The Thirteenth Sunday after the Festival
of the Holy Trinity
The Fifteenth Sunday of the Pentecost Season
September 14, 2025
We Believe and Confess Through the Apostles’ Creed
I Believe in the Resurrection of the Body
The tragic (and obviously sudden) death by assassination of Charlie Kirk this past Wednesday shocked and angered our nation – as horrible acts like that should. After all, violence should have no place whatsoever in our society…. particularly because Kirk was killed for expressing – as was his constitutional right – his views on the social issues and maladies of our day.
Charlie Kirk’s sudden death can serve us as a reminder of how ever-present death is, as well as of the reality that all one of us will die one day too (….unless Christ returns first for Judgment Day). In fact, every death ought to remind us that the wages of sin brings death (Romans 23). Since all of us are sinners from conception on, we all are already actually in a state of dying, and eventually we will all die, returning to the dust from which our God created our first parents, Adam and Eve.
But the death that happens to our bodies will not be permanent – it is only temporary. At the moment of death – for the believer alone – our souls immediately go to heaven to be with the LORD Who redeemed us. And He Who redeemed our souls has also redeemed our bodies. On the Last Day those bodies will be raised from their graves, according to the promise and the power of our God. And when the bodies of believers in Christ are raised, they will be purged of sin and its effects …..and instead will be absolutely perfect and prepared for everlasting life in heaven –where there will be no sin, no decay, no death, and no sorry, but only peace, perfection and everlasting joy in God’s presence.
And so this morning, as we continue our summer sermon and service study of the doctrines of the Apostles’ Creed, through the Word of God to which we’ll give our attention today, you and I will confess through the words of the Creed later in worship service, our confident belief in the certain resurrection of our bodies to perfection on the Last Day.
This morning’s First Reading is from the book of Acts. Paul is on his second missionary journey and finds himself in Athens, Greece, with an opportunity to speak about Christ to some of the greatest intellectuals of his day. The sermon Paul presented serves as our reading for today. He commended the Greeks for their desire to know God, but explained that all the “gods” they worshiped were merely idols, while he repre-sented the only true God, Who created the world and everything in it. Paul also preached sound Law and Gospel, emphasizing the critical nature of believing in Christ crucified and risen for salvation. Up to that point the Athenian scholars had been intrigued by what Paul was saying. But when he began speaking about the resurrection of the body – which they (and many today) consider “unbelievable,” they dismissed Paul. Thankfully, some who heard Paul were brought to faith in Jesus and became the core members of the Christian church in Athens.
Today’s Epistle Lesson and Sermon Text (…and a portion of it also services as our Children’s Lesson) consists of selected verses of “the Bible’s Great Resurrection Chapter,” First Corinthians 15. In the words of God before us, the Holy Spirit guides the Apostle Paul to discuss the reality of Christ’s bodily resurrection and its significance for our forgiveness and salvation. After all, if Christ had not been raised from the dead, He could not be our Savior and we would all remain damned to hell due to our sins….. Paul also makes the point that since Christ is the “Firstfruits” as far as the resurrection of the body is concerned, we too will one day have our bodies raised from our graves….and when that occurs on the Last Day, our bodies will be incapable of dying ever again because they will be perfect – purged of all sin. Consequently, no matter what we deal with in this life – good or bad – we can look forward with confidence to the resurrection of our bodies and to the eternal life in heaven that will be ours through faith in Christ Jesus.
Finally, today’s Gospel Lesson comes to us from John chapter five. Jesus notes that as the Son of God, His Father has entrusted the judgment of the world to Him. He wants us to know that faith and salvation only belong to those who hear His Word and believe in Him. Those who believe have moved from Spiritual death to eternal life. And lastly, Jesus talks about the reality of the bodily resurrection of all the dead (both believers and unbelievers) that will occur on the Last Day. As Jesus taught the reality of the bodily resurrection, so we believe – and look forward to – it, and we confess our faith in it today.
The portions of God’s Word 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 – Heavenly Father, please guide me in wisdom and truth through Your Holy Spirit, as I spend this hour meditating on Your Word and rejoicing in Your limitless love for me. Assist me in being attentive in heart and mind to Your Word, as well as to the hymns of praise, the various petitions, and the prayers of thanksgiving my voice directs toward You. Use this worship service, O Lord, to deepen my love for You, to strengthen my trust in You, and to renew my commitment to You. All this I ask for the sake of and in the name of Your One and only Son, Jesus Christ, my Savior. Amen.
