Are you envious because I am generous? So the last will be first, and the first will be last.
The Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost
October 4th + 2020 PRINCE OF PEACE LUTHERAN CHURCH 3415 ERBES RD, THOUSAND OAKS, CA 91362 | WWW.PRINCEOFPEACETO.COM (805) 492-8943 PASTOR NOAH BATER | [email protected] | WISCONSIN EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN SYNOD
YOUR PLACE TO FIND PEACE!
WELCOME Welcome to our online worship service! We extend a special welcome to those who might be ‘tuning in’ for the very first time—Welcome!—we pray that you are comforted by the message of hope and peace this morning and that we’re able to meet you and your family soon! Please leave us a comment beneath the video so we can thank you personally for watching. God bless you today and always!
TODAY: IS GOD FAIR? The story Jesus tells today is difficult for many of us to hear. That’s because this story offends our finely honed sense of what’s fair and what’s not. Here’s the reality: God is not fair. Rather, He is inconceivably gracious. One-hour workers receive the same pay as those who bore the heat of the day. This parable carries both a warning and a promise for us—a warning that all comparisons based on merit or work do not belong in God’s kingdom; a promise that our relationship with God is based solely on grace which He lavishes in abundance. The Bible tells us that the “wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). What joy, that our Lord doesn’t give us the wage we sinners deserve! Instead, He gives us what we don’t!
PRAYER BEFORE WORSHIP O Lord Jesus Christ, preserve the congregation of believers with your never-failing mercy. Help me avoid whatever is wicked and harmful, and guide us in the way that leads to our salvation; for you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
COPYRIGHT ACKNOWLEDGEMENT Scripture is taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION (NIV). Copyright © 1973, 1984. by Biblica, Inc. All rights reserved worldwide. Used with permission. Cover Art: “The Parables of the Vineyard” by Edward Riojas Copyright © 2017. Used with permission. “Rock of Ages” Text: Public Domain. Tune: Sarah Lambrecht Copyright © 1999. Reproduced with permission. All hymns were streamed and reprinted with permission under OneLicense.net #A-716133 and CCLI license #20320637 & #20320620.
2 The Divine Service
OPENING HYMN “By Grace I’m Saved”
As we prepare to openly confess to our God who we are by nature and how we have failed to be His people, we do so with humble confidence in His mercy: Jesus receives sinners.
INVOCATION Matthew 28:19
The name of the Triune God and the sign of the cross remind us of that gracious moment in our lives when water was poured over us in baptism. It is a fitting and historic Christian practice to retrace the sign of the cross when hearing these words. m In the name of the Father and of the Son ✙ and of the Holy Spirit.
C: Amen.
3 CONFESSION OF SINS Psalm 51:1-5; 1 John 1:8-9
We approach our God with honesty, confessing our sins, yet also trusting in the forgiving grace He freely gives through Jesus Christ. 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 selfish pride, 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. O Lord, I am sorry for my sins. Forgive me, for Jesus’ sake.
OUR LORD’S ABSOLUTION John 20:23; Ephesians 2:4
God responds to our confession with His gift of forgiveness, which sets us free from guilt. 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 servant: 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
The Prayer of the Day establishes today’s theme for the day as we pray for the things we’ll hear about in the Scripture readings. The Prayer of the Day has a long history in Christian worship services. Many of these prayers have been prayed by Christians for hundreds of years. m Let us pray. Lord God, you call us to work in your kingdom and leave no one standing idle. Help us to order our lives by your wisdom and to serve you in willing obedience; through Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. C Amen.
4 The Word
SCRIPTURE READING Jonah 3:10-4:11
God is remarkably generous and forgiving. God once forgave the entire city of Ninevah, which was known for being extremely immoral and godless. Yet not everyone was happy with God’s willingness to forgive. Jonah, the very prophet God had used to call Ninevah to repentance, pouted about God’s generosity. Using a vine, God teaches Jonah a lesson about His grace.
