The Seventh Sunday of the Pentecost Season
Also known as the Fifth Sunday after
the Festival of the Holy Trinity – July 05, 2026
Major Messages from the Minor Prophets…Today: Jonah
Jonah….The Successful – and the Loveless – Evangelist
(subtitled….”Jonah and the Worm”)
This morning we’re continuing our summer service and sermon series dealing with the messages of that group of men
known as the Old Testament “Minor Prophets.” It’s called “Those Minor Prophets and Their Major Messages.” Perhaps the most important point to make when it comes to calling them “Minor prophets” is that their messages are no 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” only 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. Over the past four weeks and, including today, over the next three months, as we worship on Sunday mornings our intent is to apply to our lives and our collective Christian ministry at Grace Lutheran the truths about God’s will and the consequences of either following God’s ways or defying them that the minor prophets can teach us.
This morning we will be giving our attention to the prophet Jonah, and the lesson that we can learn about God’s compassion for souls caught up in sin (and who among us doesn’t fit that description?). We’ll see the LORD’s concern for the spiritual well-being of the people of Nineveh contrasted with the selfishness and “hardness” of Jonah toward the Ninevites. ….And we’ll each want to ask two questions: 1) How has God shown and how does He continue to show His love for me? And 2) How do I reflect His love on a daily basis to the people He brings into my life?
Today’s Scripture Lessons
This morning’s Sermon Text is Jonah, chapter four. It presents us with the sad picture of a self-absorbed prophet, upset with God and critical of Him for planning to spare the hated Ninevites the divine wrath and destruction that Jonah wanted to see brought down upon them. He set up a little camp outside the city, “convinced” that the Ninevites’ conversion was not genuine – and that God would realize Jonah had been right all along. Jonah would wait for the Lord to destroy them from his ring-side seat. Instead, using the “object lessons” of a miraculously-growing vine to shade his hot (and hot-tempered) prophet, along with a worm that subsequently ate the shade-vine…..much to Jonah’s discomfort sitting out in the hot desert……the LORD teaches Jonah that if he (Jonah) can be concerned about an insignificant plant’s survival or loss, then He (God) certainly has the right to be concerned about the eternal salvation of the souls inside Nineveh – which had once all been lost in unbelief! The book ends with the Lord’s probing question to Jonah and us: “Should I not pity Nineveh, that great city?” It begged the answer that Jonah doesn’t give (at least not in this book): “Yes, Lord, You should be concerned about their souls….and so should I!” May our reviewing of Jonah’s story today serve to probe and prod our hearts now and well into the future……challenging us to also be compassionate and concerned – as our LORD is – for those souls all around us that are caught up in sin and unbelief. May we also keep in mind that these souls will be lost eternally unless Christians – like us – keep on proclaiming God’s Law and Gospel to them for the conversion of their souls. God-enabling, we will all do this faithfully, consistently, and joyfully! Our emphasis will be on the contrast between Jonah’s continuing callousness over the spiritual well-being and salvation of the Ninevites, and the continuing compassion of the LORD that moved Him to call the Ninevites to repent and believe in Him through Jonah’s powerful preaching. We’ll apply this part of Jonah’s story to our own lives, and to the level of commitment and compassion each of us has for those souls which are lost in unbelief around us, and around the world.
Our Old Testament Lesson comes from the inspired pen of the prophet Micah, who served the people of Judah from @ 739-693 B.C. His message was one of judgement for sin, but also of eventual restoration. In our reading Micah emphasizes the compassionate (and undeserved) grace of God in forgiving their sin.
In today’s Epistle Lesson Paul begins by speaking about the Lord’s grace to us in choosing us to be His children and bringing us to faith in Him – which is all to His glory. Offering Old Testament quote upon Old Testament quote, the apostle makes the point that God has the right to do with us as He chooses – and we have no right to question, let alone, complain about His gracious leading. Paul closes by reminding us that salvation comes, not via legalism, but by God’s grace through humble faith in Him as the Savior-God.
Our Gospel Lesson is Jesus’ familiar “forgiveness story” of the prodigal son – a parable beloved for its emphatic message of mercy from God the Father for sinners of all types – from the careless and indulgent (like the prodigal son) to the legalistic, self-centered and hard-hearted (like the older brother), to each one of us!
Finally, this morning’s Children’s Lesson will contrast the sins of being angry, hateful and combative with the Christian virtues of being compassionate, gracious, and patient with everyone….even our enemies.
