Rev. Alan J. Wollenburg - Concordia Ev. Lutheran Church - Sikeston, MOSPECIAL NOTE: The audio file degenerates in quality at the end of the sermon. I have posted what we have in the prayerful hope that it will be of some service to some. I believe (but I am not sure about this) that the source of the problem with the audio file (we record to a CD recorder) was/is a bad cd.
"Prepare the way of the Lord, make His paths straight." In fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy, John the Baptist came and served as the forerunner of the Messiah of the world. He preached a powerful but singular message, calling all people everywhere, to believe the Gospel. This changed people. It made them ready. It made them ready to receive the holy Christ Himself. The exact same need remains in our day. Do not deceive yourself and do not allow yourself to be deceived. It even hurts a bit as our conscienes are pricked and our egos are wounded as the Lord uses His called servants to call us to be ready for His coming. Please pay attention and listen reflectively as Pastor preaches on Luke 3:1-20 on the theme: "John the Baptist: A Man for All Men and All Seasons." +
+ THE CALL TO WORSHIP
P: "We don't want to listen to him! He's an oddball! He likes God's Word. He likes going to church! He practically lives there! He is not like us, so we do not have to listen to him!"
C: We sometimes think like this and even talk like this about the pastor whom God has put in our midst. Sometimes — too often! — we do not understand our God-given pastor.
P: The Lord has called me to love you in Christ. I am supposed to warn you about impenitent sins. I am supposed to call you to the things of God. I am required to tell you to turn from your ways.
C: May God open our hearts to receive His Word in true repentance.
+ THE HYMN - "On Jordan's Bank the Baptist's Cry" — LSB 344
+ THE INTROIT (Ps. 81:8, 10-11, 13; antiphon: Luke 3:4b)
P: The voice of one crying in the wilderness:
C: "Prepare the way of the Lord, make His paths straight.
P: Hear, O My people, while I admonish you!
C: O Israel, if you would but listen to Me!
P: I am the Lord your God, Who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.
C: Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it.
P: "But My people did not listen to My voice;
C: Israel would not submit to Me.
P: Oh, that my people would listen to Me,
C: that Israel would walk in My ways!
ALL: Glory be to the Father and T to the Son and to the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.
P: The voice of one crying in the wilderness:
C: "Prepare the way of the Lord, make His paths straight.
+ THE COLLECT OF THE DAY
Stir up our hearts, O Lord, to make ready the way of Your only-begotten Son, that by His coming we may be enabled to serve You with pure minds; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, Who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. (spoken) Amen.
+ THE OLD TESTAMENT LESSON - Malachi 3:1-7b
+ THE EPISTLE LESSON - Philipppians 1:2-11
+ THE GOSPEL LESSON - Luke 3:1-20
+ THE HYMN OF THE DAY - "Arise, O Christian People" — LSB 354
+ THE OFFERING HYMN - "Hark the Glad Sound" — LSB 349:1
+ THE COMMUNION DISTRIBUTION HYMNS
"I Come, O Savior, to Thy Table" — LSB 618
"The Advent of Our King" — LSB 331
+ THE SENDING HYMN - "Hark the Glad Sound" — LSB 349:2-4
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