10 When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he had compassion and did not bring upon them the destruction he had threatened. 4:1 But Jonah was greatly displeased and became angry. 2 He prayed to the Lord, “O Lord, is this not what I said when I was still at home? That is why I was so quick to flee to Tarshish. I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity. 3 Now, O Lord, take away my life, for it is better for me to die than to live.” 4 But the Lord replied, “Have you any right to be angry?” 5 Jonah went out and sat down at a place east of the city. There he made himself a shelter, sat in its shade and waited to see what would happen to the city. 6 Then the Lord God provided a vine and made it grow up over Jonah to give shade for his head to ease his discomfort, and Jonah was very happy about the vine. 7 But at dawn the next day God provided a worm, which chewed the vine so that it withered. 8 When the sun rose, God provided a scorching east wind, and the sun blazed on Jonah’s head so that he grew faint. He wanted to die, and said, “It would be better for me to die than to live.” 9 But God said to Jonah, “Do you have a right to be angry about the vine?” “I do,” he said. “I am angry enough to die.” 10 But the Lord said, “You have been concerned about this vine, though you did not tend it or make it grow. It sprang up overnight and died overnight. 11 But Nineveh has more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left, and many cattle as well. Should I not be concerned about that great city?” m The Word of the Lord. C Thanks be to God!
5 PSALM OF THE DAY Psalm 115 | selected verses
Psalms have been used in worship by God’s people since Old Testament times. Psalm 115 leads us in praising our God for grace and mercy. Please speak the verses in bold print. m Not to us, LORD, not to us but to your name be the glory. C: because of your love and faithfulness. m The LORD remembers us and will bless us; C: He will bless those who fear the LORD—small and great alike. m May the LORD cause you to flourish, both you and your children. C: May you be blessed by the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth. m The highest heavens belong to the LORD, C: but the earth He has given to mankind. m It is not the dead who praise the LORD, those who go down to the place of silence; C: it is we who extol the LORD, both now and forevermore. Praise the LORD. C Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.
SCRIPTURE READING Romans 9:6-16
The Apostle Paul states something profound: you and I are true Israelites! We are descendants of Abraham not by the blood that flows through our veins but by a shared faith in the blood of Jesus Christ. Just as God chose Abraham to be the father of Israel, He also chose us to be His children, not because it was the fair thing to do but because of His grace.
6 For not all who are descended from Israel are Israel. 7 Nor because they are his descendants are they all Abraham’s children. On the contrary, “It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.” 8 In other words, it is not the natural children who are God’s children, but it is the children of the promise who are regarded as Abraham’s offspring. 9 For this was how the promise was stated: “At the appointed time I will return, and Sarah will have a son.” 10 Not only that, but Rebekah’s children had one and the same father, our father Isaac. 11 Yet, before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad—
6 in order that God’s purpose in election might stand: 12 not by works but by him who calls—she was told, “The older will serve the younger.” 13 Just as it is written: “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.” 14 What then shall we say? Is God unjust? Not at all! 15 For he says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” 16 It does not, therefore, depend on man’s desire or effort, but on God’s mercy. m The Word of the Lord. C Thanks be to God!
THE HOLY GOSPEL Matthew 20:1-16
Many despise God because they claim ‘He isn’t fair.’ But have we considered what that would actually mean? If God gave us what we sinners truly deserved? Thank God that He isn’t fair! Instead, He chooses to be gracious! This reading will serve as the basis for today’s sermon.
“For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire men to work in his vineyard. 2 He agreed to pay them a denarius for the day and sent them into his vineyard. 3 “About the third hour he went out and saw others standing in the marketplace doing nothing. 4 He told them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.’ 5 So they went. “He went out again about the sixth hour and the ninth hour and did the same thing. 6 About the eleventh hour he went out and found still others standing around. He asked them, ‘Why have you been standing here all day long doing nothing?’ 7 “ ‘Because no one has hired us,’ they answered. “He said to them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard.’ 8 “When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the workers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last ones hired and going on to the first.’ 9 “The workers who were hired about the eleventh hour came and each received a denarius. 10 So when those came who were hired first, they expected to receive more. But each one of them also received a denarius. 11 When they received it, they began to grumble against the landowner.
