The Fourth Sunday of the Epiphany Season

“Your Sins Are Forgiven”

Many years ago, Karl Menniger, the pre-eminent psychiatrist, wrote of seeing a stern-faced, plainly-dressed man standing one day on a street corner in the busy Chicago loop. As pedestrians hurried by on their way to lunch or business, the man would solemnly lift his right arm, and pointing to some person near him, would shout at the top of his voice the single word, “Guilty!” Then, without any change of expression, he would stand stiffly for a few moments, and, then again, would repeat the gesture. He would raise his right arm, point at someone hurrying by, and shout the word, “Guilty!” “The effect,” wrote Menniger, “of this strange…pantomime on the passing strangers was extraordinary, almost eerie. They would stare at him, hesitate, look away, look at each other, and then at him again; then hurriedly continue on their ways. “One man, turning to another…exclaimed, ‘But how did he know?'”

Guilt, borne as the result of sin, can be a relentless and malicious master to anyone. Unless removed, it can drive a person into depression, to dispair and despondency, to destructive personal behavior, and eventually to eternal death. To remove the guilt of the world’s sin along with satisfying sin’s curse of everlasting punishment in hell were the very purposes for which God the Father sent His Son into this world. (Nothing else would work to remove sin’s guilt and curse.) In that role, Christ served as the ultimate sin offering – giving up His sinless life as the absolute substitutionary sacrifice to free us from the guilt, curse and condemnation of our sins.

The Current Season of Epiphany

The part of the church year in which we find ourselves today is know as “The Epiphany Season.” It varies in length from 3 to 8 Sundays, depending on the date of Easter. An early Easter means a short Epiphany cycle, and vice versa. This year’s Epiphany season will be about average in length. Starting last Sunday, this year Epiphany is 6 Sundays long (plus 2 extra days), running through February 17^th.

During the season of Epiphany (the word comes from a Greek word meaning “to reveal” or “to make known”) Christian churches that follow the traditional “church calendar” – as our church does – often focus their attention in worship on various portions of God’s Word that present us with (or “reveal”/”Epiphany” to us) proofs of Christ’s deity either through the various miracles He performed or the authoritative messages that He presented. In addition, during Epiphany we also give our attention to the responsibility that Jesus has given us as His Church on earth to make Him known to the world by being His witnesses and missionaries to those whose lives touch ours each day.

Today’s Scripture Lessons

Recognizing our sins and changing (with God’s help) our behavior is at the center of today’s service, as well as seen clearly in today’s Gospel Lesson/Sermon Text, from which our worship theme comes. Early in His ministry, while in the city of Capernaum, Jesus encountered a paralyzed man, who was lowered from an opening in a home’s flat roof. The man sought healing from his affliction (which he would eventually receive). But of greater importance to Jesus – as is true in our Savior’s dealings with us – was that the man’s soul was served through the assurance that his sins were all forgiven.

Our Old Testament Lesson will review Nathan’s mission to regain and restore a then-impenitent King David, who had committed the sins of coveting, adultery, deceit, and murder (among others) – and was sure he’d gotten away with it all! Here we’ll also see that there are consequences for sin; in this case, as a discipline against him, the Lord caused David’s son which had been conceived through his adulterous behavior to die. As David acknowledged his sins and repented, so let us all daily see our spiritual inadequacies and seek both God’s sure mercy and His guidance for more righteous living.

Today’s Epistle Lesson reminds us that, having received God’s forgiveness, we should not “take it for granted” by continuing to live lives of wickedness and disobedience. Rather, the Christian will want to live a humble, repentance-filled, godly life in grateful response to the salvation which Christ has won for us all.

Finally, in today’s Children’s Lesson we’ll consider the words of Psalm 103:12 to talk about how God forgives us our sins…..and, more specifically, how many of our sins God forgives. “As far as the east is from the west” tells us that there are absolutely no limits to God’s forgiveness of our sins. And THAT is a great comfort to every sinner!

Music and lyrics, as needed, are used with permission via OneLicense.net #A712831

Pre-Service Prayer Almighty God, my Creator, Redeemer, and Sanctifier, please bless this time that I spend in Your house today. Please increase my faith in You as I hear and meditate upon Your Word. Prepare me, too, for greater works of service to You in Your Kingdom. And motivate me, out of love for You, to give myself more willingly and generously to Your work. Bless our Pastor this morning, as he brings Your Word to us all today – may He teach Your Word faithfully and clearly. Also bless both me and my fellow worshipers that our souls might be enriched this morning through hearing and taking to heart the message of the Scriptures. And finally, please allow all of us, assembled here, to rejoice in and enjoy the Christian fellowship that we are a part of today. May we share it for all eternity! All this I ask, in Jesus’ name and for His sake. Amen.

