁷ and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. ⁸ For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁹ But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins. ¹⁰ Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall, ¹¹ and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  

Gospel Lesson                                  (The Greatest Commandment)                          Mark 12: 28-34

One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?” ²⁹ “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. ³⁰ Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ ³¹ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” ³² “Well said, teacher,” the man replied. “You are right in saying that God is one and there is no other but him. ³³ To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.” ³⁴ When Jesus saw that he had answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And from then on no one dared ask him any more questions.  

Message Song                                    The Goodness of God

I love You Lord  Oh Your mercy never fails me

All my days  I’ve been held in Your hands

From the moment that I wake up  Until I lay my head

I will sing of the goodness of God

   Chorus     All my life You have been faithful   All my life You have been so so good

With every breath that I am able  I will sing of the goodness of God

I love Your voice  You have led me through the fire

In darkest night  You are close like no other

I’ve known You as a father  I’ve known You as a friend

                       I have lived in the goodness of God       Chorus

                  Bridge         Your goodness is running after  It’s running after me

Your goodness is running after  It’s running after me

With my life laid down  I’m surrendered now

I give You everything   Your goodness is running after

                   It’s running after me    Chorus

CLI Song # 7117726 Ben Fielding | Brian Johnson | Ed Cash | Jason Ingram | Jenn Johnson

© 2018 Capitol CMG Paragon; CCLI License # 11390779

Message                                         Loving My Neighbor as Myself

To love my neighbor as myself…

1. I do not run away from an opportunity to do good to all! Gal. 6:10

2. I run away when I make it about me, my time   , my schedule   , my money   .  

                                                                                                                             2 Cor. 8-9

3. Jesus didn’t run away from divine     responsibility     but ran to the solution    for all mankind’s problem: He went to the cross for all of us self-centered sinners.

4. Loving your neighbors is a form of carrying     your     cross     in the same strength that raised Christ from the dead.                                                    Matthew 16:24-26

Apostles Creed

 I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth.  

1. And in Jesus Christ His only Son our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended into hell. The third day He rose from the dead. He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. From thence He will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

Offering 

Offertory                                         Now Thank We All Our God                                        LSB 895 vs 3

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                         Lord Keep Us Steadfast in Your Word                     LSB 655

                                                                            Come to Me                                   (10:30) Ascension Choir        

Nunc Dimittis

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:  Oh God the Father, the fountain and source of all goodness, who in loving kindness sent Your only-begotten Son into the flesh, we thank You that for His sake You have given us pardon and peace in this Sacrament, and we ask You not to forsake Your children but always to rule our hearts and minds by Your Holy Spirit that we may be enabled constantly to serve You; Through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. 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                               Almighty Father, Bless the Word                                     LSB 923

 Announcements 

Dismissal

P:   Go in peace as you serve the Lord.      

C:   Thanks be to God!   

Postlude