Herod’s Murder of Bethlehem’s Baby Boys
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 – O Lord God, Almighty Creator, from Whom every good and perfect gift comes, You have bountifully blessed me throughout this year now drawing to a close. You have preserved me in Your Word. You have provided for my bodily needs. You have protected me from spiritual harm and have kept me in the true faith. For Your abundant goodness to me, I humbly praise and thank You. In the new year that is about to begin, I implore You to continue to bless me with Your abiding presence, Your Fatherly protection, and Your divine guidance in all areas of my life. I submit myself to Your gracious will, with the confidence that You will use me, as Your humble servant, in whatever ways will serve to further Your glory and Your kingdom. Bless and enrich my faith as I hear Your Word today, and receive my heart-felt praises in the name and for the sake of Jesus Christ, Your Son, my Savior. It is in His name that I pray. Amen.
Suffering with our Savior
Over the centuries, Matthew’s inspired account covering Christ’s temporary “exile” into Egypt and Herod’s massacre of the Babes of Bethlehem often has served as the Gospel Lesson/centerpiece of Christian worship and study on one of the Sundays after Christmas – as will be the case today in our church service. Along with the story of the wise men’s visit to Bethlehem to worship the ChristChild, this morning we’ll use it as the Biblical basis for our Sermon, At first glance this might seem like a strange, (maybe even an inappropriate and somewhat depressing) Scripture selection for a Sunday so close to our celebration of Christ’s birth. But, the sad story notwithstanding, there’s a lot to this story in the way of lessons that are edifying and encouraging for us – if only we’ll give our careful attention to these words of God…..and I hope we’ll all do that today!
Matthew 2:1-23 is an important, and concluding part of the Christmas story. That’s part of why it has been read regularly in Christian churches as a post-Christmas Scripture lesson for over 16 centuries. (Additional information on its being a part of the “Historic” pericope [a series of Scripture lessons to be read regularly in worship services] will follow later). So, why has this reading been a traditional part of the Christian church’s Christmas observance? In part because in connection with our Savior’s birth, Christians wanted to remember both the wise men’s trek to worship Christ as well as the massacre of Bethlehem’s children. And, consistent with our theme for today, they wanted to recall how the Father protected His own Son (and us) from the hand of hateful Herod. Of course, the murdered children of Bethlehem don’t fit the customary concept of “martyrs”….who die voluntarily for Christ. Certainly they were not aware of the Savior’s presence in their community, although – perhaps – some of their parents might have known of His birth and its significance. Nevertheless, the blood of those Babies of Bethlehem was shed tragically and innocently in connection with the first of many evil attempts to exterminate Christ during His life on earth.
As we examine this portion of God’s Word, let’s also keep in mind the hardships that Mary and Joseph
voluntarily endured for the sake of their Son. And we wouldn’t want to forget Joseph’s faithfulness as He promptly obeyed the Lord’s command, spoken through the angel, in the way he protected Jesus and Mary by taking them to safety in Egypt.
We especially want to recall the suffering that Jesus, as a small child, had to endure because of Herod’s hostility. He was forced to flee His homeland and the people whose promised Messiah He was, and live in exile in a foreign land (Egypt), from which the Lord had delivered Israel (rescuing it from slavery) nearly 1500 years earlier. Christ’s suffering through this death threat and exile in Egypt remind us that His entire life was one of sacrifice and humiliation in order to be our Savior from sin.
It’s also valuable for our faith to realize that in this portion of Scripture are included 3 OT passages which found their fulfillment in Christ. Here we have three additional proofs, then, of His being the Promised Messiah.
Finally, we’ll be highlighting the wonderful truth that behind life’s transparent…..as well as its difficult-to-understand….. events stands the power of our Savior-God, promising always to take care of His children and to work everything out for the earthly and especially the eternal good of those who love Him. This lesson is one more proof of that.
Getting back to Matthew 2:13-23’s traditional use as a post-Christmas reading…. Although the exact time and place of its origin are unknown, we do know that by the 4th century a post-Christmas observation commemorating the “slaughter of the innocents” (and so centered around this text) was regularly held in Bethlehem. By the fifth century it had become a church-wide event, falling on December 28th (yesterday) and was known as “Holy Innocents’ Day.” By the late Middle Ages a number of very poor traditions and practices (to the point of becoming thoroughly irreligious) so corrupted this observance that the 16th century Lutheran reformers felt compelled to drop “Holy Innocents’ Day” from their “official” church calendar. Instead they extended the observance of Christmas up to the Festival of the Epiphany of our Lord (January 6). Still they retained this story as a part of the traditional “pericope” (Sunday Scripture readings) by including today’s Gospel Lesson as one of the post-Christmas readings.