The Book, Person, and Times of Jonah
Jonah, the son of Amittai, is mentioned in only four places in the Bible other than this book about him: namely, in Matthew 12:40, Luke 11:29-32, Matthew 16:4, and II Kings 14:23-25. The actual name, Jonah, means “dove” in Hebrew, while his father’s name, Amittai, means “truthful.” From what we learn about the prophet’s character and temperament in his book, to say he was “mis-named” would be something of an understatement!
Although we do not know the exact dates of Jonah’s life, conservative scholars generally agree that his work as a prophet coincided roughly with the time span of the reign of Jeroboam II (king of the northern kingdom of Israel, who ruled from 793-753 B.C.). Most of those scholars are inclined to date the events of the book of Jonah at around the year 780 B.C., with the book being written shortly thereafter.
Very little is known of Jonah’s life other than the information recorded in this book, along with that one Old Testament and those three New Testament references (cited above). One interesting, but likely false, Jewish tradition says that Jonah was the son of the Shunamite woman that Elisha raised from the dead. However, he might have been a disciple, and successor-prophet of Elisha.
From II Kings 14:23-26 we learn that he was called into the Lord’s service about the time Jeroboam II ascended to the throne of the northen kingdom of Israel. In Matthew 12:39-41 and Luke 11:29-32 our Lord Jesus affirms the historicity of Jonah’s work, as well as the amazing but true conversion of the citizens of Nineveh, and the prophet’s 3 day experience inside the great fish – using the latter in reference to His own impending 3 day entombment, after which He would rise bodily from the grave on Easter morning as the Conqueror for us of sin, death, and Satan.
127 years prior to Jonah’s day, the united kingdom of Israel over which Kings Saul, David and Solomon ruled had been split in two because of arrogance, political upheaval and civil war. The resulting division saw the establishment of a northern kingdom consisting of 10 tribes under Jeroboam I; it was to be known as Israel. A two-tribe southern kingdom, remaining loyal to the household of David, was initially led by King Rehoboam. It took the name the Kingdom of Judah for itself.
Jonah was not the only prophet of God during the days of Jeroboam II and Uzziah (also known as Azariah…..He reigned as Judah’s king from 792 to 740 B.C.) . Jonah’s “contemporaries” laboring in Israel were the prophets Amos (@760 B.C.) and Hosea (@750 B.C.). Two fellow prophets also served the southern Kingdom of Judah in Jonah’s day; they were Isaiah (@740 B.C.) and Micah (@730 B.C.).
Who’s the “Author” of Jonah?
Whether by ancient Jewish tradition or in the expert view of the Christian Church from its earliest days up to the 19th century, the authorship of Jonah has consistently been attributed to Jonah, the Son of Amittai, from the tribe of Zebulun, the prophet from Gath-Hepher (about 3 miles northeast of Nazareth) in Israel. Even today, conservative Bible scholars and students (of which we are a part) uniformly assert that, under God the Holy Spirit’s guidance, the same Jonah of “Nineveh fame” wrote the book that bears his name.
Sadly, during the 19th century a “liberal” method of Biblical interpretation was developed; it is known as “the historical-critical” approach to Biblical interpretation. The followers of that method have created a competing and conflicting message not only regarding who authored Jonah, but also what the book’s main message is and how it ought to be interpreted and believed. Generally they maintain that the 8th century Jonah did not write the Old Testament book of Jonah. Instead, they suggest that a 5th or 4th century anonymous writer – using Jonah’s name to add an air of legitimacy and authority to his writing – edited two “Jonah myths” (the “fish story” and Jonah’s defiant debate with God from chapter four) and combined them into the book which we will be examining this morning.
Rather than expend an inordinate amount of paper and ink attempting to rebut every attack of the critics against Jonah’s historicity – as well as to avoid exhausting your patience by dwelling on what some might consider “minutia”– I’ll go to the heart of orthodoxy’s (correct/faithful teaching) defense of Jonah against the attacks of Scripture’s liberal opponents. As we have previously stated…..in both Matthew 12 and Luke 11 Jesus affirmed the truthfulness (historicity) of the events contained in the book of Jonah as well as Jonah’s authorship of this book. Enough said!