Pre-service music Silent Prayer
Pre-Worship Hymn Singing, beginning at 9:25 a.m.
We Praise Our God
Service 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.
Our Psalm Reading for Today Psalm 119:97-104
P: How I love Your laws! I meditate on them all day long.
C: Your commandment makes me wiser than my enemies, + because it is always with me.
P: I have more understanding than the elders,
C: because I guard Your precepts.
P: I have kept my feet off every evil path in order to keep Your words.
C: I have not turned from Your judgments + because You, Yourself have instructed me.
P: How sweet are Your sayings to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!
C: From Your precepts I gain understanding + therefore I hate every false road.
after which the Congregation will be seated for
The Opening Hymn “The Morning Sun Is Dawning”
To the tune “Webb” (CW 474) vv 2 & 4 by cwh 2001
vv 1 & 3 adapted from Johannes Nuhlmann’s “Dank Sei Gott in der Hohe”
The morning sun is dawning, And I thank God once more
Beneath Whose care awaking I find the night is o’er:
I thank Him that He’s called me To be His child and heir;
I know, whatever happens I’m safely in His care.
O Lord of all creation, Watch over me this day;
In all I do be near me, For others too I pray –
To You I do commend them: Our church, our youth, our land;
Direct them and defend them, When dangers are at hand.
You are the Vine, O Savior, May we, Your branches be,
Connected to You firmly, And for eternity.
Your Spirit place within us, And let His gifts of grace
Empower us to serve You – throughout our earthly race.
So grant us, Lord, Your blessing That we may do Your will,
No more Your ways transgressing, Our calling to fulfill;
To go and tell the Good News: Christ died for all, that we –
through faith in Him, forgiven — Have heaven eternally.
after which the Congregation will rise as
We Make Confession Of Our Sins To God
Pastor Brothers and sisters in Christ: the Word of God urges us to confess to our Lord all our sins of thought, word, and action. This is something that ought to be daily part of our spiritual lives, and
should come forth from every heart that is humble and penitent. But we should especially do this when we meet together in His house to thank God for all that He has done for us, to praise Him, and to hear His life-giving Word. Therefore, come with me now, to our Heavenly Father’s throne of grace, and let us confess our sins together.
Congregation Miserable person that I am, + I confess and lament to You, O most holy God, + that I am a weak and sinful creature, + guilty of every sin, of unbelief, and of blasphemy. + I also confess
that Your Word has not brought forth good fruit in me. + I hear it, but do not receive it earnestly. + I do not show works of love toward my neighbor. + I am full of anger, hate, and envy. + I am impatient, greedy, and bent on every evil. + Therefore my heart and conscience are heavy. + Lord, I ask You, free me from my sins, + strengthen my faith, + and comfort my weak conscience by Your divine Word, + that I may obtain Your promised grace.
Pastor Having humbly and sincerely confessed your sins before Almighty God, now be strengthened in your faith, mindful that our Lord is not willing that anyone should perish eternally, but that everyone
should come to repentance, turning from their evil ways and receiving from Him everlasting life. God has commanded His ministers to declare His forgiveness of sins to all who are penitent. Therefore, rest assured that your sins have been fully covered by the blood and righteousness of Jesus Christ your Savior. May the peace of God rest upon all of you. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Now, in the peace of God’s forgiveness, let us together praise our gracious and glorious Lord!
The Congregation responds “All Glory Be To God On High”
sung to the melody of “Almighty Father, Strong To Save” (CW 323)
All glory be to God on high! We praise, we thank, we glorify,
And worship You, Who gives earth peace,
Whose love and favor never cease.
Lord God, our King, on heaven’s throne, Our Father, the Almighty One.
O Lord, the Sole-begotten One. Lord Jesus Christ, the Father’s Son,
O Lamb of God, You take away The sin of all, now hear us pray.
You rule at God’s right hand this day,
Have mercy on us, Lord, we pray.
You only are the Holy One; O’er all things You are Lord alone.
O Jesus Christ, we glorify You only as the Lord Most High,
Who with the Spirit e’er shall be One in the Father’s majesty. Amen.