Silent prayer Pre-service music

We Worship our Lord

The Introduction and Invitation to Worship

After which the Congregation will rise for

The Invocation

P: We make our beginning this morning…

in the name of the Father,

and of the Son,

and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

The Psalm for Today selected verses of Psalms 122, 130, & 138

P: I rejoiced with those who said to me, “Let us go up to the house of the LORD.”

C: I will praise You, O God, with all my heart; + before the “gods” I will sing Your praise.

P: If You, O LORD, kept a record of sins, O LORD Who could stand?

But with You there is forgiveness + Therefore You are feared.

P: When I called, You answered me. You made me bold and stout-

hearted.

C: Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You preserve my life.

P: All You have made will praise You, O LORD. Your saints will

extol You.

C: They will tell of the glory of Your kingdom + and speak of Your might + so that all men may know of Your mighty acts + and the glorious splendor of Your kingdom. + Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, + and Your dominion endures through all generations.

P: O Israel, put your hope in the LORD, for with the LORD is unfailing love, and with Him is full redemption.

He Himself will redeem Israel from all their sins.

P: The LORD will fulfill His purpose for me;

Your love, O LORD, endures forever.

After which the Congregation will be seated for

The Opening Hymn Hymn 340

“Oh, For A Thousand Tongues To Sing”

(Sung antiphonally)

Verse 1 – All Verse 2 – Women & Girls

Verse 3 – Men & Boys Verse 4 – Lectern Side

Verse 5 – Pulpit Side Verse 6 – All

1 Oh, for a thousand tongues to sing

My great Redeemer’s praise,

The glories of my God and King,

The triumphs of his grace!

2 My gracious Master and my God,

Assist me to proclaim,

To spread through all the earth abroad,

The honors of your name.

3 The name of Jesus calms our fears

And bids our sorrows cease.

‘Tis music in the sinners ears;

‘Tis life and health and peace.

4 He breaks the pow’r of canceled sin;

He sets the pris’ner free.

His blood can make the foulest clean;

His blood avails for me.

5 See all your sins on Jesus laid;

The Lamb of God was slain.

His life was once an off’ring made

That you might live again.

6 Glory to God and praise and love

Be ever, ever giv’n

By saints below and saints above,

The Church in earth and heav’n.

After which the Congregation will rise for

The Blessing

P: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God

and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you.

C: And also with you.

The Confession of Sins

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.

Congregation Amen.

Lord Have Mercy (Christian Worship, pages 27-29)

P: For all that we need in life, and for the wisdom to use all Your gifts with gratitude and joy, hear our prayer, O Lord.

C: (sung) Lord have mercy

P: For the steadfast assurance that nothing can separate us from Your love and for the courage to stand firm against the assaults of Satan and every evil, hear our prayer, O Christ:

C: (Sung) Christ have mercy.

P: For the well-being of Your holy Church in all the world and for those who offer here their worship and praise, hear our prayer, O Lord:

C: (Sung) Lord have mercy.

P: Merciful God, Maker and Preserver of life, uphold us by Your power, and keep us in Your tender care:

C: (sung) Amen.

P: The works of the Lord are great and glorious; His name is worthy of praise.

(Sung) O Lord, our Lord,

How glorious is Your name in all the earth.

Almighty God, merciful Father, Your crown our life with Your love.

You take away our sin; You comfort our spirit;

You make us pure and holy in Your sight.

You did not spare Your only Son, but gave Him up for us all.

O Lord, our Lord, How glorious is Your name in all the earth.

O Son of God, eternal Word of the Father,

You came to live with us; You made Your Father known;

You washed us from our sins in Your own blood.

You are the King of glory; You are the Lord!

O Lord, our Lord, How glorious is Your name in all the earth.

Prayer for This Morning

O Gracious, Heavenly Father, + through Your Holy Spirit’s working in the Word today, + drive out every trace of spiritual darkness from our hearts + that we may see Your Son as our one and only Redeemer + and that we may confidently and faithfully + call on You in prayer as the only true God + to deliver us from all our troubles of body and soul. + Bless our worship of You this morning + that through our meditation on Your Word + our faith might grow stronger + and our love for Your truth might increase. + All this we seek for the sake of Jesus Christ, our Savior + Who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, + as the one, true and only God, + now and forever. + Amen.

after which the Congregation may be seated for

Feed Us, Lord

Today’s First Lesson 2 Samuel 11:26-12:14

26 The wife of Uriah the Hittite heard that her husband was dead, so she mourned for her husband. 27 When her mourning was completed, David sent for her and brought her to his house, and she became his wife. She gave birth to a son for him. But what David had done was evil in the eyes of the Lord.