As we ponder the hardships the Christ Child and His parents endured at the hands of Herod, and that wicked king’s seemingly senseless slaughter of the innocent children in Bethlehem, today’s Old Testament Lesson reminds us that God’s ways are often beyond our understanding. Also it informs us that it is far, far better for us that He is “in charge” of everything….as opposed to our being in control (even if we don’t always appreciate His guidance and control of everything in our lives). Even in life’s great tragedies and challenges the Christian should always keep in mind (and be grateful for) the fact that God’s purposes are always accomplished for our earthly and everlasting good.
Our Epistle Lesson encourages us to suffer, if necessary, for the sake of the Gospel, following the example of self-sacrifice our Savior set for us.
And, finally, in this morning’s Children’s Lesson we’ll look at the challenge Joseph had to deal with…..with God’s help….namely, how to get out of Bethlehem and down to Egypt before Herod could murder the ChristChild. Then we’ll compare that to some of the problems that we all have – and how God is always working for us both behind and through our problems, in order to bring us His blessings.
Prayer upon entering the sanctuary
Pre-service Music
We Praise Our God
Welcome and Introduction 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 62, selected verses
P: My soul rests quietly in God alone;
C: My salvation is from Him.
P: He alone is my Rock and my Salvation;
C: my Fortress, I will not be disturbed.
P: My soul, rest quietly in God alone, for my hope comes from Him.
C: He alone is my Rock, and my Salvation, my Fortress.
P: Trust in Him at all times, you people;
C: pour out your hearts before Him, God is a Refuge for us.
P: One thing God has spoken, two things I have heard:
C: that God has strength
P: and that You, Lord, have mercy.
C: Surely You will repay each person according to what he has done.
After which the Congregation will be seated for
The Opening Hymn Hymn 440 “On Eagles’ Wings”
You who dwell in the shelter of the Lord
Who abide in His shadow for life
Say to the Lord, “My refuge, my rock in whom I trust!”
And He will raise you up on eagles’ wings
Bear you on the breath of dawn
Make you to shine like the sun
And hold you in the palm of His hand.
The snare of the fowler will never capture you
And famine will bring you no fear
Under His wings your refuge, His faithfulness your shield
And He will raise you up on eagles’ wings
Bear you on the breath of dawn
Make you to shine like the sun
And hold you in the palm of His hand.
For to His angels He’s given a command
To guard you in all of your ways
Upon their hands they will bear you up
Lest you dash your foot against a stone
And He will raise you up on eagles’ wings
Bear you on the breath of dawn
Make you to shine like the sun
And hold you in the palm of His hand.
After which the Congregation will rise
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, having humbly and sincerely confessed your sins before Almighty God, 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, addressing you as a called servant of Christ, and according to His command and under His authority, I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. May the peace of God rest upon all of you. Amen.
The Congregation responds by singing
“All Glory Be To God On High”
sung to the melody of “Almighty Father, Strong To Save” (CW 517)
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.
Our Prayer for This Morning
O Almighty God, + Grant unto us, Your servants, + that in all our trials and sufferings here on earth + for the testimony of Your truth, + we might look steadfastly to heaven, + and in faith find the strength + to persevere in our witness + and to continue faithfully in Your Kingdom work. + And filled with Your Holy Spirit + following the example of Stephen the martyr, + may we also learn to love and to bless + even those who persecute and harm us. + Finally, enable us also to find in Your Word + the daily Spiritual encouragement we need + to look beyond this life + to the certainty of everlasting life in heaven + that is our through faith in Christ Jesus, our Savior, + Who lives and rules with You and the Holy Spirit + One God, for ever and ever. + Amen.
After which the Congregation may be seated as
Today’s Vocal Selection Infant Holy, Infant Lowly
sung by Cynthia and Rick Tragasz
Infant holy, Infant lowly,
For His bed a cattle stall;
Oxen lowing, Little knowing
Christ the Babe is Lord of all.
Angels singing, Noels ringing, Tidings bringing:
Christ the Babe is Lord of all.
Flocks were sleeping; Shepherds keeping
Vigil till the morning new
Saw the glory, Heard the story,
Tidings of a Gospel true.
Thus rejoicing, Free from sorrow,
Praises voicing Greeting the morrow;
Christ the Babe was born for you.
