The Twelfth Sunday of the Pentecost Season
Also known as the Tenth Sunday after
the Festival of the Holy Trinity – August 09, 2026
Major Messages from the Minor Prophets
Haggai: Making God’s Priorities Our Priorities
A wealthy man bought an island so he could get back to the beauty of nature and solitude. Friends convinced him to build a golf course on it so he’d have something to do – then a hotel to house the guests who came to play golf – then a shopping mall for the wives of the golfers – then a hospital to care for emergencies – then a police station to take care of the crime that developed. Soon, he could no longer see the natural beauty of the island or the ocean, nor could he hear the sounds of nature or the crashing of the ocean waves. He had put too many things in the way.
Sometimes (and too often) that’s the way it is between us and God. We lose sight of what really matters. We have so many other things in the way (career, family, hobbies, education, sports, “resting”), that we end up putting our fellowship with God “on hold for later”….while we take care of our “necessities” and our “wants” right now. That’s why we’re going to use the bad example of a character from Greek mythology named “Narcissus” as part of today’s Children’s Lesson. Here, we’ll want to listen seriously as John evangelically warns us that we should “love not the world or anything in the world” – ourselves included – ahead of our love for God. Being focused first on the things, duties and activities of world simply makes the statement that God is not first in our lives as He should be…..and that’s not only idolatry….it’s damnably dangerous. The first danger is that we end up denying ourselves the opportunity to commune with and to glorify God (which is our real purpose as believers). And the second – and more serious — danger is that establishing and maintaining selfish priorities can ultimately choke out our awareness of God’s presence in our lives and our appreciation for all that He, for Jesus’ sake, has done and still does for us.
Today’s Scripture Lessons
The story about the man buying the island which you’ve just read, has a parallel in our Old Testament Lesson/Sermon Text for today: the book of the prophet Haggai. God’s chosen people in his day had a vexing problem of misplaced priorities. It wasn’t that they didn’t know God, or worship Him, or appreciate (at least somewhat) His many blessings to them…..it’s that they were beginning to do what many of their cousins back in Babylon were doing and their ancestors in Judah and Israel had done. The LORD, His Word and His glory were being taken for granted. They no longer received the “first priority” in the lives of the Jewish people. Haggai urged the Jews to “Put First Things (the LORD) First” in their lives once again….and to prove that by completing a house of worship for Him.
This morning’s service and sermon continue the worship series we began over two months ago on the “Major Messages from the Minor Prophets.” Along the way, we’ve listened to God graciously speaking to His people through the inspired words of Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk and Zephaniah. Of course, as He spoke to people who lived between 2800 and 2600 years ago, even so the LORD is speaking to us today also
This morning, we’re going to focus our attention on the life and the message (in fact, the entire book) of tenth member of the “minor prophets:” the prophet Haggai. In referring to Haggai and his fellow prophets as “Minor prophets” we do not in any way mean their messages are less-inspired, or less important than the so-called “Major” prophets (Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Daniel). The twelve “Minor Prophets” are: Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi. They are referred to as “minor” in this sense: that their written messages were noticeably shorter in length than the writings of those four “major” prophets. Although these prophets have been designated as “minor,” each was inspired by God the Holy Spirit, and each had a specific, significant message that was applicable to the audience of each prophet’s time and place. Their messages, though admittedly not as well-studied by us as many other parts of Scripture, are nevertheless important and relevant to us today. That’s why, over these summer months and into early fall, we’ll be considering in our worship services and seeking to apply to our lives and our collective Christian ministry as the Grace Lutheran Church family – a number of “major messages” from these “minor prophets.”