Two Bible scholars, Edward Young and our WELS’ Armin Schuetze, respectively, make the case much better than I, and with greater brevity:
“Christ believed in the historicity of the miracles recorded in Jonah and the historicity of the prophet’s mission to the Ninevites. Hence we cannot regard the book as legendary and unhistorical in character. With those who believe in miracles or the deity of Jesus Christ there is no common meeting ground” with those who deny them. (Young)
“What…someone may ask….is lost if the account is seen as a symbolical story? Will not its message of unwilling service or of God’s grace toward a penitent city still be there? Need we contend for a historical JONAH who was literally swallowed by a large fish? More is at stake than what some want to consider an unlikely fish story. Read Matthew 12:38–41; 16:4, Luke 11:29–30. The Lord Jesus is involved. He refers to JONAH and repenting Nineveh as history that happened. Can what did not happen serve as sign for what will happen? Can imaginary people who repented only in the imagination of the author stand in judgment of anyone? To question the historicity of JONAH is to question the veracity [truthfulness] of Christ. And anything that perverts Christology [what the Word teaches about Christ] is not unimportant. It concerns our salvation.” (Schuetze)
Jonah is a book of Amazing Miracles – 12 in all!
It’s the 12 miracles in Jonah that are the “lightening rods” which draw the ire and fire of this book’s liberal negative/higher critics. They don’t believe in the possibility of miracles, but instead are committed to what they call the “demythologizing” of Scripture. So, with twelve miracles reported in Jonah’s four chapters…..is it any wonder that the Bible’s critics have “locked and loaded” when it comes to taking negative shots at this book? Of the miracles targeted, two stand out for their extraordinariness: 1) Jonah swallowed by the great fish; and 2) the entire city of Nineveh repenting and being converted through Jonah’s preaching. Below are all twelve miracles mentioned in the book of Jonah:
The word of the LORD coming to Jonah – the first time (1:1);
God sending a great wind that caused the violent storm (1:4);
The lot falling to a guilty Jonah (1:7);
The sea becomes calm as soon as the prophet is thrown overboard (1:15);
The conversion of the sailors to faith in the LORD (1:16);
God sending the great fish that swallows Jonah (1:17);
The fish vomiting Jonah onto dry land after three days (2:10);
The word of the LORD coming to Jonah – the second time (3:1);
The Ninevites repenting and believing in the LORD (3:5);
The LORD providing a rapidly growing vine for Jonah (4:6);
The LORD sending a worm to attack the vine (4:7);
The LORD providing a scorching east wind to discomfort Jonah (4:8)
Israel, Assyria and Nineveh in Jonah’s Day
…..During Jonah’s ministry Jeroboam II led Israel into a “Golden Age” that was short-lived. (Within five decades the entire northern kingdom would be destroyed entirely by the Assyrians in 722 BC, and its people where carried off into a captivity from which they would never return.) Early in Jeroboam’s reign conditions in Israel were poor, both militarily and economically (II Kings 14:26), but Jonah prophesied that better days were ahead for Israel…..and that happened. However, economics aside, the spiritual situation in Israel during that time was deplorable – and it was something wicked Jeroboam II encouraged (II Kings 14:24).
During Jonah’s days the Assyrian Empire was in the midst of a period of Middle Eastern dominance that they would enjoy for nearly 300 years, before they would be destroyed in 612 BC by an alliance of the Medes and Babylonians. The Assyrians, whose main capital was Nineveh, were a violent, war-like and idolatrous people, who were both feared and hated by their neighbors. For example, Assyria helped originate the brutal practice of crucifixion (though the Romans would be the ones who would “perfect” it). Additionally, a common practice among them was to deport and purposefully scatter the peoples that they conquered (II Kings 15:29) – which was what they eventually did to the people of Israel.
The city of Nineveh was an ancient city, founded by Nimrod (Genesis 10:11,12) along the banks of the Tigris river, about 220 miles NNW of modern-day Baghdad, Iraq. If the three days’ journey mentioned in Jonah, chapter 3, meant a pace of 20 miles per day, then Nineveh was an incredibly, but not impossibly, large city. It would have been the Tokyo, New York City, or Mexico City of its day. No doubt the reference in 3:3 is to the entire “metropolitan” area of Nineveh covering the city proper, along with Rehoboth Ir, Calah, and Resen Its walls stood 100 feet high and were wide enough to be crossed simultaneously by three chariots abreast. At least 600,000 people lived within its walls…and probably more outside those walls.
