Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost

This morning's address: 'When in Trouble' – Text: James 5: 13

29 September 2013

¯ THIS MORNING'S SONG'S OF PRAISE:
361, 369, 155, 384, 301, 415.

FIRST BIBLE READING:

Amos 6: 1a, 4-7
'Woe to the complacent'

Woe to you who are complacent in Zion, and to you who feel secure on Mount Samaria,
You lie on beds adorned with ivory and lounge on your couches.
You dine on choice lambs and fattened calves.
You strum away on your harps like David and improvise on musical instruments.
You drink wine by the bowlful and use the finest lotions, but you do not grieve over the ruin of Joseph.
Therefore you will be among the first to go into exile;
your feasting and lounging will end.

SECOND BIBLE READING:

1 Timothy 6: 6-19
'Pastoral advice to Timothy'

But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.
Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.
For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
In the sight of God, who gives life to everything, and of Christ Jesus, who while testifying before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you to keep this command without spot or blame until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, which God will bring about in his own time - God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honor and might forever. Amen.
Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.
Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.

GOSPEL READING:

Luke 16: 19-31
'Parable of the rich man and Lazarus'

"There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores and longing to eat what fell from the rich man's table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores.
"The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried. In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. So he called to him, 'Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.'
"But Abraham replied, 'Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been set in place, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.'
"He answered, 'Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my family, for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.'
"Abraham replied, 'They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.' "'No, father Abraham,' he said, 'but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.'
"He said to him, 'If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.'"

NOTES ON THE READINGS:

AMOS 6: 1a, 4-7:
This prophecy is directed at rich people in both Jerusalem and Samaria, the religious centres of Judah and Israel. Rich people vied with each other in spending both time and money in idle decadence, selfish luxury and drunken pastimes. They even compared their lamentable musical efforts to King David's music, so carried away were they with their own importance. The real tragedy was that they did not see the ruin going on around them in the land once promised to descendants of Joseph. Being first in everything, they would also be the first to be led away into exile.

1 TIMOTHY 6: 6-19:
Paul points to the danger of affluence. It is easy to permit money to become one's god. Money commands respect and gives power. However, the inordinate love of money leads to such sins that can rob anyone of salvation. It is much better to fight the fight of faith and to make use of the salvation God has freely offered and just as freely gives. If one promises to be faithful until death, let that promise be brought to eternal fruition at the day of Jesus Christ.
Rather than store up riches in this world, it is better to store up treasures which last forever.

LUKE 16: 19-31:
This story of Jesus, although couched in symbolic terms, teaches some clear aspects of life after death. The rich man, who had as much access to the Scriptures as anyone else, was totally occupied with his luxurious and sumptuous life.
It was obviously too important to him to see the crying needs of the poor man right at his gate. Lazarus means 'he whom God helps' and was obviously a godly man. In the next life the roles are reversed. Lazarus reclined in eternal and infinite happiness at table with Father Abraham, so to speak, while the rich man was in unremitting torment. Both men's states were actually settled by their attitudes during their lifetimes, but now were confirmed and irreversibly permanent. The rich man's plea for relief from Lazarus's simple service was not possible. No more was it possible for Lazarus to warn his brothers. Even the resurrection of Jesus at a later stage did not convince those who were hostile. There is for all a more than adequate guide to heaven in the Scriptures (Moses and the prophets, in the case of the brothers). The Lord calls for our trusting acceptance of God's word in repentance and faith, together with a life of out-flowing service in love and mercy.

Bible readings for Sunday 6th October:
Habakkuk 1; 1-4, 2; 1-4,

2 Timothy 1: 1-14,

Luke 17: 5-10

Announcements:
1. This week in the Lord's Service - 29th Sept - 6th October:
Saturday - from 9.00 am to noon - General interior clean of church (fellowship Bar-B-Q to follow).
Saturday - 10.00 am - 11.00 am - 'Sing- along' time for those who wish to learn songs for the Sunday.
Saturday - 11.00 am to 12 noon - Choir practice.
Next Sunday - 9.30 am - Public Divine service - (Non- Communion).

2. Lunch - Araluen - Sun. 27th Oct:
Final reminder to those persons who intend to participate in the Longest Lutheran Lunch at Araluen Camp on Sunday 27th October, 2013, the completed
registration form, together with payment should be given to our Treasurer Phil Ward, no later than next Sunday (6th October).

3. Tandara Camp - Internship 2014:
Young people - 18 - 24 years - another reminder that applications for an internship at Tandara Camp, Hall's Gap, closes 18th October, 2013.

Coming up for your diary:
Tuesday 8th October - 7.30 pm - Deacons.
Wednesday 9th October - 7.30 pm - Bible study group on Colossians continues at the home of Linda and Paul Menzel, 400 Lake Road, Connewarre.
Thursday 10th October -1.30 pm -Ladies Fellowship.
Friday 11th October - 9.30 am - Worship Team.
Tuesday 15th October - 12.30 pm - Kaffeestunde.
Tuesday 15th October - 7.00 pm - Church Council.
Sunday 20th October - (Third Sunday) - Sunday School. (No Sunday School during term break).
Sunday 20th October - Nominations Committee.
Reformation Sunday 27th October - 9.30 am -worship service with H.C. at 'Our Redeemer'.
Sunday 3rd November - 9.30 am - 'All Saints'
worship service. Fellowship morning tea to follow.
Sunday 1st December - (after worship) -Election of office bearers for 2014.