Following In Jesus’ Steps

Grace Lutheran Church Yorba Linda, California

June 21, 2020

3rd Sunday after Pentecost

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Following in Jesus’

Footsteps

Today: With Courage

A walk with Jesus will be difficult. The devil the world and we ourselves will challenge us and threaten us and try to derail us. But we have a Savior who has conquered death and crushed Satan’s head. Who do we have to fear. May you find courage

today as you walk in your Savior’s footsteps.

GRACE LUTHERAN CHURCH

Gathering around Grace – Growing in Grace – Going with Grace

in Yorba Linda, California, the land of gracious living

6550 Fairmont Blvd / Yorba Linda, CA 92886 / 714-779-2384 / gracelutheran.church

Pastor Phillip Sievert – 720-364-1002 / pdsievert@aol.com or pastor@gracelutheran.church

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STAND

The sign of the cross and God’s Triune name help us remember our baptism (Matthew 28:19).

OPENING PRAYER IN SONG I Walk in Danger All the Way (Christian Worship:#431:1-5)

1 I walk in danger all the way; The thought shall never leave me That Satan, who has marked his prey, Is plotting to deceive me. This foe with hidden snares May seize me unawares If e’er I fail to watch and pray; I walk in danger all the way. 2 I pass through trials all the way, With sin and ills contending; In patience I must bear each day The cross of God’s own sending. Oft in adversity I know not where to flee When storms of woe my soul dismay; I pass through trials all the way. 3 Grim death pursues me all the way; Nowhere I rest securely. He comes by night, he comes by day, And takes his prey most surely. A failing breath, and I In death’s strong grasp may lie To face eternity today. Grim death pursues me all the way. 4 I walk with angels all the way; They shield me and befriend me. All Satan’s pow’r is held at bay When heav’nly hosts attend me. They are my sure defense; All fear and sorrow, hence! Unharmed by foes, do what they may, I walk with angels all the way. 5 I walk with Jesus all the way; His guidance never fails me. He takes my ev’ry fear away When Satan’s pow’r assails me, And, by his footsteps led, My path I safely tread. In spite of ills that threaten may, I walk with Jesus all the way.

M: In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. C: Amen. (spoken) M: Dear friends, let us approach God with a true heart and confess our sins,

asking him in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to forgive us. C: Lord of Life, I confess that I am by nature dead in sin. For faithless worrying and fear, For sins of habit and sins of choice, For the evil I have done and the good I have failed to do, You should cast me away from your presence forever.

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O Lord, I am sorry for my sins. Forgive me for Jesus’ sake.

This is one of the oldest “Prayers of the Day” and was offered during the struggles of the falling Roman Empire. As Rome crumbled, the Church prayed for God’s care. Fitting for today as well! Jeremiah was put in stocks for his preaching, he was mocked, ridiculed, cursed and threatened and he didn’t see a whole lot of success (“you deceived me, God – no one listens”). Yet he still has courage, a fire of God’s love and

truth inside him, and a God given courage to walk with HIM.

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ABSOLUTION

M: Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again. In his great mercy, God made us alive in Christ even when we were dead in our sins. Hear the word of Christ through his called shepherd:

I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the Son (+) and of the Holy Spirit.

C: Amen.

PRAYER OF THE DAY

M. Let us pray. O Lord, our

God, govern the nations

on earth and direct the affairs of this world so that your Church may worship you

in peace and joy; through Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

C. Amen.

THE WORD

FIRST READING: Jeremiah 20:7-13

7 You deceived me, LORD, and I was deceived; you overpowered me and prevailed. I am ridiculed all day long; everyone mocks me. 8 Whenever I speak, I cry out proclaiming violence and destruction. So the word of the LORD has brought me insult and reproach all day long. 9 But if I say, “I will not mention his word or speak anymore in his name,” his word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot. 10 I hear many whispering, “Terror on every side! Denounce him! Let’s denounce him!” All my friends are waiting for me to slip, saying,

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“Perhaps he will be deceived; then we will prevail over him and take our revenge on him.” 11 But the LORD is with me like a mighty warrior; so my persecutors will stumble and not prevail. They will fail and be thoroughly disgraced; their dishonor will never be forgotten. 12 LORD Almighty, you who examine the righteous and probe the heart and mind, let me see your vengeance on them, for to you I have committed my cause.

