Palm Sunday – The Sunday of the Passion
The Sixth Sunday in Lent
April 13, 2025
From Waving Palms to Christ’s Passion for our Salvation
Today on the church’s calendar is a day that goes by two names. The one that we’re probably more familiar with is “Palm Sunday.” It was on this day that Jesus made his triumphal entry into Jerusalem, greeted by the cheering crowds, and the people used palm branches to welcome Him. Palms symbolize success and triumph. And so on Palm Sunday Jesus was hailed by many people as the long-awaited Messianic King of Israel, Who had finally come to Jerusalem to establish His kingdom. The Jewish people expected He would reestablish David’s dominant kingdom of 1000 years earlier, so that Israel would be dominant in the world again. Accordingly, the people shouted at Jesus, “Blessed is the King Who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”
In one sense, the people waving those palm branches were correct. Jesus did come to Jerusalem that day to usher in His Messianic kingdom. But later that week, speaking to the Roman Governor, He would make it clear that “My kingdom is not of this world.” Instead, He came to save God’s people – and the world – not by conquering countries, but by conquering sin death and Satan, which He achieved through His righteous life, His sufferings and death on Golgotha’s cross, and His resurrection from the grave three days later.
The sacrifice that He would make as the God-Man, in order to save sinful humanity from eternal condemnation and open the door to heaven for those who believe in Him was why Jesus entered Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. And those sufferings for our salvation give us the other name for this day: “The Sunday of the Passion.” And so, on Palm Sunday Jesus entered Jerusalem so that He could complete His Passion, His holy suffering for our salvation on Good Friday. We refer to this entire, momentous week as Holy Week. Starting today, and going through Friday, we’re going to follow our Savior’s path “From Waving Palms to Christ’s Passion.” It’s the path that our Lord will take as He achieves victory for us over our sin, eternal death and the Devil’s power. Remarkably, although Jesus knew exactly what the sufferings were that He would be going through, He embraced them willingly, out of love for us, to secure our forgiveness before God, as well as a place in heaven for us Who believe in Him.
Of course, Jesus didn’t deserve any of those sufferings….not the beatings and other abuse, not the crown of thorns, the mocking and jeering, the nails that pierced His feet and hands, and especially His Father’s rejection on our behalf. He had committed no crime, no sin of any kind. In fact Pilate would declare three times, “I find no guilt in this man.” Even one of the criminals who hung on crosses, dying beside Him, said about Jesus, “This Man has done nothing wrong.” Finally, it was the Roman centurion who had presided over Jesus’ death, who declared, “Surely This was a righteous mMan….Truly This was the Son of God!”
Jesus’ sufferings and death (or Passion) manifested what theologians refer to as His “passive obedience.” He voluntarily embraced the full punishment for all our sins that we human beings deserve…..not merely pain, but God the Father’s rejection and the ensuing agonies of hell….all to free us for eternal life in heaven.
Through His Passion, the righteous Son of God stood in the place of all sinful humanity to earn our forgiveness, reconciliation with God, and a permanent place in heaven for all who believe in Him as their God and Savior. We have been redeemed, through the payment of the precious blood of Christ to secure our salvation. And so, now and forever, through faith in Christ Jesus, God accepts us once more as His own dearly beloved children.
This Holy Week, then, you and I are going to travel through the Palms, all the way to Christ’s Passion, for our salvation. That is the essence of the story of this day, “Palm Sunday,” also known as “The Sunday of the Passion.” The innocent Passion of our Lord for us has earned salvation and a place in heaven for us. And that is why we have come together this day to review again – and celebrate – the story of Jesus’ passion, and to praise Him as the Source of our salvation.
This Morning’s Service and Scripture Lessons
This morning’s Opening responsive reading is one familiar to nearly all our worshipers today: Isaiah’s inspired depiction of Jesus as the Suffering Servant, the Lamb of God Who bore the sins of the world on His shoulders. Reading Isaiah 53 together is a very fitting way for us begin our Holy Week observance.
In addition, today’s Old Testament Lesson provides us with another key OT prophecy, this one from the inspired pen of the prophet Zechariah. It was accounted some 500 years before Christ’s entry into Jerusalem – that when the Promised Messiah came to Zion for the purpose of completing His work of redemption, He could come riding on a Beast of Burden, a donkey.
