Fourth Sunday After the Epiphany February 3, 2019

“Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Savior Jesus Christ.” 2 Peter 3:18

Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany

February 3, 2019

Tree of Life Lutheran Church A member of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS)

1155 Executive Circle, Cary, NC 27511 (919) 465-4400

Pastor Roger Rockhoff (919) 500-2859 [email protected]

Welcome! Thank you for joining us for worship this morning. In our service today we gather before our heavenly Father to offer him our worship and praise. We also gather to strengthen ourselves through the study of God’s holy and powerful Word. May he bless our worship and study today!

For Your Convenience − Restrooms are available down the hallway on the right. − If you would like a hearing device to assist you for worship, please speak with one of the ushers. − The ushers are at the entrance of the sanctuary to answer any other questions you might have.

Today’s Focus Our human inclination is to listen without faith. This can only lead us to the brow of a cliff and throwing Jesus out of our lives. But the Savior of the Nations comes with his gracious words of redemption and membership in his body. The Word of the Lord is proclaimed through the revelation of his Anointed One. In him faith is rooted, love flourishes, and salvation is known from generation to generation.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The music in this worship folder is used or reprinted under CCLI License No. 1483936 and/or OneLicense.net A-711390 2

OPENING HYMN Speak, O Savior; I Am Listening Christian Worship Hymn 283 Speak, O Savior; I am list’ning, As a servant to his lord. Let me show respect and honor To your holy, precious Word, That each day, my whole life through, I may serve and follow you. Let your Word e’er be my pleasure And my heart’s most precious treasure.

Oh, what blessing to be near you And to listen to your voice! Let me ever love and fear you; Let your Word still be my choice. Many hardened sinners, Lord, Flee in terror at your Word, But to all who feel sin’s burden You give peace and words of pardon.

Lord, your words are waters living Where I quench my thirsty needs. Lord, your words are bread life-giving; On your words my spirit feeds. Lord, your words will be my light Through death’s cold and dreary night; Yes, they are my sword prevailing And my cup of joy unfailing.

As I pray, dear Jesus, hear me; Let your words in me take root. May your Spirit e’er be near me That I bear abundant fruit. May I daily sing your praise, From my heart glad anthems raise, Till my highest praise is given In the endless joy of heaven.

Text: Anna Sophia of Hesse-Darmstadt, 1638–83, abr.; tr. composite.

INVOCATION

L: In the name of the Father and of the Son † and of the Holy Spirit. C: Amen.

LITANY

L: Arise, shine, for your light has come, C: and the glory of the LORD rises upon you. L: See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, C: but the LORD rises upon you and his glory appears over you. L: Jesus Christ is the Light of the World. C: The Light no darkness can overcome. Amen.

CONFESSION OF SINS

L: Children of God, in love our heavenly Father has given us commandments to keep us safe from the dangers of the devil. Obedience to these commandments would keep our feet on the path to eternal life. But due to our sinful nature and our weak flesh, we have not done what God demanded, and we have fallen into the danger of sin. Listen to God’s gracious invitation and bring your sins to him to have them removed, freeing you from their guilt and punishment. C: Dear Lord God, we stand before you covered in the sins that we have committed. Though our spirit is willing, our flesh is weak. Though we strive to live according to your Word, we have failed and sinned against your holy commands. Forgive us for the sake of your Son who lived for us and died in our place. Wash us clean in his blood and make us pure in your sight.

LORD, HAVE MERCY Kyrie

ABSOLUTION OF SINS

L: God has promised us that “if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9) As a called servant of God, I assure you that you are forgiven in the name of the Father and of the Son † and of the Holy Spirit. C: Praise be to the Lord, Amen.

GLORY TO GOD Gloria in Excelsis

SALUTATION

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

PRAYER OF THE DAY

L: Lord God, you know that we are surrounded by many dangers and that we often stumble and fall. Strengthen us in body and mind, and bring us safely through all temptations; through Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. C: Amen.

FIRST LESSON Jeremiah 1:4-10

4 The word of the LORD came to me, saying, 5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” 6 “Ah, Sovereign LORD ,” I said, “I do not know how to speak; I am only a child.” 7 But the LORD said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am only a child.’ You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. 8 Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you,” declares the LORD . 9 Then the LORD reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, “Now, I have put my words in your mouth. 10 See, today I appoint you over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant.” (NIV 1984)

HYMN O God, Our Lord, Your Holy Word Christian Worship Hymn 204; st 1 O God, our Lord, Your holy Word Was long a hidden treasure Till to its place It was by grace Restored in fullest measure. For this today Our thanks we say And gladly glorify you. Your mercy show And grace bestow On all who still deny you.

Text: Enchiridion . . . zum Schwartzen Horn, Erfurt, 1527, abr.; tr. W. Gustave Polack, 1890–1950, alt.

SECOND LESSON 1 Corinthians 12:27-13:13

27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. 28 And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able to help others, those with gifts of administration, and those speaking in different kinds of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30 Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? 31 But eagerly desire the greater gifts. And now I will show you the most excellent way. 13 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom 8

all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing. 4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. 11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. 12 Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. 13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. (NIV 1984)

VERSE OF THE DAY Luke 4:18a

L: Alleluia. The Spirit of the Lord is on me; he has anointed me to preach good news. Alleluia.