The Prayer For This Morning
O Almighty God, + Who alone can transform the unruly wills + and selfish affections of sinful mankind; + Grant unto us, Your people, + the desire to love those things which You command, + and the faith to confidently believe + what You promise us in Your Word; + so that, in the midst of the many changes that take place + in this world in which we live, + our hearts might always be firmly fixed + on You and Your Word, + in which alone, now and forevermore, + the believer can find true and lasting joy, + ; all this we humbly ask in the name + and through the merits + of Jesus Christ, Your Son our Lord, + Who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, + one God, now and forever. Amen.
After which the Congregation will be seated
We Hear God’s Word
The First Reading Acts 17:16-34
16 While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was very distressed to see that the city was full of idols. 17 So he led a discussion in the synagogue with the Jews and those who feared God, as well as with those who happened to be in the marketplace every day.
18 Some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers also debated with him. Some said, “What is this seed picker trying to say?” Others said, “He seems to be someone who is proclaiming foreign gods.” They said this because Paul was preaching the good news about Jesus and the resurrection.
19 They took him and brought him to the council of the Areopagus, saying, “May we know what this new teaching is that you are talking about? 20 You seem to be bringing in some ideas that are strange to our ears, so we want to know what these things mean.” 21 (All the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there enjoyed doing nothing more than telling or listening to something new.)
22 Then Paul stood up in front of the council of the Areopagus and said, “Men of Athens, I see that you are very religious in every way. 23 For as I was walking around and carefully observing your objects of worship, I even found an altar on which had been inscribed, ‘To an unknown god.’ Now what you worship as unknown—this is what I am going to proclaim to you.
24 “The God Who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples made with hands. 25 Neither is He served by human hands, as if He needed anything, since He Himself gives all people life and breath and everything they have. 26 From one man, He made every nation of mankind to live over the entire face of the earth. He determined the appointed times and the boundaries where they would live. 27 He did this so they would seek God and perhaps reach out for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us. 28 ‘For in Him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘Indeed, we are also His offspring.’
29 “Therefore, since we are God’s offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by human skill and planning. 30 Although God overlooked the times of ignorance, He is now commanding all people everywhere to repent, 31 because He has set a day on which He is going to judge the world in righteousness by the Man He appointed. He provided proof of this to everyone by raising Him from the dead.”
32 When they heard about the resurrection from the dead, some of them started to scoff. But others said, “We want to hear you again on this subject.” 33 So Paul left the council. 34 However, some men became followers of Paul and believed. Among them were Dionysius (a member of the council of the Areopagus) and a woman named Damaris, as well as others with them.
The Epistle Lesson I Corinthians 15, selected
12 Now if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how is it that some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 If there is no resurrection of the dead, not even Christ has been raised. 14 And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is pointless, and your faith is pointless too. 15 Then we are even guilty of giving false testimony about God, because we testified about God that He raised Christ, Whom He did not raise, if it were true that the dead are not raised. 16 For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. 17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. 18 Then it also follows that those who fell asleep in Christ perished. 19 If our hope in Christ applies only to this life, we are the most pitiful people of all.
20 But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the Firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For since death came by a man, the resurrection of the dead also is going to come by a Man. 22 For as in Adam they all die, so also in Christ they all will be made alive. 23 But each in his own order: Christ as the Firstfruits and then Christ’s people, at his coming……
35 But someone will object, “How can it be that the dead are raised? With what kind of body are they going to come?”
36 You are being foolish. What you sow is not made alive unless it dies. 37 And what you sow is not the body that will be, but a bare seed, perhaps of wheat or some other grain. 38 But God gives it a body of the kind he wanted it to have, and to each of the seeds he gives its own body……42 That is the way the resurrection of the dead will be. What is sown is perishable; it is raised imperishable. 43 It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power. 44 It is sown as a natural body; it is raised as a spiritual body……
50 Now I say this, brothers: Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, and what is perishable is not going to inherit what is imperishable. 51 Look, I tell you a mystery. We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, 52 in a moment, in the blink of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53 For this perishable body must put on imperishability, and this mortal body must put on immortality. 54 But once this perishable body has put on imperishability, and this mortal body has put on immortality, then what is written will be fulfilled:
Death is swallowed up in victory.
55 Death, where is your sting?
Grave, where is your victory?
56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!
58 Therefore, my dear brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the Lord’s work, because you know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.