Today’s Opening Reading/Sermon Text is the traditional Gospel lesson for Palm Sunday – the account of Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem as royalty (riding on a beast of burden and entering to the acclaim of the crowds shouting “Hosanna in the highest, blessed is He Who comes in the name of the Lord”).
Since this day is also known as “The Sunday of the Passion,” our Gospel Lesson for today (and the second part of our Sermon Text records the “daytime” events of Good Friday, beginning with Jesus’ trials before Pilate. It continues through His crucifixion and the sufferings – physical and Spiritual – that He underwent while on the cross. And it culminates with Him laying down His life in death on the cross for our sins.
Using both readings from Matthew as the basis for our sermon, we’ll consider how – and why – Jesus Became Our Beast of Burden…..as He carried the burden of our sins for our salvation throughout the course of the sinless life He lived for us, and particularly through His Holy Week sufferings and His Good Friday death that He, in love, endured to secure our full forgiveness and eternal salvation.
Finally, our Children’s Lesson – based on John 1:11 – will ask each of us the question: “Would you have received Jesus?” Most of the people of Jesus’ day didn’t recognize or understand Him for what He was. By God’s grace, alone, through faith, we know Him as He truly is: our – and the world’s – one and only Lord and Savior from sin.
A Brief Overview of Holy Week
The final Sunday in Lent is customarily known as Palm Sunday, and in some circles as “The Sunday of the Passion of our Lord.” This day marks the beginning of that seven day period fittingly referred to as “Holy Week.” During this special week of the church we focus on the sufferings, death, and resurrection of our Lord with greater attention, reverence and devotion than perhaps at any other time during the year. As it has been done throughout the reading of the Passion History during our six midweek Lenten vespers (evening) worship services, we will recall once more what happened to Jesus in Jerusalem, before Pilate, and on Golgotha. The waving palms and shouts of “Hosanna in the highest!” raised to Christ on that first Palm Sunday warmly welcomed into the city Him who was and remains King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Likewise as we observe Palm Sunday this morning, we acclaim Christ as our King and Lord and express our devotion to Him by also declaring: “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!”
Holy Week, itself, has a number of interesting facets to its significance. Although in our Lutheran church it is not customary to worship on the Wednesday of Holy Week, it is worth noting that this day has been given the name “Spy Wednesday,” since the Gospels identify it as the day when the treacherous covenant to betray Jesus was consummated by Judas and the chief priests (Luke 22:1-6).
The Thursday of Holy Week has always been a day of great significance for the Christian Church, chiefly because it commemorates Jesus’ institution of the Lord’s Supper. The name by which it is most commonly known, Maundy Thursday (from the Latin Dies Mandati, “Day of the Commandment”), has particular reference to the Savior’s injunctions regarding the way humility, selflessness and love should exemplify the brotherhood of believers (John 13:34). An ancient custom connected to this day encouraged the practice of carrying gifts to the poor in hand baskets which were called “maunds.”
Of course, the pinnacle of our Holy Week observances is Good Friday, the day Christ was crucified. Its earliest name was “Parasceve,” which means “preparation.” Other names were “Day of the Lord’s Passion” and “Day of the Cross.” The term “Good Friday” is a uniquely English expression. It reflects the joy of completed redemption and protests against the superstitious notions that all Fridays are “unlucky” as well as against the idea that this particular Friday should be observed in funeral gloom and despair. Nevertheless, it is a day of solemn mourning for the Christian, given the reality that Christ died that day for all the sins that each of us has committed.
Worship services on this day obviously emphasize the death of Christ as our sin-substitute. Some Christian congregations observe the three hours Christ spent on the cross with a “Tre Ora” (Three Hours) service which lasts from noon to three in the afternoon. It is typically broken into seven small services, each built around one of the “words” Christ spoke while on the cross. This was a service practiced primarily by churches in the Western Church (Europe).
Another traditional approach to commemorating Good Friday is known as “Tennebrae,” the Latin name for “darkness,” This “Tennebrae” service is usually observed after sunset, and is developed around the reading of and commentary on the seven statements (words) of Christ while on the cross. As the service progresses, at the conclusion of each of the seven commentary/readings the lights of the worship area are progressively dimmed until everything is completely darkened once Christ’s death is announced. After a few moments’ reflection upon the “darkness” of sin, a “Resurrection Candle” is lit and brought to the altar while a brief statement is read reminding the congregation that Christ has promised He will not remain in the grave, but will rise after three days. The congregation then pauses for silent prayer and exits the worship area and church building in silence, meditating upon all that God accomplished for us on that first Good Friday. The service of Tennebrae was generally practiced in the early Eastern Churches (from Greece eastward). For some, the custom of fasting is observed in the time between the close of the Maundy Thursday evening worship service and the end of the Good Friday service. Through fasting the Christian is able to share (be it ever so lightly) in a portion of our Savior’s physical sufferings for us, and thus better appreciate His tremendous sacrifice for our benefit.