GOSPEL Luke 4:20-32

20 Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him, 21 and he began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” 22 All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his lips. “Isn’t this Joseph’s son?” they asked. 23 Jesus said to them, “Surely you will quote this proverb to me: ‘Physician, heal yourself! Do here in your hometown what we have heard that you did in Capernaum.’” 24 “I tell you the truth,” he continued, “no prophet is accepted in his hometown. 25 I assure you that there were many widows in Israel in Elijah’s time, when the sky was shut for three and a half years and there was a severe famine throughout the land. 26 Yet Elijah was not sent to any of them, but to a widow in Zarephath in the region of Sidon. 27 And there were many in Israel with leprosy in the time of Elisha the prophet, yet not one of them was cleansed—only Naaman the Syrian.” Continued on next page 9

28 All the people in the synagogue were furious when they heard this. 29 They got up, drove him out of the town, and took him to the brow of the hill on which the town was built, in order to throw him down the cliff. 30 But he walked right through the crowd and went on his way. 31 Then he went down to Capernaum, a town in Galilee, and on the Sabbath began to teach the people. 32 They were amazed at his teaching, because his message had authority. (NIV 1984)

HYMN O God, Our Lord, Your Holy Word Christian Worship Hymn 204; st 2 Salvation true By faith in you—That is your gospel’s preaching, The heart and core Of Bible lore In all its sacred teaching. In Christ we must Put all our trust, Not in our deeds or labor; With conscience pure And heart secure Love you, Lord, and our neighbor.

CONFESSION OF FAITH 1

I believe in the Holy Spirit; the holy Christian church, the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen.

What does this mean?

I believe that I cannot by my own thinking or choosing believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to him. But the Holy Spirit has called me by the gospel, enlightened me with his gifts, sanctified and kept me in the true faith. In the same way he calls, gathers, enlightens, and sanctifies the whole Christian church on earth, and keeps it with Jesus Christ in the one true faith. In this Christian church he daily and fully forgives all sins to me and all believers. On the Last Day he will raise me and all the dead and give eternal life to me and all believers in Christ. This is most certainly true.

1 For our Confession of Faith this morning we use Martin Luther’s explanation to the Third Article of the Apostles’ Creed. 10

HYMN OF THE DAY Speak, O Lord Christian Worship Supplement Hymn 735 Speak, O Lord, as we come to you Speak, O Lord, and renew our minds; To receive the food of your Holy Word. Help us grasp the heights of your plans for Take your truth, plant it deep in us; us. Shape and fashion us in your likeness Truths unchanged from the dawn of time, That the light of Christ might be seen today That will echo down through eternity. In our acts of love and our deeds of faith. And by grace we’ll stand on your promises, Speak, O Lord, and fulfill in us And by faith we’ll walk as you walk with us. All your purposes for your glory. Speak, O Lord, as your Church is built And you fill the earth with your glory. Teach us, Lord, full obedience, Holy reverence, true humility. Test our thoughts and our attitudes In the radiance of your purity. Cause our faith to rise, cause our eyes to see Your majestic love and authority. Words of pow’r that can never fail, Let their truth prevail over unbelief. Text: Keith Getty, b. 1974 and Stuart Townend, b. 1963 © 2006 Thankyou Music; admin. EMI CMG Publishing. International copyright secured. All rights reserved.

SERMON Luke 4:20-32 “Test Your Reflexes”

OFFERING

PRAYER OF THE CHURCH

LORD'S PRAYER

Our Father in heaven, as we forgive those hallowed be your name, who sin against us. your kingdom come, Lead us not into temptation, your will be done but deliver us from evil. on earth as in heaven. For the kingdom, the power, Give us today our daily bread. and the glory are yours Forgive us our sins, now and forever. Amen.

THE PREFACE

L: The Lord be with you. C: And also with you. L: Lift up your hearts. C: We lift them up to the Lord. L: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God C: It is good and right so to do.

L: It is truly good and right that we should at all times and in all places give you thanks. O Lord, holy Father, almighty and everlasting God, through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who came as the Light of the world so that the world may have light and life through him. Therefore with all the saints on earth and hosts of heaven, we praise your holy name and join their glorious song:

HOLY, HOLY, HOLY Sanctus

WORDS OF INSTITUTION

L: Our Lord Jesus Christ, on the night he was betrayed, took bread; and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”

Then he took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you; this is my blood of the new covenant, which is poured out for you for the forgiveness of sins. Do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.”

L: The peace of the Lord be with you always. C: Amen.

O CHRIST, LAMB OF GOD Agnus Dei

DISTRIBUTION

The Lord’s Supper is a blessing from God through which he strengthens our faith. It is also an expression of our faith. If we have not had the opportunity to talk to you about our beliefs, we ask that you wait before you join us for the Lord’s Supper.

SONG OF SIMEON Nunc Dimittis

L: O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. C: And his mercy endures forever.

CLOSING PRAYER

L: O God the Father, source of all goodness, in your loving kindness you sent your Son to share our humanity. We thank you that through him you have given us pardon and peace in this sacrament. We also pray that you will not forsake us but will rule our hearts and minds by your Holy Spirit so that we willingly serve you day after day, through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. C: Amen.

BLESSING

L: The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you. The Lord look on you with favor and † give you peace. C: Amen.

CLOSING HYMN By Grace I’m Saved Christian Worship Hymn 384; st 1, 5 By grace I’m saved, grace free and boundless; My soul, believe and doubt it not. Why waver at this word of promise? Has Scripture ever falsehood taught? So then this word must true remain: By grace you, too, shall heav’n obtain.

By grace! On this I’ll rest when dying; In Jesus’ promise I rejoice. For though I know my heart’s condition, I also know my Savior’s voice. My heart is glad; all grief has flown Since I am saved by grace alone.

Text: Christian L. Scheidt, 1709–61, abr.; tr. composite.