12 So the Lord sent Nathan to David. He came and told him this:

There were two men in a city. One was rich and one poor. 2 The rich man had a large number of flocks and herds. 3 The poor man did not own anything except one little ewe lamb, which he had bought. He raised it so that it grew up together with him and his children. It ate from his food and drank from his cup. It slept in his arms. It was like a daughter to him. 4 When a traveler came to the rich man, the rich man was unwilling to take an animal from his flock or from his herd to prepare a meal for the traveler who had come to him. So he took the lamb from the poor man and prepared it for the man who had come to him.

5 David’s anger flared up against that man. He said to Nathan, “As the Lord lives, the man who has done this is as good as dead. 6 In place of that lamb, he will restore four lambs, because he did this and had no pity.”

7 Nathan told David, “You are the man. This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says.”

I anointed you king over Israel. I rescued you from the hand of Saul. 8 I gave the house of your master to you, and I gave the wives of your master into your embrace. I gave you the house of Israel and the house of Judah. If this was too little, I would have added even more. 9 Why have you despised the word of the Lord by doing evil in his eyes? You have struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword. You have taken his wife as your own wife. You have killed him with the sword of the Ammonites. 10 So now the sword will not depart from your house forever, because you have despised me and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife.

11 This is what the Lord says. Look! I am raising up disaster against you from your own house. Right in front of your eyes I will take your wives and give them to your neighbor, and he will lie down with your wives in the sight of the sun. 12 Because you acted in secret, I will do this in front of all Israel in broad daylight.

13 David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.”

Nathan said to David, “The Lord himself has put away your sin. You will not die. 14 Nevertheless, because by this deed you have treated the Lord with utter contempt, the child that is born to you shall surely die.”

The Epistle Lesson Romans 6

What shall we say then? Shall we keep on sinning so that grace may increase? 2 Absolutely not! We died to sin. How can we go on living in it any longer? 3 Or do you not know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? 4 We were therefore buried with Him by this baptism into His death, so that just as He was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too would also walk in a new life.

5 For if we have been united with Him in the likeness of His death, we will certainly also be united with Him in the likeness of His resurrection.

6 We know that our old self was crucified with Him, to make our sinful body powerless, so that we would not continue to serve sin. 7 For the person who has died has been declared free from sin. 8 And since we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with Him. 9 We know that since Christ has been raised from the dead, He will never die again. Death no longer has control over Him. 10 For the death He died, He died to sin once and for all, but the life He lives, He lives to God. 11 In the same way also consider yourselves dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus.

12 Therefore, do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its desires. 13 Do not offer the members of your body to sin as tools of unrighteousness. Instead, offer yourselves to God as those who are alive from the dead, and offer the members of your body to God as tools of righteousness. 14 Indeed, sin will not continue to control you, because you are not under law but under grace.

15 What then? Should we continue to sin, because we are not under law but under grace? Absolutely not! 16 Do you not know that when you offer yourselves to obey someone as slaves, you are slaves of the one you are obeying—whether slaves of sin, resulting in death, or slaves of obedience, resulting in righteousness?

17 Thanks be to God that, although you used to be slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to the pattern of the teaching into which you were placed. 18 After you were set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness. 19 (I am speaking in a human way because of the weakness of your flesh.) Indeed, just as you offered your members as slaves to impurity and lawlessness, resulting in more lawlessness, so now offer your members in the same way as slaves to righteousness, resulting in sanctification.

20 For when you were slaves of sin, you were free from righteousness. 21 So what kind of fruit did you have then? They were things of which you are now ashamed. Yes, the final result of those things is death. 22 But now, since you were set free from sin and have become slaves to God, you have your fruit resulting in sanctification—and the final result is eternal life. 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the undeserved gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

after which, the Congregation will rise for

The Gospel Lesson Mark 2:1-12

When Jesus again entered Capernaum some days later, people heard that He was home. 2 So many people were gathered together that there was no more room, not even by the door, and He was speaking the word to them. 3 Some people came to Him bringing a paralyzed man, carried by four men. 4 Since they could not bring the man to Jesus because of the crowd, they dug through the roof above where He was. When they had made an opening, they lowered the stretcher on which the paralyzed man was lying. 5 When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralyzed man, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”

6 But there were some experts in the law sitting there and thinking in their hearts, 7 “Why does this Fellow speak like this? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins except God alone?”