We Hear God’s Word
The Old Testament Lesson Isaiah 40:27-31
27 Why do you speak, O Jacob? O Israel, why do you say, “My way is hidden from the Lord, and justice for me is ignored by my God”? 28 Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the eternal God. He is the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired, and He will not become weary. No one can find a limit to His understanding. 29 He is the one who gives strength to the weak, and He increases the strength of those who lack power. 30 Young men grow tired and become weary. Even strong men stumble and fall. 31 But those who wait for the Lord will receive new strength. They will lift up their wings and soar like eagles. They will run and not become weary. They will walk and not become tired.
The Epistle Lesson I Peter 4:12-19
12 Dear friends, do not be surprised by the fiery trial that is happening among you to test you, as if something strange were happening to you. 13 Instead rejoice whenever you are sharing in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may rejoice and be glad when His glory is revealed. 14 If you are insulted in connection with the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. 15 Make sure that none of you suffers as a murderer, a thief, a criminal, or as a meddler. 16 But if you suffer for being a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God in connection with this name. 17 For the time has come for judgment to begin with the household of God. Now if it begins with us, what will be the end for those who disobey the gospel of God? 18 And if it is hard for the righteous to be saved, where will the ungodly sinner end up? 19 So let those who suffer according to the will of God entrust their souls to their faithful Creator while doing what is good.
The Sequence Hymn Hymn 420 “God Moves In A Mysterious Way”
1 God moves in a mysterious way
His wonders to perform;
He plants his footsteps in the sea
And rides upon the storm.
2 Judge not the Lord by feeble sense,
But trust him for his grace;
Behind a frowning providence
He has a smiling face.
3 Blind unbelief is sure to err
And scan his work in vain;
God is his own interpreter,
And he will make it plain.
4 You fearful saints, fresh courage take;
The clouds you so much dread
Are big with mercy and will break
In blessing on your head.
After which the Congregation will rise for
The Gospel Lesson Matthew 2:1-23
After Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, when Herod was king, Wise Men from the east came to Jerusalem. They asked, 2 “Where is He Who has been born King of the Jews? We saw His star when it rose and have come to worship Him.” 3 When King Herod heard this, he was alarmed, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 He gathered together all the people’s chief priests and experts in the law. He asked them where the Christ was to be born. 5 They said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, because this was written through the prophet: 6 You, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are certainly not least among the rulers of Judah: because out of you will come a Ruler, Who will shepherd my people, Israel.”
7 Then Herod secretly summoned the Wise Men and found out from them exactly when the star had appeared. 8 He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the Child. When you find Him, report to me, so that I may also go and worship Him.” 9 After listening to the king, they went on their way. Then the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them, until it stood still over the place where the Child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with overwhelming joy. 11 After they went into the house and saw the Child with Mary, His mother, they bowed down and worshipped Him. Then they opened their treasures and offered Him gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 12 Since they had been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they went back to their own country by another route.
13 After the Wise Men were gone, an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared to Joseph in a dream. He said, “Get up, take the Child and His mother, and flee to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, because Herod will search for the Child in order to kill Him.” 14 Joseph got up, took the Child and His mother during the night, and left for Egypt. 15 He stayed there until the death of Herod. This happened to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet: “Out of Egypt I called My Son.” 16 When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Wise Men, he was furious. He issued orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and in all the surrounding countryside, from two years old and under. This was in keeping with the exact time he had learned from the Wise Men. 17 Then what was spoken through Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled: 18 A voice was heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and she refused to be comforted, because they are no more.
19 After Herod died, an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt. The angel said, 20 “Get up, take the Child and His mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who were trying to kill the Child are dead.” 21 Joseph got up, took the Child and His mother, and went to the land of Israel. 22 But when he heard that Archelaus, Herod’s son, had succeeded his father as ruler in Judea, he was afraid to go there. Since he had been warned in a dream, he went to the region of Galilee. 23 When he arrived there, he settled in a city called Nazareth. So what was spoken through the prophets was fulfilled: “He will be called a Nazarene.”
The Apostles’ Creed melody: “What A Friend We Have in Jesus” (CW 411)
I believe in God the Father, Maker of the heav’ns 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; Our salvation to achieve.
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, In 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! A – – men!
The Congregation will now be seated for
The Children’s Lesson Matthew 2:13
13When they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, and said “Rise, take the Child and His mother and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you, for Herod is about to search for the Child to destroy Him.”
“Thank God for Your Problems”
The Hymn of the Day “By All Your Saints Still Striving”
(Sung to the melody “Aurelia”; CW 538) cwh 2002
By all Your saints still striving, For all Your saints at rest,
Your holy name, O Jesus, Forevermore be blessed.
You rose, our King victorious, That they might wear the crown
And ever shine in splendor Reflected from Your throne.
Forget not Bethl’em’s children Objects of Herod’s wrath.