7 12 ‘These men who were hired last worked only one hour,’ they said, ‘and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the work and the heat of the day.’ 13 “But he answered one of them, ‘Friend, I am not being unfair to you. Didn’t you agree to work for a denarius? 14 Take your pay and go. I want to give the man who was hired last the same as I gave you. 15 Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?’ 16 “So the last will be first, and the first will be last.” m The Gospel of our Lord. C Praise be to you, O Christ!
THE APOSTLES’ CREED
Public confession is faith’s response to God’s saving Word: “It is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved” (Romans 10:10).
C I believe in God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell. The third day he rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty. From there He will come to judge the living and the dead. 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.
8 HYMN OF THE DAY “Salvation Unto Us Has Come”
In this hymn we pray to our merciful God, that He would bless us with the grace to view all people as He views us. We are all sinners desperately in need of God’s love and redemption.
SERMON Matthew 20:1-16
9 OFFERING 2 Corinthians 9:7
Our offerings are one way we thank and worship the Lord. We give to Him a portion of what He has entrusted to us. We do not need to feel any obligation to give; we give freely as God has freely given us His grace. Our offerings support the gospel ministry both at Prince of Peace and throughout the world through our national church body.
If you would like to give a gift this morning:
• An offering plate is located on the tables where you entered (in-person).
• Text PEACE1 to 1-888-364-4483. You’ll receive a link in response. Follow the link to the Prince of Peace secure giving page.
• Go to www.princeofpeaceto.com and click “GIVE” in the right corner.
• Offerings can also be mailed to the church: 3415 Erbes Rd. T.O. 91362
PRAYER OF THE CHURCH Ephesians 6:18
God has spoken to us through His Scriptures. In faith, we respond by speaking to Him in prayer. This is the main prayer of the Divine Service where we pray for many different people and needs. If you or a loved one would like to be included, please speak to Pastor Bater.
The Prayer of the Church concludes with The Lord’s Prayer:
THE LORD’S PRAYER Matthew 6:9-13
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.
BLESSING Numbers 6:24-26
This blessing is one that has been spoken over God’s people for more than 3400 years, since the time of Moses.The blessing is not merely a wish; it is the powerful promise of God’s love, peace and protection! m 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.
10 CLOSING HYMN “Rock of Ages”
Jesus is like a cleft in a rock face, where we hide from a storm. He provides us with safety because He has taken away our sins. We have this salvation only because of God’s underserved love and generosity: “Nothing in my hand I bring; simply to thy cross I cling.” The new melody for this classic hymn was composed by Lutheran musician, Sarah Lambrecht. You can learn more about and listen to her music at sarahlambretchmusic.com
11 WE THANK OUR LORD We thank our Lord for … our guests, please introduce yourself to those around you and enjoy some fellowship time following the service … all who are able to worship with us this morning—both in-person or online … all who came early and stayed late to set up and take down for our outdoor service … everyone who continues to support this ministry with their prayers and offerings … saving us by His grace alone … thank you loving, living and gracious Lord!
CURRENT BIBLE CLASSES AT POP — ALL ARE INVITED! Two Kingdoms: Church & State | Wednesdays @ 7PM on Zoom As we approach our national elections in November, tensions are rising. How do we as Christians navigate the political realm? We constantly hear the phrase "separation of Church and State." But how do we actually do that? How separate should the two be? Do they have anything to do with each other? What's the purpose of God's two kingdoms? We'll address these questions (and your own!) in this class!
Gracebook | Thursdays @ 7PM on Zoom & In-Person in the chapel This is our Bible Information Class. It's a class geared toward a number of different audiences: 1) anyone who wants to learn more about the Bible with no further commitment; 2) those who want to become members at Prince of Peace; and 3) PoP members who want a refresher course in the basic teachings of Scripture. Any and all questions are welcome and strongly encouraged--this is your opportunity to get them answered! If you would like to attend, please let me know so I can get the class materials to you.
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