The image to the left (poor though it is) is one of the few drawings or paintings I could find depicting the work of the prophet Haggai. Standing on a huge block of stone, Haggai is preaching to the Jews of Jerusalem, exhorting them to complete the construction of the Lord’s temple. That project had been languishing for roughly 16 years following the return of 50,000 Jews, led by a Prince (and descendent of David) named Zerubbabel, from their God-imposed exile in Babylon. The 70 year exile (from 606-536 B.C.) had been a discipline from the LORD because the Jewish people had whole-heartedly committed the sin of idolatry – forsaking worship of Him for pagan gods. But their eventual return home was not only prophesied in advance, it was an obvious act of God’s grace. He moved the heart of the Persian king, Cyrus, to permit the Jews to return to their homeland. Most Jews, unfortunately, opted to remain in Babylon where they had made comfortable lives for themselves. Only a small group chose to return. Their story is spelled out in greater detail in the book of Ezra. In the period immediately following their return, the Jewish people rolled up their sleeves and got to work. They restored the foundation of Solomon’s once-beautiful, but now-destroyed temple. They even built an altar at the temple site in order to publicly worship the LORD. But rather quickly their individual comforts, personal priorities, business affairs and life’s duties, as well as hostility and opposition from the neighboring Samaritans, got in the way…..and a job well-begun was left embarrassingly incomplete. All excuses and explanations aside, they were failing the God Who had delivered them from exile, because they were not putting His things (and His house) first.
Through the prophets Haggai and Zechariah, as well as the priest, Ezra, the LORD rebuked His people and, at the same time, encouraged them. They reminded the Jews of their need to live faithful, disciplined lives – lest they forfeit the blessings God could give them. The LORD’s spokesmen also reassured the Jewish people that He would not forsake them but would be present among them. Haggai and his compatriots additionally proclaimed God’s forgiveness to Jews along with the promise that He would graciously bless and protect them from all their enemies. They also repeated the promise first given in Eden, but also to Abram and the patriarchs, as well as the nation of Israel: that in due time the LORD would keep His promise to provide the world with the greatest of all blessings, providing them the “Desire of all nations” (Haggai 2:6) – none other than the Savior — Whose glory would eventually (500+ years later) fill the temple these Jews would be building to honor God.
In this morning’s Epistle Lesson you and I can find something in Jesus’ words to the church of Laodicea that could have been applied to the people of Haggai’s day and to us today. Our Savior hits hard against the dangerous condition of being “spiritually lukewarm.” Instead of putting the Lord, one’s faith and Christian faithfulness at the top of the “personal priority list,” the Lukewarm Christian prefers to let his/her faith “coast in neutral.” Instead of a wanting to grow spiritually and be wholly devoted to God, His Word and His work….the lukewarm heart prefers the material side of life, comfortable – even convinced – that God is satisfied with token, occasional, half-hearted spiritual efforts and interest. The truth is: He’s not pleased at all. He knows the complacent believer is in grave danger, and so – in love – He comes and warns us to repent and, with His Spirit’s aid, reacquire a fully-faithful faith that is “on fire” for Him
Today’s Gospel Lesson comes from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount and is – perhaps – its most memorable point. Here Christ tells us not to worry about our lives, our food, our clothes or anything else. Unbelievers might worry about those things, but the believer knows – by faith – that our Heavenly Father is aware of all our needs of body and soul, and that He is able and willing to meet those needs. What Jesus urges here is that we put first things first; recognizing that eternal matters of the soul are always more important than materials matters for the body. Putting the Kingdom of God (faith and God’s work) first in our lives will always bring us the most satisfaction, peace, and provision. God grant that every one of us will do that!
Some information about Haggai and His book
The Gospel in Haggai: Haggai predicts the coming of the Messiah (2:6) as “the Desired of all nations,” Whose personal presence one day would fill the sacred temple the Jews were to construct for the worship of the LORD. In fact, His presence would glorify the Temple (2:7,9) in a way that had not occurred even with Solomon’s Temple or its predecessor, the Tabernacle, first used following Israel’s exodus from Egypt. The coming Messiah is also implied in the person and work of the Jewish prince Zerubbabel, an ancestor of Christ (Mt 1:12; Lk 3:27). Through Haggai the LORD says about him (2:23), “I will take you, O Zerubbabel My servant, the son of Shealtiel, declares the Lord, and make you like a signet ring, for I have chosen you, declares the Lord of hosts.” His descendant, Christ, of course, was the One Chosen to save us from our sins. We also see the Gospel in the merciful way in which the LORD dealt with a disobedient people: disciplining them, on the one hand (1:5-6, 10-11; 2:15-19a), yet also speaking to them, teaching them, and assuring them that He would continue to be present among them (2:4,5), granting them peace (2:9) and blessing them – in spite of their sins (2:19b).