Their lives were giv’n for Jesus; We follow in their path.
Yes, Rachel cease your weeping. God in His perfect will
Has called them from earth’s evils. Oh let us praise Him still.
Now let us praise the Father And worship God the Son
And sing to God the Spirit, Eternal Three in One –
Till, with that ransomed number Who stand before the throne,
We give all pow’r and glory And praise to God alone.
The Pre-Sermon 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 Matthew 2:1-23
The Threatening – and Threatened – Baby
“The other side of the Christmas story” reminds us that the life of a child of God is never easy in this sinful world
Following the sermon the Congregation will rise for
The Post-Sermon Blessing
May our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and God our Father, Who loved us and by His grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, now encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word. Amen.
We Offer Our Gifts to the Lord
Our Offerings of Love to our 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, please) to our church address
(415 N. 6th Place, Lowell, AR 72745); or
2) You can donate through our website: www.gracelutherannwa.com
after the offerings are brought forward, the Congregation will rise for
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Our Prayers to the Lord
Today’s Special Prayers
Included in our prayers this morning are:
Prayers of Intercession for:
Tim Pfortmiller (who will soon begin receiving additional treatments
for his cancer; and
Diane Pfortmiller, who is dealing with heart, and other, problems.
Today’s General Prayer
P: Almighty God, Heavenly Father, You created all things in heaven and on earth. The earth is Yours and everything in it. To You alone belong all the riches and treasures of this earth, as well as the glories of heaven.
C: We praise, You, O God, our Almighty Creator.
P: And yet, we confess to You, O Lord, that by our attitudes and actions we have sinned against You. We have set our hearts on the treasures of this world. We have treated the material treasures and priorities of this life as more precious than the salvation of our own souls and the souls of others, and yes, even as more precious than You.
C: We confess, O Lord, that by nature we are spiritually bankrupt.
P: By Your grace, however, You have treated our souls and every soul as a greater treasure than all the riches and material things of this world. We know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for our sakes He became poor, taking the enormous debt of our sins on Himself when He suffered in our place on the cross.
C: We praise, You, O Lord, for Your redeeming love.
P: You have also enriched us with the Holy Spirit, working in the Means of Grace, through which He brought us to
faith and continues to strengthen our faith. Through these tools of faith — the Gospel in the Word and in the Sacraments – we enjoy the treasures of forgiveness for all our sins, new life in Christ, and eternal salvation.
C: We praise you, O Lord, for Your sanctifying work in us and our fellow believers.
P: It is not only our souls that You treasure, but every soul. Fill our hearts with Your love that we may look at every person we know and meet as a soul which is precious to You. Motivate and guide us to use our lips, our time, our church’s evangelism efforts, and the earthly resources You have entrusted to our care, to reach out to these precious souls with Your saving Gospel, that they may see what a treasure their souls are to You.
C: We praise You, O Lord, for giving us the privilege, responsibility and opportunities to reach out to precious souls with Your all-powerful Word.
P: Bless the efforts of each one of us, of our own congregation, of every congregation of our Wisconsin Synod, and of Your Holy Christian Church everywhere on earth, that we might grow in our faith through the faithful use of Your Word, and then go out to our family and friends, throughout our community and across our land – even into all the world – with Your Gospel for the salvation of souls everywhere. We offer this prayer in the name of our Savior, Jesus Christ, as we also continue with the prayer He has taught us:
C: 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 LORD bless you and keep you.
The LORD make His face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you.
The LORD look with favor upon you, and give you His peace. Amen.
Closing Hymn Hymn 536 “Lord Jesus Christ, the Church’s Head”
Lord Jesus Christ, the Church’s Head, You are her one Foundation;
In You she trusts, before You bows, And waits for Your salvation.
Built on this Rock secure, Your Church shall endure
E’en though the world decay And all things pass away.
Oh, hear, oh, hear us, Jesus!
O Lord, let this Your little flock, Your name alone confessing,
Continue in Your loving care, True unity possessing.
Your Sacraments, O Lord, And Your saving Word
To us e’er pure retain. Grant that they may remain
Our only strength and comfort.
Help us to serve You evermore With hearts both pure and lowly;
And may Your Word, that light divine, Shine on in splendor holy.
That we repentance show, In faith ever grow;
The power of sin destroy And eveils that annoy.
Oh, make us faithful Christians!
And for Your Gospel let us dare To sacrifice all treasure;
Teach us to bear Your blessed cross, To find in You all pleasure.
Oh, grant us steadfastness In joy and distress,
That we You ne’er forsake. Let us by grace partake
Of endless joy and glory.
Silent Prayer, Announcements, Post-service Music
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