Pentecost 4–Faith Trusts in God after Contrition and Repentance

The journey from spiritual death to spiritual life begins with a recognition of guilt. We have sinned and fall short of fulfilling the Law of the Lord. Through contrition and repentance God prepares the heart to receive the gift of the Gospel.

PRAYER OF THE DAY

O God, protector of all the faithful, you alone make strong; you alone make holy. Show us your mercy and forgive our sins day by day. Guide us through our earthly lives that we do not lose the things you have prepared for us in heaven; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen!

VERSE OF THE DAY

Alleluia. May your priests be clothed with righteousness; may your saints sing for joy. Alleluia. (Psalm 132:9)

THE GOSPEL: LUKE 7:36-50

After the “sinful” woman has anointed his feet, Jesus uses the parable of the money lender to show the Pharisees the value of forgiven debt. Tears of guilt and shame still flow in a repentant flood from the heart at Jesus’ feet. The man who fails to see his own sin, considers himself to have little need of a Savior. The heart of faith, however, recognizes its own debt of sin and can truly appreciate the depth of God’s gracious forgiveness. The life of a Christian is one of constant repentance of sins, and trust in Christ for forgiveness.

And he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.'”

Luke 7:48

Jesus suffered beyond imagination so that those believe in him can hear these words spoken over them from the throne of the universe–today.

FIRST LESSON: 2 SAMUEL 11:26—12:10, 13-15

What a warning this lesson brings to Christians! What an admonition to daily contrition and repentance! Here is the infamous blight on the reign of King David. Unrepentance was leading to David’s spiritual destruction. So the Lord sends Nathan to bring David to recognize his guilt and return to the Lord. The Lord’s judgment is just and right. But such is the grace of our God, that immediately sinners who repent hear that the Lord has taken away their sins.

Artist	Eugène Siberdt  (1851–1931)
Title	English: The Prophet Nathan rebukes King David
Object type	painting
Date	between 1866 and 1931
Medium	oil on canvas
Dimensions	Height: 116 cm (45.6 ″); Width: 145 cm (57 ″)
Inscriptions	signed lower left ‘Eugene Siberdt’
Notes	At Mayfair Gallery Limited

SECOND LESSON: GALATIANS 2:11-21

The Law is necessary to show us our sins, to curb our actions, and to guide our lives. The Law, however, cannot save us; only the Gospel can. The sinful flesh continually temps us to believe that God loves us because of who we are rather than in spite of who we are. Men came from Jerusalem and wanted the Galatians to believe that fulfilling the ceremonial laws of the Old Testament was a necessity for salvation. Paul shows us that not even Peter can change what God ordained: salvation is by grace.

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me.

Galatians 2:20

SUPPLEMENTAL FIRST LESSON: 2 CHRONICLES 33:1-6, 10-18

Here is the account of the abominable evil of Manasseh, King of Judah. Only after a brutal humbling and exile in Babylon did Manasseh recognize the error of his ways. Physically, emotionally, and spiritually crushed into humble repentance Manasseh returned to the Lord and knew his forgiving faithfulness. How true it is that God wants no one to be lost, but that each man turn from his wickedness and live!

SUPPLEMENTAL SECOND LESSON: 1 CORINTHIANS 6:9-11

Here is stern warning from the Lord through the Apostle Paul that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God. Included in this list of wickedness are many of the sins that are popular—even defended and admired—in our society today. Here is opportunity to preach on not only on such hot-button sins as homosexuality, but also the power the Spirit to wash, sanctify, and justify the repentant heart in the Lord Jesus.

HT: Lesson summaries produced by Rev. Joel Gawrisch and Rev. Jonathan E. Schroeder in Planning Christian Worship Year C.

PSALM OF THE DAY: 32

Traditional: Chant

Psalm 32 · The Monks of Little Portion Hermitage, John Michael Talbot Chant From The Hermitage ℗ 1995 Troubadour for the Lord (adm. by Music Services, www.musicservices.org)

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Modern: Lyrical

HYMN OF THE DAY: Jesus, Your Boundless Love to Me

ADDITIONAL HYMNS: Lord to You Make Confession

Questions to Consider

(Please share your answers/thoughts in the comments below)

1. What is God saying to me in these lessons?
2. For what do these lessons lead me to give thanks?
3. What sins do these lessons lead me to confess?
4. For what do these lessons lead me to pray?
5. What is the connecting thought that sticks out the most in these lessons? What major theme(s) connect(s) all the lessons?