A few more observations about Nineveh and its inhabitants: The prophet Nahum (3:3) referred to Nineveh as a violent city. One of its most infamous monarchs, Ashurnasirpal II, was accustomed, after his military victories, to cutting off the hands and feet of his captives, along with their noses and ears. He also saw to it that their eyes were put out. Nahum also indicates that Nineveh’s sins included: plotting against the Lord (Na 1:11); cruelty and plundering in war (2:12-13; 3:1,19); prostitution and witchcraft (3:4); and commercial exploitation ( 3:16). In addition, the prophet Isaiah wrote that the city and its people were throughly corrupt (Isaiah 10:12-19). Even their king recognized the depths of Nineveh’s depravity (Jonah 3:8) — a depravity so great that it called out to heaven for punishment just as Sodom and Gomorrah’s sins had done years earlier (Genesis 18:20-21).
A Brief Summary of the book of Jonah
The book of Jonah starts in chapter one with the Lord extending a “divine call” to the prophet Jonah to leave his station in Israel (he had been serving the idolatrous Northern Kingdom – and they needed to repent) in order to preach repentance and judgment to the people of Nineveh (the capital of the wicked and fearsome Assyrian empire – Israel’s arch-enemy). Jonah refused, displaying rank insubordination by defying God’s command and running away. In effect he tried to resign from his position as a prophet by hopping a ship to Tarshish – in the opposite direction from Nineveh.
In chapter 2, God’s mercy is on display in Jonah’s miraculous rescue at sea through being swallowed by a great fish when that prodigal prophet, by all rights, should have been dead from drowning! From inside the fish’s belly Jonah offered a prayer profound for its Biblical content, as well as its expressions of repentance, gratitude, and confidence in the Lord.
Having been released from his temporary holding cell in that great fish’s belly, Jonah seemed to show at the beginning of chapter three that he “got it.” There the Lord called Him a second time to preach repentance or destruction to the Assyrian capital of Nineveh, he went. And the results of Jonah’s preaching were nothing short of miraculous with the entire city converting (although even one unbeliever’s conversion is miraculous……let’s never forget that!). No preacher EVER experienced the kind of “sudden success” that God allowed Jonah to have. But instead of being overjoyed that thousands upon thousands of lost souls were saved, in chapter four (from which today’s Sermon Text is taken) Jonah pouted. More to the point, he admitted that he was angry with God. His words and actions demonstrate clearly that Jonah had merely been “compliant” when he preached to Nineveh in chapter 3……he was not “cooperative,” let alone enthusiastic for his mission.
And so (as noted earlier in this introduction), chapter four presents the sad picture of a self-absorbed prophet, upset with God and critical of Him that the Ninevites were going to be spared the divine wrath and destruction that Jonah wanted to see brought down upon them. He set up a little camp outside the city, perhaps hoping that the Ninevites’ conversion was a sham – and that God would realize Jonah had been right all along – and that the Lord would destroy them after all, with Jonah watching from a ring-side seat. Instead, using the “object lessons” of a miraculously-growing vine to shade his hot (and hot-tempered) prophet, along with a worm that subsequently ate the shade-vine…..much to Jonah’s discomfort sitting out in the hot desert……the LORD attempts to teach Jonah that if he (Jonah) can be concerned about an insignificant plant’s survival or loss, then He (God) certainly has the right to be committed to the eternal salvation of the souls inside the city of Nineveh – which had all once been lost in their unbelief! The book ends with the Lord’s probing question to Jonah and to us: “Should I not pity Nineveh, that great city?” It begged the answer that Jonah doesn’t give (at least not in this book): “Yes, Lord, You should be concerned about their souls….and so should I!” I hope and pray that reviewing Jonah’s story today will serve to probe and prod our hearts now and well into the future……challenging us to also be compassionate and concerned – as our LORD is – for those souls all around us that are caught up in sin and unbelief. May we keep in mind that these souls will be lost eternally unless Christians – like us – keep on proclaiming God’s Law and Gospel to them for the conversion of their souls. God-enabling, we will all do this faithfully, consistently, and joyfully!
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 Pre-worship music
Let Us Praise The Lord
The Introduction and Invitation to Worship
after which, the Pastor will invite the Congregation will rise for
The Invocation
We make our beginning
In the name…. of the Father,
Who gave His Son into death for us and raised Him in glory on the third day;
And of the Son,
Who laid down His life only to take it up again on the third day;
And of the Holy Spirit
through Whom Christ was made alive, Who has worked saving faith in our hearts, Who lives in us now through the Word, and Who will one day give life to our mortal bodies.