8 Jesus immediately knew in His spirit that they were thinking this way within themselves. He asked them, “Why are you thinking these things in your hearts? 9 Which is easier: to tell the paralyzed man, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, take your stretcher, and walk’? 10 But, so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—He said to the paralyzed man, 11 “I tell you, get up, take your stretcher, and go home.”

12 At once the man got up, picked up the stretcher, and went out in front of everyone. So they were all amazed and glorified God. They said, “We have never seen anything like this!”

The Public Confession of our Christian Faith

according to 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 Psalm 103:12

12 As far as the east is from the west,

so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

How Much Does God Forgive Us?

Hymn of the Day Hymn 393 “If Your Beloved Son, O God”

1 If your beloved Son, O God,

Had not to earth descended

And in our mortal flesh and blood

Had not sin’s power ended,

Then this poor, wretched soul of mine

In hell eternally would pine

Because of my transgression.

2 But now I find sweet peace and rest;

Despair no more reigns o’er me.

No more am I by sin oppressed,

For Christ has borne sin for me.

Upon the cross for me he died

That, reconciled, I might abide

With you, my God, forever.

3 I trust in him with all my heart;

Now all my sorrow ceases.

His words abiding peace impart;

His blood from guilt releases.

Free grace through him I now obtain;

He washes me from ev’ry stain,

And pure I stand before him.

4 All righteousness by works is vain;

The law brings condemnation.

True righteousness by faith I gain;

Christ’s work is my salvation.

His death, that perfect sacrifice,

Has paid the all-sufficient price;

In him my hope is anchored.

5 My guilt, O Father, you have laid

On Christ, your Son, my Savior.

Lord Jesus, you my debt have paid

And gained for me God’s favor.

O Holy Spirit, Fount of grace,

The good in me to you I trace;

In faith and hope preserve me.

Sermon Text Mark 2:1-12

today’s Gospel Lesson

Which Is Easier?

following which the Congregation WILL REMAIN SEATED 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, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word. Amen.

We Offer Our Gifts and Prayers to the Lord

Our Offerings of Love to our Lord

We will be passing an offering plate through our chapel at this point. For those unable to worship with us in person, if you would like to participate in this offering, we offer you the following suggestions for providing God with Your thank-offerings through our ministry:

1) You can send a check (no cash) in the mail to Grace Lutheran Church (415 N. 6^th Place, Lowell, AR 72745)

2) Or, go online to our website (www.gracelutherannwa.com) and use the giving option there.

As the offerings are brought forward, the Congregation rises for prayer

Give Online

Today’s Special Prayers

We Offer Our Prayers to the Lord

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 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 for ever and ever. Amen.

We Celebrate the Lord’s Supper

P: The Lord be with you.

C: (sung) And also with you.

P: Lift up your hearts.

C: (sung) We lift them up to the Lord.

P: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God

C: (sung) It is right to give Him thanks and praise.

P: It is truly good and right that we should at all times and in all places give thanks to You, O Lord, holy Father, almighty, everlasting God, through Jesus Christ our Lord, Whose way John the Baptist prepared when he called people to repentance and pointed to Jesus as the Lamb of God Who takes away the sin of the world. Therefore with angel and archangel, and all the company of heaven, we praise Your holy name and join their glorious song:

(Sung) Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord of hosts.

The whole earth is full of Your glory

You are my God and I will exalt You.

I will lift You up for You have become my salvation.

Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord of hosts.

The whole earth is full of Your glory

The Words of Institution

P: The peace of the Lord be with you always.

C: (sung) Amen.

O Christ, Lamb of God, You take away the sin of the world;

Have mercy on us.

O Christ, Lamb of God, You take away the sin of the world,

Have mercy on us.

O Christ, Lamb of God, You take away the sin of the world;

Grant us Your peace. Amen.

After which the Congregation may be seated.

The Exhortation Regarding the Lord’s Supper

The Distribution of the Sacramental Elements

Distribution Hymns Hymn 304 “Jesus Sinners Does Receive”

1 Jesus sinners does receive;

Oh, may all this saying ponder

Who in sin’s delusions live

And from God and heaven wander.

Here is hope for all who grieve–