Haggai and his Message from the LORD: Haggai was a prophet who, as we noted earlier, was a contemporary of Ezra the priest and Zechariah the prophet. Two Jewish traditions suggest that he served as a prophet already while in Babylon, and might have been taken captive from Jerusalem (and so would have seen Solomon’s temple prior to its destruction in 586 B.C.). If so, he would have been about 70-80 years old at the time God gave him the four messages contained in this book. Regardless, these four messages that comprise the book of Haggai (the second shortest book in the Old Testament) were all proclaimed in the year 520 B.C. (the “second year of King Darius” [1:1] who began reigning over Persia in 522 B.C.). The focus of Haggai’s message was God’s encouragement to the Jewish remnant that they complete the work of constructing His temple, which they had begun 16 years earlier but then abruptly stopped….for a variety of reasons. In the interim, their focus had been far too much on themselves – -their comforts (1:4,9) and their fears of their enemies (2:21-22) – and far too little on the LORD, His Word and His will. Along with Ezra and Zechariah’s inspired words, Haggai’s message would change that…..as the people did listen, and repent, and complete the temple’s rebuilding.
The name “Haggai” means “festal’ or “festive” and suggests that the prophet might have been born on, or around, one of Judaism’s great religious festivals. The messages that he uttered were spoken over a four month period in 520 B.C. The first message (chapter 1), stressing the consequences of disobedience, was delivered on the first day of the sixth month (August 29). The last message (2:20-23) was given on the 24th day of the ninth month (December 18). It reassured Judah’s leader, Zerubbabel, that God had chosen him and would grant him success. In between Haggai proclaimed his second message (2:1-9) which pointed out the blessings of obedience, and a third message (2:10-19), which indicated that even though God’s people had defiled themselves by disobeying Him, He would forgive and bless them anyway.
A few other items of note…..in Haggai’s four messages, the LORD introduces Himself to His people as both the LORD (21 times) and the LORD of hosts (14 times). The name LORD (Jehovah) refers to the one, true God as the Covenant-God of free and faithful grace. LORD of hosts indicates that He is the God of power, the head of the heavenly armies. Now, as then, God’s people need to be reminded of His grace and His power – which are always at work for us, for our earthly and everlasting good.
Welcome to Grace Lutheran Church If you are a first-time guest, we’re honored you’ve chosen to worship with us this morning. If you’ve been with us before, we’re glad to have you back! If we can do anything to make your time among us more edifying and enjoyable, please speak with one of our ushers, our Pastor, or the person sitting next to you. We want to serve you to the best of our abilities. We also hope you’ll join those around you for some good conversation, coffee, and other refreshments in our fellowship hall after today’s service is done. And finally, we invite you to remain afterward to participate with us in our Sunday School and Bible Class. May the comfort of God’s love and His forgiveness through Jesus Christ bring you peace and be with you throughout this day and this week.
A Children’s Nursery is available to assist parents with small children during the worship hour. We encourage parents to bring children into worship whenever possible. This helps children learn why we come here each week: to praise God and to learn from Him. In addition, we know that the Holy Spirit’s power in the written and spoken Word blesses the hearts and souls of little children, no less than adults. But for some of the youngest among us, the nursery is, at times, a necessity, particularly when their agitation detracts from the worship of others around them in the chapel. When such situations occur, we encourage parents to be considerate of those around them, and to bring your child into the nursery area for a short time, until he/she becomes comfortable again. Then we hope you and your child will return to the sanctuary to continue to worship and grow in God’s Word. The Nursery is in the first room along the north wall in our rear — or second — seating area. A changing table for very small children is also in the nursery, which is available to you at any time today.
The portions of God’s that are used in this worship flyer have been taken from The Holy Bible, Evangelical Heritage Version Copyright 2019, The Wartburg Project, Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission. Music and lyrics, as needed, are used with permission via OneLicense.net #A712831
Pre-Service Prayer
In the name of God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.