Amen.
Our Psalm Reading for Today Psalm 103
P: Bless the LORD , O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name. Bless the LORD O my soul, and forget not all His benefits –
C: Who forgives all your sins + Who heals all your diseases,
P: Who redeems your life from the pit + Who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy
Who satisfies you with good + so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
P: The LORD works righteousness and justice for all who are oppressed. He made known His ways to Moses, His acts to the people of Israel:
C: The Lord is merciful and gracious, + slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love.
P: He will not always chide, nor will He keep His anger forever. He does not deal with us according to our sins nor repay us according to our iniquities.
C: For as high as the heavens are above the earth, + so great is His steadfast love toward those who fear Him; + as far as the east is from the west, + so far does He remove our transgressions from us.
As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear Him; for He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust.
C: As for man, his days are like grass, + he flourishes like a flower of the field; + for the wind passes over it and it is gone, + and its place knows it no more.
P: But the steadfast love of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him, and His righteousness to their children’s children, to those who keep His covenant and remember to do His commandments.
C: The LORD has established His throne in the heavens, + and His kingdom rules over all.
P: Bless the LORD, you His angels, you mighty ones who do His word, obeying the voice of His word.
C: Bless the LORD, all His hosts, + His ministers who do His will. + Bless the LORD, all His works in all places of His dominion. + Bless the LORD, O my soul.
The Opening Hymn Hymn 478 “With the Lord Begin Your Task”
With the Lord begin your task; Jesus will direct it.
For His aid and counsel ask; Jesus will perfect it.
Ev’ry morn with Jesus rise, And when day is ended,
In His name then close your eyes; Be to Him commended.
Let each day begin with prayer, Praise, and adoration.
On the Lord cast ev’ry care; He is your salvation.
Morning, evening, and at night Jesus will be near you,
Save you from the tempter’s might, With His presence cheer you.
With your Savior at your side, Foes need not alarm you;
In His promises confide, And no ill can harm you.
All your trust and hope repose In the mighty Master,
Who in wisdom truly knows How to stem disaster.
If your task be thus begun With the Savior’s blessing,
Safely then your course will run, Toward the promise pressing.
Good will follow ev’rywhere While you here must wander;
You at last the joy will share In the mansions yonder.
Thus, Lord Jesus, ev’ry task Be to You commended;
May Your will be done, I ask, Until life is ended.
Jesus, in Your name begun Be the day’s endeavor;
Grant that it may well be done To Your praise forever.
After which the Congregation will rise as
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.
(Sung) Lord have mercy on us.
Christ Have Mercy on Us
Lord have mercy on us.
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.
(Sung) Glory be to God on high
and on earth peace good will to men.
We praise You, we bless You, we worship You.
We glorify You,
we give thanks to You for Your great glory.
O Lord God heavenly King,
God the Father almighty.
O Lord, the only begotten Son, Jesus Christ,
O Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father,
You take away the sin of the world.
Have mercy on us.
You take away the sin of the world.
Receive our prayer.
You sit at the right hand of God the Father.
Have mercy on us.
For You only are holy. You only are the Lord.
You only, O Christ, with the Holy Spirit.
Are most high in the glory of God the Father. Amen
After which the Congregation will be seated for
Feed Us, Lord
The Old Testament Lesson Micah 7:14-20
14 Shepherd Your people with Your staff, the flock that is your inheritance, the flock which dwells by itself in a forest, in the middle of fertile pastureland. Let them graze in Bashan and Gilead as in days of old. 15 As I did in the days you came out from the land of Egypt, I will show you wonderful miracles. 16 The nations will see and be ashamed of their lack of strength. They will place their hand over their mouth. Their ears will be deaf. 17 They will lick up dust like a snake, like the things that creep on the earth. They will come from their hiding places, shaking with fear. They will come trembling to the Lord our God, and they will be afraid in Your presence.
18 Who is a God like You, Who forgives guilt, and Who passes over the rebellion of the survivors from His inheritance? He does not hold onto His anger forever. He delights in showing mercy. 19 He will have compassion on us again. He will overcome our guilty deeds. You will throw all their sins into the depths of the sea. 20 You will give truth to Jacob and mercy to Abraham, as You swore to our fathers from days of old.