13 Sing to the LORD! Give praise to the LORD! He rescues the life of the needy from the hands of the wicked.

PSALM 31 refrain

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Jesus asks his disciples to pray for workers, then calls them to go as workers and then gives them courage to do so – why? Because he has compassion on all! They are lost and need their Shepherd.

GOSPEL READING Matthew 9:35-10:33

35 Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. 38 Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”

10 Jesus called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out impure spirits and to heal every disease and sickness.

2 These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon (who is called Peter) and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; 3 Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; 4 Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.

5 These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. 6 Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel. 7 As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ 8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give.

9 “Do not get any gold or silver or copper to take with you in your belts— 10 no bag for the journey or extra shirt or sandals or a staff, for the worker is worth his keep. 11 Whatever town or village you enter, search there for some worthy person and stay at their house until you leave. 12 As you enter the home, give it your greeting. 13 If the home is deserving, let your peace rest on it; if it is not, let your peace return to you. 14 If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, leave that home or town and shake the dust off your feet. 15 Truly I tell you, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town.

16 “I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. 17 Be on your guard; you will be handed over to the local councils and be flogged in the synagogues. 18 On my account you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles. 19 But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, 20 for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.

21 “Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death. 22 You will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be

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SERMON:

FOLLOW IN JESUS’ FOOTSTEPS:

With courage!

Tumult means danger… this hymn leads us to consider the cost of discipleship and to pray for Jesus’ guidance and courage to follow in his footsteps.

saved. 23 When you are persecuted in one place, flee to another. Truly I tell you, you will not finish going through the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.

24 “The student is not above the teacher, nor a servant above his master. 25 It is enough for students to be like their teachers, and servants like their masters. If the head of the house has been called Beelzebul, how much more the members of his household!

26 “So do not be afraid of them, for there is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. 27 What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs. 28 Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. 29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care.[b] 30 And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

32 “Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. 33 But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven.

HYMN OF THE DAY Jesus Calls Us O’er the Tumult (#463)

1 Jesus calls us o’er the tumult Of our life’s wild, restless sea; Day by day his voice invites us, Saying, “Christian, follow me!” 2 As the first disciples heard it By the Galilean lake, Turned from home and toil and kindred, Leaving all for his dear sake.

5 Jesus calls us! In your mercy, Savior, help us hear your call; Give our hearts to your obedience, Serve and love you best of all!

Text: Cecil F. Alexander, 1818–95, alt.

3 Jesus calls us from the worship Of the vain world’s golden store, From each idol that would keep us, Saying, “Christian, love me more.” 4 In our joys and in our sorrows, Days of toil and hours of ease, Still he calls, in cares and pleasures, “Christian, love me more than these.”

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Offerings are part of our worship life and our life in the church. Moved by the three fold blessing of God, Christians cheerfully give and give generously so others may know the precious message of Jesus. During this time of social distancing, your offering may be left at the door or mailed or you may give online at www.gracelutheran.church.

STAND

PRAYER OF THE CHURCH and LORD’S PRAYER

Prayers for Shirley Petersen, sister of Carolyn Leigh, battling Covid19; for Annette Madsen, in a rehab center, recovering; for fathers on this Father’s Day weekend. 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.

THE SACRAMENT

M: The Lord be with you. C: And also with you.

M: Lift up your hearts. C: We lift them up to the Lord.

M: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. C: It is right to give him thanks and praise.

M: Praise to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In love he has blessed us with every spiritual blessing. He sends the Holy Spirit to testify that we are his children and to strengthen us when we are weak.

Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our Go and the authority of his Christ. To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and thanks and honor and glory for ever and ever.

C. Spoken Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts. The whole earth is full of your glory.

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THE WORDS OF INSTITUTION

L. O Christ, Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world; have mercy on us. C. O Christ, Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world; grant us your

peace. Amen. COMMUNION DISTRIBUTION THE BLESSING

M: The LORD bless you and keep you. The LORD makes his face shine on you and be gracious to you. The LORD look on you with his favor and give you his peace. C: Amen. CLOSING SONG I Walk In Danger All the Way (#431:6)

Text: Hans A. Brorson, 1694–1764; tr. Ditlef G. Ristad, 1863–1938, alt.

CALENDAR

Thursday Bible Study online – 10 AM or 7 PM Sunday worship – online (at your convenience) OR 9:30 here at church with communion.

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