I thank You my Heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your Son, for keeping me through the night from all harm and danger. Keep me this day also from sin and every evil, that all my doings and life may please You. Into Your hands I commit my body and soul and all things. Let your holy angel be with me, that the Devil may have no power over me. Amen.
Prayer upon entering the sanctuary
Pre-service Music
We Praise Our God
The Introduction and Invitation To Worship
After which the Congregation will rise for
The Invocation
Pastor We begin this service in the name of the Father
Congregation Who gave us our lives through His almighty power.
P: And of the Son
C: Who redeemed our lives with His precious blood.
P: And of the Holy Spirit
C: Who gave us eternal life through faith in Christ Jesus.
P: Amen.
The Psalm for Today Psalm 119:9-16
P: How can a young man cleanse his way?
C: By taking heed according to Your Word.
P: With my whole heart I have sought You; Oh, let me not wander from Your commandments.
C: Your Word I have hidden in my heart + that I might not sin against You.
P: Praise be to You, O LORD
C: Teach me Your statues.
P: With my lips I have declared all the judgments of Your mouth.
C: I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies + as much as in all riches.
P: I will meditate on Your precepts
C: and contemplate Your ways.
P: I will delight myself in Your statues;
C: I will not forget Your Word.
after which the Congregation will be seated for
The Opening Hymn Hymn 340 “O For A Thousand Tongues To Sing”
sung antiphonally
Verse 1 – Entire congregation
Verse 2 – Pulpit side Verse 3 – Lectern side
Verse 4 – Men & boys Verse 5 – Women & girls
Verse 6 – Entire congregation
1 Oh, for a thousand tongues to sing
My great Redeemer’s praise,
The glories of my God and King,
The triumphs of his grace!
2 My gracious Master and my God,
Assist me to proclaim,
To spread through all the earth abroad,
The honors of your name.
3 The name of Jesus calms our fears
And bids our sorrows cease.
‘Tis music in the sinners ears;
‘Tis life and health and peace.
4 He breaks the pow’r of canceled sin;
He sets the pris’ner free.
His blood can make the foulest clean;
His blood avails for me.
5 See all your sins on Jesus laid;
The Lamb of God was slain.
His life was once an off’ring made
That you might live again.
6 Glory to God and praise and love
Be ever, ever giv’n
By saints below and saints above,
The Church in earth and heav’n.
after which the Congregation will rise
We Make Confession Of Our Sins To God
Pastor We have come together in the presence of God, our Heavenly Father, Who created us to love and serve Him as His dear children. But We have disobeyed Him through our thoughts, words, and actions, and deserve only His wrath and punishment. Therefore, let us now turn to Him, acknowledging our sinfulness and seeking His forgiveness for all our sins. In the words of Jeremiah, we confess:
Congregation Although our sins testify against us, O LORD, do something for the sake of Your name. For our backsliding is great; we have sinned against You.
Pastor In the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, we acknowledge how thoroughly sin fills our lives, even our very being:
Congregation From within, out of our hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy slander, arrogance, and folly. All these evils come from inside and make us ‘unclean.’
Pastor Along with the Apostle John, we recognize:
Congregation If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
Pastor And in the words of David, before the Lord we plead:
Congregation I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. Against You, You only have I sinned and done what is evil in Your sight, so that You are proved right when You speak and justified when You judge. Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me.
Pastor Jesus says to His people: “If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven.” Our Savior’s perfect life and sacrificial death have paid for the guilt and penalty of our sins, and for the sins of the whole world. Do you believe this?
Congregation Yes, I believe this.
Pastor Then be assured that you are a dear child of God and an heir of everlasting life. And carrying out my office as a called servant of Christ, and according to His command and authority, I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. May the peace of God rest upon all of you. Amen.
Our Response to God’s Forgiveness the tune of “Nun danket alle Gott”
(“Now Thank We All our God”)
The Lord, my God be praised To Him with joyful song
My God, Who, ever-living, Our praises we are bringing
To Whom the heavenly host And with the angel throng
All praise and honor, giving – Thrice “Holy,” we are singing.