The Epistle Lesson Romans 9:14-33
14 What will we say then? Does this mean that God is unjust? Absolutely not! 15 For God says to Moses: I will show mercy to whom I show mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion. 16 So then, it does not depend on human desire or effort, but on God’s mercy. 17 Indeed, the Scripture says in regard to Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I caused you to stand, that I may demonstrate My power in how I deal with you, and that My name may be proclaimed in all the earth.” 18 So then, God shows mercy to whom He desires, and He hardens whom he desires.
19 Then you will say to me, “Why does God still find fault? For who has ever succeeded in resisting His will?” 20 But who are you, a mere human being, to talk back to God? Shall the thing that is formed say to the One Who formed it, “Why did You make me like this?” No. 21 Doesn’t the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay one pot for special use and another for ordinary use?
22 What if God, although He wanted to demonstrate His wrath and make His power known, endured with great patience the objects of wrath—ripe for destruction? 23 And what if He did this to make the riches of His glory known to the objects of mercy whom He prepared in advance for glory, 24 including us, whom He called—not only from the Jews but also from the Gentiles. 25 This is also what God says in Hosea: “Those who were not My people, I will call My people, and she who was not loved, I will call My loved one.” 26 And, it will be that in the place where they were told, “You are not My people,” there they will be called “sons of the living God.” 27 And Isaiah cries out about Israel: “Although the number of the sons of Israel is as great as the sand of the sea, only the remnant will be saved.” 28 For the Lord, Who carries out what He says without delay, will do what He said completely and decisively on the earth. 29 Just as Isaiah said earlier: “If the Lord of Armies had not left us some descendants, we would have become like Sodom, and we would have been like Gomorrah.”
30 What shall we say then? That Gentiles, who were not pursuing righteousness, have obtained righteousness, a righteousness that is by faith. 31 But Israel, while pursuing the law as a way of righteousness, did not reach it. 32 Why? Because they kept pursuing it not by faith, but as if it comes by works. They stumbled over the stumbling stone. 33 Just as it is written: “ Look, I am putting a stone in Zion over which they will stumble
and a rock over which they will fall.”The one who believes in Him will not be put to shame.
A Special Vocal Selection “God of our Fathers”
1 God of our fathers, Whose almighty hand
Leads forth in beauty all the starry band
Of shining worlds in splendor through the skies,
Our grateful songs before thy throne arise.
2 Thy love divine hath led us in the past,
In this free land by Thee our lot is cast;
Be Thou our Ruler, Guardian, Guide, and Stay,
Thy word our law, Thy paths our chosen way.
After which, the Congregation will rise for
The Gospel Lesson Luke 15:11-32
11 Jesus said, “A certain man had two sons. 12 The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them. 13 Not many days later, the younger son gathered together all that he had and traveled to a distant country. There he wasted his wealth with reckless living. 14 After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that country, and he began to be in need. 15 He went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. 16 He would have liked to fill his stomach with the carob pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.
17 “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have more than enough bread, and I am dying from hunger! 18 I will get up, go to my father, and tell him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.”’
20 “He got up and went to his father. While he was still far away, his father saw him and was filled with compassion. He ran, hugged his son, and kissed him. 21 The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick, bring out the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let us eat and celebrate, 24 because this son of mine was dead and is alive again. He was lost and is found.’ Then they began to celebrate.
25 “His older son was in the field. As he approached the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 He called one of the servants and asked what was going on. 27 The servant told him, ‘Your brother is here! Your father killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and sound.’ 28 The older brother was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and began to plead with him. 29 “He answered his father, ‘Look, these many years I’ve been serving you, and I never disobeyed your command, but you never gave me even a young goat so that I could celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours arrived after wasting your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!’
31 “The father said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours. 32 But it was fitting to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again. He was lost and is found.’”
We Confess our Faith through the words of the Nicene Creed
I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of His Father before all worlds, God of God, Light of Light. Very God of Very God. Begotten, not made. Being of one substance with the Father, By Whom all things were made; Who for us men and for our salvation, came down from heaven And was incarnate by the Holy Ghost of the Virgin Mary And was made man; And was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate. He suffered and was buried; And the third day He rose again according to the Scriptures; And ascended into heaven, And sitteth on the right hand of the Father; And He shall come again with glory, to judge both the quick and the dead; Whose Kingdom shall have no end. And I believe in the Holy Ghost, The Lord and Giver of Life, Who proceedeth from the Father and the Son, Who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified, Who spake by the Prophets. And I believe one holy Christian and Apostolic Church. I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins, And I look for the resurrection of the dead, And the life of the world to come. Amen.