The Gospel Lesson John 5:21-30
21 For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to those He wishes.
22 “In fact, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son, 23 so that all should honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father Who sent Him. 24 Amen, Amen, I tell you: Anyone who hears My word and believes Him Who sent Me has eternal life. He is not going to come into judgment but has crossed over from death to life.
25 “Amen, Amen, I tell you: A time is coming and is here now when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who listen will live. 26 For just as the Father has life in Himself, so also He has granted the Son to have life in Himself. 27 And He has given Him authority to execute judgment, because He is the Son of Man.
28 “Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice 29 and will come out. Those who have done good will rise to live, but those who have practiced evil will rise to be condemned. 30 I can do nothing at all on My own. I judge only as I hear. And My judgment is just, for I do not seek My own will, but the will of Him Who sent Me.
The Apostles’ Creed
I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth. And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord; Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost; Born of the Virgin Mary; Suffered under Pontius Pilate; Was crucified, dead and buried; He descended into hell; The third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven And sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; From thence He shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost; The Holy Christian Church, the Communion of Saints; The forgiveness of sins; The resurrection of the body; And the life everlasting. Amen.
After which the Congregation may be seated for
The Children’s Lesson I Corinthians 15:37-38, 42
37 And what you sow is not the body that will be, but a bare seed, perhaps of wheat or some other grain. 38 But God gives it a body of the kind he wanted it to have, and to each of the seeds he gives its own body……42 That is the way the resurrection of the dead will be.
Our Buried Bodies Will Be Like Seeds
The Sermon Hymn Hymn 167 “Jesus Christ My Sure Defense”
1 Jesus Christ, my sure defense
And my Savior, now is living!
Knowing this, my confidence
Rests upon the hope he’s giving,
Though the night of death be fraught
Still with many an anxious thought.
2 Jesus, my Redeemer, lives;
I, too, unto life shall waken.
Endless joy my Savior gives;
Shall my courage, then, be shaken?
Shall I fear, or could the head
Rise and leave his members dead?
3 No, too closely am I bound
Unto him by hope forever;
Faith’s strong hand the rock has found,
Grasped it, and will leave it never.
Even death now cannot part
From its Lord the trusting heart.
4 I am flesh and must return
Unto dust, whence I am taken;
But by faith I now discern
That from death I shall awaken
With my Savior to abide
In his glory, at his side.
5 Glorified, I shall anew
With this flesh then be enshrouded;
In this body I shall view
God, my Lord, with eyes unclouded;
In this flesh I then shall see
Jesus Christ eternally.
The Greeting
Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge
of God, and of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
Sermon Text I Corinthians 15, selected
(today’s Epistle Lesson)
I Believe in the Resurrection of the Body
following the sermon the Congregation will REMAIN SEATED for
The Post-Sermon Blessing
Now to Him Who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
Lord, Receive our Offerings and Prayers
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.
at the Pastor’s invitation the Congregation will rise for
Today’s Prayers
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 Closing Salutation
Pastor May the Lord be with you.
Congregation And also with you.
The Doxology
Pastor Now, to Him Who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before His glorious presence without fault and with great joy –
Congregation to the only God, our Savior, be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.
The Benediction
Pastor
The LORD bless you and keep you.
The LORD make His face to shine upon You and be gracious unto you,
The LORD look upon you with favor, and give you His peace. Amen.
The Closing Hymn “As This Worship Service Closes”
To the melody “What A Friend We Have In Jesus” (CW 411)
cwh, August 2022; 8787d
As this worship service closes
And we sing this final song,
Thank you, Savior, for You’ve promised
That with us You’ll go along –
Guarding us in all temptation
In this “wilderness of sin”
Working in all things Your blessing
‘Til we reach life’s journey’s end.
Fill us with Your Holy Spirit,
That, in all we say and do
We might every day be faithful,
Living godly lives for You.
Help us grow in faith and knowledge
Through Your blessed Means of Grace.
Help us to reflect Your image
While we run our earthly race.
Heav’nly Father now we praise You
For, in love, You sent Your Son.
In our place Christ lived and suffered –
Our salvation He has won.
Bless our church, our friends, and fam’ly.
Keep us in Your Word, so true,
That one day we might inherit
Everlasting life with You.
Silent Prayer & Announcements
Post-Service Music