The Lord, my God, be praised, With one united voice
In Whose great name I boast, The Church does Him adore.
God Father, God the Son The Lord, my God, be praised
and God the Holy Ghost. Now and forevermore. Amen.
The Prayer for Today
O Almighty God, + bless the preaching of Your Word + among us this morning + and throughout the world. + Bless us, gathered here, with an added measure of Your Holy Spirit + to make us wise unto salvation through faith in Christ, + to equip us for faithful service to You, + and to fill us with joy in that service. + Also strengthen our faith through Your Word and Sacraments + that we might remain in this one, true Christian faith as long as we live. + We ask this in the name of our Savior, Jesus Christ, + Who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, + one God, for ever and ever. + Amen.
After which the Congregation may be seated
We Listen to the Word of our LORD
The Sequence Hymn Hymn 282 “Lord, Open Now My Heart To Hear” verse 1
1 Lord, open now my heart to hear,
And through your Word to me draw near.
Let me your Word e’er pure retain;
Let me your child and heir remain.
The Old Testament Lesson Haggai 1-2
1 In the second year of King Darius, on the first day of the sixth month, the word of the Lord came through Haggai the prophet to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, the governor of Judah, and to Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest.
2 This is what the Lord of Armies says. This people has said, “It is not the right time for the House of the Lord to be built.”
3 So the word of the Lord came through Haggai the prophet.
4 Is it time for you to live in your paneled houses while this house lies in ruins? 5 Now this is what the Lord of Armies says. Consider your ways carefully. 6 You sow much seed but you harvest little. You eat but you are never satisfied. You drink but you never become drunk. You get dressed, but no one is warm. The one who makes money puts that money into a bag with a hole in it.
7 This is what the Lord of Armies says. Consider your ways carefully. 8 Go up to the mountains, bring lumber down, and build the House. I will be pleased with it, and I will be glorified, says the Lord.
9 You expected much, but look, there was little. When you brought it home, I blew it away.
Why did I do that? This is a declaration of the Lord of Armies. It is because My house lies in ruins while each of you is busy with your own house. 10 So it is because of you that the heavens have withheld the dew and the earth has withheld its produce. 11 I called for a drought on the land, on the mountains, on the grain, on the new wine, on the olive oil, on everything which the soil produces, on people, on livestock, and on all the labor of your hands.
12 Then Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, and Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, with all the surviving remnant of the people, listened to the voice of the Lord their God and to the words of Haggai the prophet, because the Lord their God had sent him. So the people feared the Lord.
13 Then Haggai, the Lord’s messenger, spoke the Lord’s message to the people: “I am with you, declares the Lord.”
14 The Lord stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and the spirit of all the surviving remnant of the people, and they came and worked on the house for the Lord of Armies, their God, 15 on the twenty-fourth day of the sixth month, in the second year of King Darius.
2:1 On the twenty-first day of the seventh month, the word of the Lord came through Haggai the prophet.
2 Speak to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, the governor of Judah, and to Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and to the surviving remnant of the people.
3 Who is left among you who saw this house in its former glory? How does it look now? Doesn’t it seem like nothing in your eyes?
4 But now, be strong, Zerubbabel, declares the Lord. Be strong, Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest! Be strong, all you people of the land, declares the Lord. Get to work, and I will be with you, declares the Lord of Armies. 5 This is the promise I made to you when you left Egypt. My Spirit remains in your midst. Do not be afraid!
6 Listen, this is what the Lord of Armies says. Once again, in a little while, I Myself will shake the heavens and the earth, the seas and the dry land. 7 I will shake all the nations, and the desired of all the nations will come, and I will fill this house with glory, says the Lord of Armies. 8 The silver is Mine and the gold is Mine, declares the Lord of Armies. 9 The glory of this second house will be greater than that of the first one, says the Lord of Armies. For in this place I will provide peace, declares the Lord of Armies.
10 On the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month in the second year of Darius, the word of the Lord came to Haggai the prophet.