After which the Congregation will be seated for
The Children’s Lesson Ephesians 4, selected verses
26 “Be angry, yet do not sin.” Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry. 27 Do not give the Devil an opportunity. . ……29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come from your mouths. Say only what is beneficial when there is a need to build up others, so that it will be a blessing to those who hear…….31 Get rid of every kind of bitterness, rage, anger, quarreling, and slander, along with every kind of malice. 32 Instead, be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ has forgiven us
“Angry, Mean and Hateful…..or Kind and Compassionate
………What Kind of Person Are You?
The Hymn of the Day Hymn 573 “Hark, the Voice of Jesus Crying”
1 Hark! the voice of Jesus crying,
“Who will go and work today?
Fields are ripe and harvests waiting;
Who will bear the sheaves away?”
Loud and long the Master calleth;
Rich reward he offers thee.
Who will answer, gladly saying,
“Here am I– send me, send me?”
2 If you cannot speak like angels,
If you cannot preach like Paul,
You can tell the love of Jesus;
You can say he died for all.
If you cannot rouse the wicked
With the Judgment’s dread alarms,
You can lead the little children
To the Savior’s waiting arms.
3 If you cannot be a watchman,
Standing high on Zion’s wall,
Pointing out the path to heaven,
Off’ring life and peace to all,
With your prayers and with your off’rings
You can do what God demands;
You can be like faithful Aaron,
Holding up the prophet’s hands.
4 Let none hear you idly saying,
“There is nothing I can do,”
While the multitudes are dying,
And the Master calls for you.
Take the task he gives you gladly;
Let his work your pleasure be.
Answer quickly when he calleth,
“Here am I– send me, send me!”
After which the Congregation will rise for
The Greeting
Grace and peace be yours in abundance, through the knowledge of God and of Jesus Christ, our Lord. May the God of peace fill you with all joy in believing! Amen.
Sermon Text Jonah 4:1-11
But to Jonah all this seemed very bad, and he became very angry. 2 He
prayed to the Lord, “Lord, wasn’t this exactly what I said when I was still in my own country? That is why I previously fled to Tarshish, because I knew that You are a gracious and merciful God, slow to anger and abounding in mercy, and You relent from sending disaster. 3 So now, Lord, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live.” 4 But the Lord replied, “Is it right for you to be angry?”
5 Jonah went out of the city and sat down east of the city. He made a shelter for himself there and sat in the shade under it, waiting to see what would happen in the city. 6 Then the Lord God provided a plant and made it grow up over Jonah to provide shade over his head, to relieve him from his discomfort. So Jonah was very happy about the plant. 7 But at dawn the next day God provided a worm, and it attacked the plant so that it withered. 8 When the sun rose, God provided a scorching east wind. The sun beat down on Jonah’s head so that he grew faint. He wanted to die, so he said, “It is better for me to die than to live.”
9 But God said to Jonah, “Is it right for you to be angry about the plant?” Jonah said, “I do have a right to be angry—angry enough to die!” 10 So the Lord said, “You have been concerned about this plant. You did not work for it or make it grow. It grew up in one night and perished after one night. 11 So should I not be concerned for Nineveh, the great city, in which there are more than one hundred twenty thousand people who do not know the difference between their right hand and their left—and also many animals?”
The Sad Story of Jonah and the Worm
(Our petty human concerns and critical character,
versus God’s extraordinary mercy)
following which the Congregation will REMAIN SEATED for
The Post-Sermon Blessing
May the God of peace, Who brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus Christ, that Great Shepherd of the sheep, now equip you with everything good for doing His will! Amen.
after which the Congregation will be seated
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
The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father, Who art in heaven, + Hallowed be Thy name; + Thy Kingdom come; + Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven; + Give us this day our daily bread; + and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; + and lead us not into temptation; + but deliver us from evil; + for Thine is the Kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. + Amen.
The Baptism and Confirmation of Linda Wingfield
P: Linda: 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, first of all, you desire to be baptized into the name of the Triune God…..God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.
And, with God’s blessing, we will perform the rite of Baptism now.
“Linda Wingfield, I baptize you, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.”