The final day of Holy Week is known as “Holy Saturday.” It focuses on the time period when our Lord’s body lay in death in the tomb and His descent into hell — the two stages referred to in the Apostles’ Creed as “dead and buried; He descended into hell.” The reason for Jesus’ descent into hell is misunderstood by many Christians. After His death, Jesus did not descend into hell to suffer for our sins. Some of His final words on Good Friday, “it is finished,” prove that with His death, Christ’s suffering for sin was complete. Rather than going there to suffer, Christ descended into hell to proclaim and demonstrate His total victory over sin, death, and Satan by going unhindered into the “headquarters” of the Devil. Scripture supports this understanding of Christ’s victorious descent into hell in I Peter 3:18-20 and Colossians 2:15. As with Good Friday, Holy Saturday is observed with a solemn spirit, yet it also contains an element of anticipation in preparation for the celebration of the Lord’s resurrection on the next morn.
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.
Prayer upon entering the sanctuary
Pre-service Music
Pre-Worship Hymn Singing, beginning at 9:25 a.m.
We Praise Our God
The Introduction and Invitation To Worship
The Opening Hymn Hymn 130 “Hosanna, Loud Hosanna”
1 Hosanna, loud hosanna,
The little children sang;
Through pillared court and temple
The lovely anthem rang.
To Jesus, who had blessed them,
Close folded to his breast,
The children sang their praises,
The simplest and the best.
2 From Olivet they followed
Mid an exultant crowd,
The victor palm branch waving
And chanting clear and loud.
The Lord of saints and angels
Rode on in lowly state
Nor scorned that little children
Should on his bidding wait.
3 “Hosanna in the highest!”
That ancient song we sing,
For Christ is our Redeemer,
The Lord of heav’n, our King.
Oh, may we ever praise him
With heart and life and voice
And in his royal presence
Eternally rejoice.
following which, the Congregation will rise for the invocation
The Greeting and Invitation to Worship
Pastor We begin this service in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
The Palm Sunday Traditional Gospel Lesson Matthew 21:1-11
As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, 2
telling them, “Go to the village ahead of you. Immediately you will find a donkey tied there along with her colt. Untie them and bring them to me. 3 If anyone says anything to you, you are to say, ‘The Lord needs them,’ and he will send them at once.”
4 This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet: “5 Tell the daughter of Zion: Look, your King comes to you, humble, and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.”
6 The disciples went and did just as Jesus commanded them. 7 They brought the donkey and the colt, laid their outer clothing on them, and He sat on it. 8 A very large crowd spread their outer clothing on the road. Others were cutting branches from the trees and spreading them out on the road. 9 The crowds who went in front of Him and those who followed kept shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is He Who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!”
10 When He entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred up, asking, “Who is this?” 11 And the crowds were saying, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.”
after which the Congregation will rise for
The Responsive Scripture Reading
for the Beginning of Holy Week Isaiah 53
P: Who has believed our report and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?
C: He grew up before Him like a tender shoot, and like a root from dry ground.
P: He had no attractiveness or majesty. When we saw Him, nothing about His appearance made us desire Him.
Men & Boys: He was despised and rejected by men, a Man Who knew grief Who was well acquainted with suffering.
Women & Girls: Like someone whom people cannot bear to look at, He was despised, and we thought nothing of Him.
P: Surely He was taking up our weaknesses, And He was carrying our sufferings. We thought it was because of God that He was smitten, stricken and afflicted.
C: But it was because of our rebellion that He was pierced.
Lectern Side He was crushed for the guilt our sins deserved.
Pulpit Side: The punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His wounds we are healed.
P: We all have gone astray, like sheep.
C: Each of us has turned to His own way; but the LORD has charged all our guilt to Him.
P: He was oppressed and afflicted, yet He did not open His mouth. Like a lamb He was led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that is silent in front of its shearers, He did not open His mouth.