11 This is what the Lord of Armies says. Ask the priests about the law. 12 If someone carries consecrated meat in the fold of his garment, and he touches bread, stew, wine, oil, or any food with the fold of the garment, will that food become holy?
The priests answered, “No.”
13 Then Haggai said, “If one who is unclean from contact with a dead body touches any of these things, will that thing become unclean?”
The priests answered, “It will be unclean.”
14 Then Haggai responded:
This is how it is with this people, and this is how it is with this nation in My presence, declares the Lord, and this is how it is with all the work of their hands. Everything that they offer there is unclean.
15 Now, consider your ways carefully, from the time before stone was laid upon stone in the temple of the Lord, up to this day. 16 Through all that time, whenever anyone came to a heap of grain to get twenty measures, there were only ten. Whenever anyone came to the wine vat to draw out fifty measures, there were only twenty. 17 I struck you and all the work of your hands with blight, mildew, and hail, yet you did not turn to Me, declares the Lord.
18 Consider your ways carefully, from today, the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, all the way back to the day when the foundation of the Lord’s temple was laid. Consider this. 19 Is there still seed in the barn? The vine, the fig tree, the pomegranate, and the olive tree have not produced fruit.
But from this day on, I will bless you.
20 The word of the Lord came a second time to Haggai on the twenty-fourth day of the month.
21 Speak to Zerubbabel, governor of Judah. Say, “I will shake the heavens and the earth. 22 I will overthrow the thrones of kingdoms. I will destroy the strength of the kingdoms of the nations. I will overturn the chariots and those who ride in them. The horses and their riders will go down, each one by the sword of his brother. 23 On that day, declares the Lord of Armies, I will take you, Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, my servant, declares the Lord, and I will make you like a signet ring, for I have chosen you, declares the Lord of Armies.”
The Sequence Hymn Hymn 282 “Lord, Open Now My Heart To Hear” verse 2
2. Your Word inspires my heart within
Your Word grants healing from my sin
Your Word has power to guide and bless,
Your Word brings peace and happiness.
The Epistle Lesson Revelation 3:14-22
14 To the messenger of the church in Laodicea write: The Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Ruler of God’s creation, says this:
15 I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. If only you were cold or hot! 16 So, because you are lukewarm and not hot or cold, I am about to spit you out of My mouth. 17 You say, “I am rich. I have become very wealthy and need nothing.” But you do not know that you are miserable, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked. 18 I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments, so that you may be clothed and the shame of your nakedness may not become public, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see.
19 I rebuke and discipline those whom I love. So take this seriously and repent.
20 Look, I stand at the door and I am knocking. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will go in with him and dine with him, and he with Me. 21 To the one who is victorious I will give the right to sit with Me on My throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with My Father on His throne. 22 Whoever has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
The Sequence Hymn Hymn 282 “Lord, Open Now My Heart To Hear” verse 3
3 To God the Father, God the Son,
And God the Spirit, Three in One,
Shall glory, praise, and honor be
Now and throughout eternity.
After which the Congregation will rise for
The Gospel Lesson Matthew 6:25-34
25 “For this reason I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air. They do not sow or reap or gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they?
27 “Which of you can add a single moment to his lifespan by worrying? 28 Why do you worry about clothing? Consider how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin, 29 but I tell you that not even Solomon in all his glory was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not clothe you even more, you of little faith?
31 “So do not worry, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’ 32 For the unbelievers chase after all these things. Certainly your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
The Apostles’ Creed Sung to the melody of Friend
(What A Friend We Have In Jesus)
I believe in God the Father, Maker of the heavens and earth,
And in Jesus Christ, our Savior, God’s own Son, of human birth —
Virgin-born, the Lord Incarnate, Whom the Spirit did conceive,
Suffered under Pontius Pilate, He’s the God Whom I believe.
Crucified, was dead, and buried. Down to hell in victory,
From the dead He rose the third day, Up to heav’n triumphantly.
There at God’s right hand He’s ruling. By His will the world is led.
He will come to judge the nations – both the living and the dead.
I believe in God the Spirit, and His Church – His chosen band,
They are joined in Close Communion, Holy, in His sight, they stand.
I believe in sins forgiven; That the dead will rise again.