Also, during the months we have spent together studying God’s Word, you also have been taught the precious truths of the Christian faith as confessed by our 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 stand here this morning, before this congregation of believers, to make a public profession of your Christian faith. The Apostle Paul writing to the Christians in Rome said: “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 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 Linda into our Communicant Membership
At the pastor’s invitation, the Congregation will rise
Our Prayer for Linda
We Celebrate the Lord’s Supper
Pastor – The Lord be with you.
Congregation (sung) And also with you
Pastor – Lift up your hearts.
Congregation (sung) We lift them up to the Lord,
Pastor – Let us give thanks unto the Lord, our God.
Congregation (sung) It is right to give Him thanks and praise.
Consecration of the Communion Elements (Pastor)
Pastor – The peace of the Lord be with you always.
Congregation – (Sung) Amen.
The Exhortation Regarding the Lord’s Supper
(Please read the following if you have not spoken with
our Pastor about taking communion. Thank you.)
TO OUR GUESTS AND FRIENDS
We offer the Lord’s Supper this morning only to those individuals who are confirmed, communicant members of
Grace Lutheran congregation, or of a member congregation of our Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod. To our Guests this morning, we genuinely appreciate your presence among us and celebrate the faith in Christ which we share with you. However, we ask that you will please respect our communion practice (see above). A brochure further explaining the Biblical basis for our Communion practice is available on the tract rack in the church entryway. We encourage you both to examine it – especially the Biblical references within it, and also to speak with our Pastor after the service (at your convenience) so that you might better understand and appreciate our Biblically-based “Close Communion” practice. Thank you for your understanding, your patience, and for your presence here among us today.
The Distribution Hymn Hymn 312 “Lord Jesus Christ You Have Prepared”
verses 1-4; verses 5-8
1 Lord Jesus Christ, you have prepared
This feast for our salvation;
It is your body and your blood,
And at your invitation
As weary souls, with sin oppressed,
We come to you for needed rest,
For comfort, and for pardon.
2 Although you did to heav’n ascend,
Where angel hosts are dwelling,
And in your presence they behold
Your glory, all excelling,
And though your people shall not see
Your glory and your majesty
Till dawns the judgment morning,
3 Yet, Savior, you are not confined
To any habitation,
But you are present ev’rywhere
And with your congregation.
Firm as a rock this truth shall stand,
Unmoved by any daring hand
Or subtle craft and cunning.
4 We eat this bread and drink this cup,
Your precious Word believing
That your true body and your blood
Our lips are here receiving.
This Word remains forever true,
And there is naught you cannot do,
For you, Lord, are almighty.
5 Though reason cannot understand,
Yet faith this truth embraces:
Your body, Lord, is ev’rywhere
At once in many places.
I leave to you how this can be;
Your Word alone suffices me;
I trust its truth unfailing.
6 Lord, I believe what you have said;
Help me when doubts assail me.
Remember that I am but dust,
And let my faith not fail me.
Your supper in this vale of tears
Refreshes me and stills my fears
And is my priceless treasure.
7 Grant that we worthily receive
Your supper, Lord, our Savior,
And, truly grieving for our sins,
May prove by our behavior
That we are thankful for your grace
And day by day may run our race,
In holiness increasing.
8 For your consoling supper, Lord,
Be praised throughout all ages!
Preserve it, for in ev’ry place
The world against it rages.
Grant that this sacrament may be
A blessed comfort unto me
When living and when dying.
We Leave With The Lord’s Blessing
The Closing Prayer
Almighty God, to Whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from Whom no secrets are hid, cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the power of Your Holy Spirit, that we may love You more completely, praise You more joyously, and serve You more faithfully. As we conclude this worship service, we make these requests in the name of Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, Who lives and rules with You and the Holy Spirit, as the one true God, now and forever. Amen.
The Benediction
P: Brothers and sisters, go in peace. Live in harmony with one another. Serve the Lord in gladness.
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 grant you His peace. Amen.
The Closing Hymn Hymn 619 “God Bless Our Native Land”
1 God bless our native land!
Firm may she ever stand
Through storm and night!
When the wild tempests rave,
Ruler of wind and wave,
Do thou our country save
By thy great might.
2 For her our prayers shall rise
To God above the skies;
On him we wait.
Thou who art ever nigh,
Guarding with watchful eye,
To thee aloud we cry,
God save the state!
Silent Prayer, Announcements, Post-service Music