C: He was taken away without a fair trial and without justice. And of His generation, who even cared?”
Women & Girls: So He was cut off from the land of the living.
Men & Boys: He was struck because of the rebellion of my people.
P: They would have assigned Him a grave with the wicked, but He was given a grave with the rich in His death, because He had done no violence, and no deceit was in His mouth.
C: Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush Him and allow Him to suffer. Because You made His life a guilt offering,
Pulpit Side: He will see His offspring. He will prolong His days,
Lectern Side: and the LORD’s gracious plan will succeed in His hand.
P: After His soul experiences anguish, He will see the light of life. He will provide satisfaction. Through their knowledge of Him, my Just Servant will justify the many, for He Himself carried their guilt.
C: Therefore I will give Him an allotment among the great, and with the strong He will share plunder, because He poured out His life to death, and He let Himself be counted with rebellious sinners.
P: He Himself bore carried the sin of many, and He intercedes for the rebels.
We Make Confession Of Our Sins To God
Pastor God, our Heavenly Father, invites us to come into His presence and to worship Him with humble and penitent hearts. Therefore, let us now turn to Him, acknowledging our sinfulness and seeking His forgiveness for all our sins.
Congregation Holy and merciful Father, I confess that I am by nature sinful and that I have disobeyed You in my thoughts, words, and actions; I have done what is evil in Your sight and have failed to do what is good. For this I know that I deserve Your punishment, both now and for eternity. But I am truly sorry for all my sins, and trusting in the perfect life and innocent death of my Savior, Jesus Christ, I plead: God have mercy on me, a sinner.
Pastor Our gracious Lord and Master has shown us His mercy: He has given His one and only Son to save us from all our sins. And now, 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.
And now, in the confidence and peace of Christ’s forgiveness, let us join together in song, to praise our Majestic Redeemer and King……
“Majesty” by Jack W. Hayford
copied, with permission, under CCLI 1366699
copyright Rocksmith Music, 1981
Majesty, worship His majesty.
Unto Jesus, be all glory, honor and praise.
Majesty….Kingdom authority, flow from His throne,
unto His own, His anthem raise.
So exalt – lift up on high, the name of Jesus.
Magnify, come glorify, Christ Jesus the King.
Majesty, worship His majesty. Jesus Who died.
Now glorified. King of all Kings.
The Prayer For This Morning
Almighty and everlasting God, + in Your tender love for mankind + You sent Your Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ, + to take upon Himself our human nature, + and to suffer death on the cross, + that we might be redeemed from the eternal consequences of our sins; + Mercifully grant that we may follow + His example of humility, obedience, and patience, + and also that we be made partakers of His resurrection. + We offer this prayer in the name of Jesus Christ, + Your Son, our Lord, + Who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, + as the One, true God, + forever and ever. + Amen.
After which the Congregation will be seated as
We Give Our Attention to God’s Word
The Old Testament Lesson Zechariah 9:8-12
8 I will set up camp around My house, as a guard against those passing back and forth. The oppressor will never again march over them, because now I am watching with My own eyes. 9 Rejoice greatly, Daughter of Zion! Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem! Look! Your King is coming to you. He is righteous and brings salvation. He is humble and is riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. 10 I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim and the horse from Jerusalem. The battle bow will be taken away, and He will proclaim peace to the nations. His kingdom will extend from sea to sea, from the River to the ends of the earth. 11 As for you, because of the blood of My covenant with you,
I will release your prisoners from the waterless pit. 12 Return to the stronghold, you prisoners who have hope. This very day I declare that I will restore double to you.
The Gospel Lesson Matthew 27:11-54
11 When Jesus stood in the presence of the governor, the governor asked Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?” Jesus said to him, “It is as you say.” 12 When He was accused by the chief priests and elders, He answered nothing. 13 Then Pilate said to Him, “Don’t You hear how many things they are testifying against You?” 14 But He did not answer Him—not even one word, so that the governor was very surprised.
15 At the time of the Festival the governor had a custom to release to the crowd any one prisoner they wanted. 16 At that time they were holding a notorious prisoner named Barabbas. 17 So when they were assembled, Pilate said to them, “Which one do you want me to release to you? Barabbas—or Jesus, Who is called Christ?” 18 For Pilate knew that they had handed Jesus over to him because of envy.