I believe in life eternal. Amen! Amen! Amen!
After which the Congregation may be seated for
Today’s Children’s Lesson I John 2:15-17
15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the desire of the eyes, boasting about material possessions—is not from the Father but from the world. 17 The world and its desires pass away, but the one who does the will of God remains forever.
I Corinthians 10:31
31 So whether you eat or drink, or do anything else, do everything to the glory of God.
What and Whom Do You Love?
And How Do You Show It?
The Sermon Hymn Hymn 462 “O That The Lord Would Guide My Ways”
1 Oh, that the Lord would guide my ways
To keep his statutes still!
Oh, that my God would grant me grace
To know and do his will!
2 Order my footsteps by your Word,
And make my heart sincere;
Let sin have no dominion, Lord,
But keep my conscience clear.
3 Assist my soul, too apt to stray,
A stricter watch to keep;
And should I e’er forget your way,
Restore your wand’ring sheep.
4 Make me to walk in your commands –
‘Tis a delightful road –
Nor let my head or heart or hands
Offend against my God.
After which the Congregation may REMAIN SEATED for
The Greeting Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in Christ! O Lord, open my lips, that my mouth may declare Your praise. Amen.
The Sermon based on Haggai 1-2
(Today’s Old Testament Lesson)
Put First (God’s) Things First
following the sermon the Congregation will REMAIN SEATED for
The Blessing To Him Who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before His glorious presence without
fault and with great joy — to the only God, our Savior, be glory, majesty, power, and authority…now and forever. Amen.
We Offer Our Gifts and Prayers to the Lord
Our Offerings of Love to our Lord
We will be passing an offering plate through our chapel at this point. For those unable to worship with us in person, if you would like to participate in this offering, we offer you the following suggestions for providing God with Your thank-offerings through our ministry:
1) You can send a check (no cash) in the mail to Grace Lutheran Church (415 N. 6th Place, Lowell, AR 72745)
2) Or, go online to our website (www.gracelutherannwa.com) and use the giving option there.
as the offerings are brought forward, the Congregation will rise for
Today’s Special Prayers
Included in our prayers today are:
A Prayer of Intercession for Curtis Fleinser (a friend of John Luedtke)
Curtis is having surgery on Tuesday for colon cancer; and
A Prayer of Thanksgiving for Kay and Frank Giardino
whose wedding anniversary is this Friday;
Today’s General Prayer ….concluding with
P: Hear us also, LORD, as we take a few moments to silently offer You our personal petitions and praises.
Silent Prayer
P: Finally, Lord God, accept our thanks for the tremendous privilege of being called Your children, and of being able to come to You now and at any time in prayer. Help us to grow intellectually, emotionally, spiritually through Your Word, so that we may be faithful servants for You in our homes, and communities, in our congregations, and as members of Your Church on earth. Mercifully hear our prayer, and bless us one and all, for the sake and in the name of Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, Who lives and rules with You and the Holy Spirit, eternally one God, forever and ever. And in Whose name we also offer our 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.
We Leave With The Lord’s Blessing
The Benediction
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God,
and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.
The Final Hymn God the Father, Son and Spirit
8787 (Regent Square) CW
God the Father, Son and Spirit: As our service ends today —
Thank You, LORD, for granting us this time to study, sing and pray —
May our faith, which You have strengthened,
be for Your praise, now, alway.
From eternity You chose us, All by grace and grace alone.
Through Your saving Word You called us,
In our hearts, You made Your throne —
Gave us faith in Christ, our Savior, Who for our sins did atone.
Help us all, Lord to be faithful Throughout life, unto the end.
May each one of us be useful — that your Kingdom might extend
Through this town, across this nation, and to earth’s remotest end.
Grace for all, from every station, blood-bought souls from near and far
Christ has earned for us salvation: “Reconciled to God, we are —
Life through His death. It is all done.” Glorify our Morning Star!
LORD, for Your great love, we praise You, Guiding us our whole lives through
Day by day our faith, You renew — May we e’er to You be true
Serving You in all that we do — ‘Til in heav’n, we live with You. Amen.