19 While he was sitting on the judgment seat, Pilate’s wife sent him a message. “Have nothing to do with that righteous Man,” she said, “since I have suffered many things today in a dream because of Him.” 20 But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus put to death. 21 The governor asked them, “Which of the two do you want me to release to you?” “Barabbas!” they said. 22 Pilate said to them, “Then what should I do with Jesus, Who is called Christ?” They all said to him, “Crucify Him!” 23 But the governor said, “Why? What has He done wrong?” But they kept shouting even louder: “Crucify Him!”
24 When Pilate saw that he was accomplishing nothing and that instead it was turning into a riot, he took water, washed his hands in front of the crowd, and said, “I am innocent of this righteous Man’s blood. It is your responsibility.” 25 And all the people answered, “Let His blood be on us and on our children!” 26 Then he released Barabbas to them, but he had Jesus flogged and handed Him over to be crucified.
27 Then the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole cohort of soldiers around Him. 28 They stripped Him and put a scarlet robe on Him. 29 They twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on His head. They put a staff in His right hand, knelt in front of Him, and mocked Him by saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” 30 They spit on Him, took the staff, and Hit him repeatedly on His head. 31 After they had mocked Him, they took off the robe and put His own clothes on Him. Then they led Him away to crucify Him.
32 As they were going out of the city, they found a man of Cyrene named Simon. They forced him to carry Jesus’ cross. 33 They came to a place called Golgotha, which means “The place of the skull.” 34 They offered Jesus wine to drink, mixed with gall; but when He tasted it, He would not drink it. 35 After they had crucified Him, they divided His clothing among themselves by casting lots. 36 Then they sat down and were keeping watch over Him there. 37 Above His head they posted the written charge against Him: “This is Jesus, the King of the Jews.”
38 At the same time two criminals were crucified with Him, one on His right and one on His left. 39 People who passed by kept insulting Him, shaking their heads, 40 and saying, “You Who were going to destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save Yourself! If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross!”
41 In the same way the chief priests, experts in the law, and elders kept mocking Him. They said, 42 “He saved others, but He cannot save Himself. If He’s the King of Israel, let Him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in Him. 43 He trusts in God. Let God rescue Him now, if He wants Him, because He said, ‘I am the Son of God.’” 44 In the same way even the criminals who were crucified with Him kept insulting Him.
45 From the sixth hour until the ninth hour, there was darkness over all the land. 46 About the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” which means “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” 47 When some of those standing there heard this, they said, “This Fellow is calling for Elijah.” 48 Immediately one of them ran, took a sponge, and soaked it with sour wine. Then he put it on a stick and gave Him a drink. 49 The rest said, “Leave Him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to save Him.”
50 After Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, He gave up His spirit. 51 Suddenly, the temple curtain was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook and rocks were split. 52 Tombs were opened, and many bodies of saints who had fallen asleep were raised to life. 53 Those who came out of the tombs went into the holy city after Jesus’ resurrection and appeared to many people. 54 When the centurion and those who were guarding Jesus with him saw the earthquake and the things that had happened, they were terrified and said, “Truly This was the Son of God.”
After which the Congregation will rise for
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 at 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
The Children’s Lesson John 1:11
He [Jesus] came to His own, and His own people did not receive Him.
Would You Have Received Jesus?
The Sermon Hymn Hymn 341 “Crown Him With Many Crowns”
1 Crown him with many crowns,
The Lamb upon his throne;
Hark how the heav’nly anthem drowns
All music but its own.
Awake, my soul, and sing
Of him who died for thee,
And hail him as thy matchless King
Through all eternity.
2 Crown him the Lord of love —
Behold his hands and side,
Rich wounds, yet visible above,
In beauty glorified.
No angel in the sky
Can fully bear that sight,
But downward bends his wond’ring eye
At mysteries so bright.
3 Crown him the Lord of life,
Who triumphed o’er the grave
And rose victorious in the strife
For those he came to save.
His glories now we sing
Who died and rose on high,
Who died eternal life to bring
And lives that death may die.
4 Crown him the Lord of heav’n,
Enthroned in worlds above;
Crown him the King to whom is giv’n
The wondrous name of Love.
Crown him with many crowns
As thrones before him fall;
Crown him, ye kings, with many crowns
For he is King of all.
The Greeting
Grace and peace be yours in abundance, through the knowledge of God and of Jesus Christ, our Lord. May the words of my mouth and the meditation of our hearts be pleasing in Your sight, O Lord, our Rock and our Redeemer! Amen.
The Sermon Text based on Matthew 21 and Matthew 27
Jesus Became God’s Beast of Burden For Us
Afterward, the Congregation will remain seated for
Pastor 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 Bring our Offerings to the Lord
Offerings will be received this morning through offering plates passed among those who have gathered here for worship.
However, for those viewing this service online, we offer you the following suggestions for providing God with Your thank-offerings through our ministry:
1) You can mail a check (no cash) to the church address
(415 N. 6th Place, Lowell, AR 72745)
2) You can also donate on our website: www.gracelutherannwa.com
as the offerings are brought forward,
the Congregation will REMAIN SEATED for
The Confirmation of Shelby Lynn Bruns
P: Shelby Lynn Bruns: Our Lord Jesus said to His disciples, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I will be with you always, to the very end of the age.”
In obedience to the Lord’s command, you were baptized in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. You have been taught the precious truths of the Christian faith as confessed by the Evangelical Lutheran Church. You know what God has given you by His grace and what He expects of you as His dear child. You can now exercise the privilege of partaking of Holy Communion.
You are here to make a public profession of your Christian faith. The Apostle Paul writing to the Romans says: “If you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved … For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
Therefore, in the presence of God and before this Christian congregation, I invite you to lift up your heart to the God of all grace and joyfully answer these questions:
P: Do you this day in the presence of God and of this congregation acknowledge that in Baptism, God gave you the forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation? If so, then answer, I do.
C: I do.
P: Do you reject the devil along with all his wicked works and ways? If so, then answer, I do.
C: I do.
P: Do you believe in God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit?
C: Yes, I believe in God, the Father almighty,
maker of heaven and earth.
P: Do you believe in God the Son?
C: Yes, I believe 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 be 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.
P: Do you believe in God the Holy Spirit?
C: Yes, 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.
P: Do you believe all the 66 books of the Bible to be the verbally inspired, inerrant, and infallible Word of God? If so, then answer, “I do.”
C: I do.
P: Do you believe that the teaching of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, as you have learned to know it from Luther’s Small Catechism, is fully faithful and true to the Word of God? If so, then answer, “I do.”
C: I do.
P: Do you intend to continue steadfast in this teaching and to endure all things, even death, rather than fall away from it? If so, then answer, “I do, and I ask God to help me.”
C: I do, and I ask God to help me.
P: Do you intend faithfully to conform all your life to the teachings of God’s Word; to be faithful in the use of the Word and Sacrament; and in faith and action remain true to the Triune God – the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – as long as you live? If so, then answer, “I do, and I ask God to help me.”
C: I do, and I ask God to help me.
The Reception of Shelby into the Communicant
Membership of Grace Lutheran Church
Confirmation Verse/Blessing: John 10:27-28
My sheep hear My voice. I know them, and they follow Me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of My hand.
The Prayers for this Day
The General 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.
Now Dismiss Us, Lord
Benediction – Brothers and sisters, now go in peace. Live in harmony with one another. And Serve the Lord in gladness.
The LORD bless you and keep you.
The LORD make His face shine on you and be gracious to you.
The LORD look on you with favor, and give you peace. Amen.
The Closing Hymn Hymn 131 “All Glory, Laud and Honor”
1 All glory, laud, and honor
To you, Redeemer, King,
To whom the lips of children
Made sweet hosannas ring.
You are the King of Israel
And David’s royal Son,
Now in the Lord’s name coming,
Our King and blessed one.
2 All glory, laud, and honor
To you, Redeemer, King,
To whom the lips of children
Made sweet hosannas ring.
The company of angels
Is praising you on high,
And we with all creation
In chorus make reply.
3 All glory, laud, and honor
To you, Redeemer, King,
To whom the lips of children
Made sweet hosannas ring.
The people of the Hebrews
With palms before you went;
Our praise and prayer and anthems
Before you we present.
4 All glory, laud, and honor
To you, Redeemer, King,
To whom the lips of children
Made sweet hosannas ring.
To you before your passion
They sang their hymns of praise;
To you, now high exalted,
Our melody we raise.
5 All glory, laud, and honor
To you, Redeemer, King,
To whom the lips of children
Made sweet hosannas ring.
As you received their praises,
Accept the prayers we bring,
O Source of ev’ry blessing,
Our good and gracious King.
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