6th October 2013
Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost
This morning's address: 'Journeying with Faith' Text: Hebrews 11: 8-9a.
6 October 2013
¯ THIS MORNING'S SONGS OF PRAISE:
37, (hymn 165), 99, 292, 448.
FIRST BIBLE READING:
Habakkuk 1:1- 4; 2:1-4
'The righteous will live by faith'
The prophecy that Habakkuk the prophet received.
How long, Lord, must I call for help, but you do not listen?
Or cry out to you, "Violence!" but you do not save?
Why do you make me look at injustice?
Why do you tolerate wrongdoing?
Destruction and violence are before me;
there is strife, and conflict abounds.
Therefore the law is paralysed, and justice never prevails.
The wicked hem in the righteous, so that justice is perverted.
I will stand at my watch and station myself on the ramparts;
I will look to see what he will say to me, and what answer I am to give to this complaint.
Then the Lord replied:
"Write down the revelation and make it plain on tablets
so that a herald may run with it.
For the revelation awaits an appointed time;
it speaks of the end and will not prove false.
Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay. "See, the enemy is puffed up; his desires are not upright - but the righteous person will live by his faith"
SECOND BIBLE READING:
2 Timothy 1: 1-14
'Encouragement to be faithful' (GNB)
From Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by God's will, sent to proclaim the promised life which we have in union with Christ Jesus;
To Timothy, my dear son: May God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord give you grace, mercy and peace.
I give thanks to God, whom I serve with a clear conscience, as my ancestors did. I thank him as I remember you always in my prayers night and day. I remember your
tears, and I want to see you very much, so that I may be filled with joy. I remember the sincere faith you have, the kind of faith that your grandmother Lois and your mother
Eunice also had.
I am sure that you have it also. For this reason I remind you to keep alive the gift that God gave you when I laid my hands on you. For the Spirit that God has given us
does not make us timid; instead, his Spirit fills us with power, love and self-control.
Do not be ashamed, then, of witnessing for our Lord;
neither be ashamed of me, a prisoner for Christ's sake.
Instead, take your part in suffering for the Good News, as God gives you the strength for it.
He saved us and called us to be his own people, not because of what we have done, but because of his own purpose and grace. He gave us this grace by means of
Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, but now it has been revealed to us through the coming of our Savior, Christ Jesus.
He has ended the power of death and through the gospel has revealed immortal life.
God has appointed me as an apostle and teacher to proclaim the Good News, and it is for this reason that I suffer these things. But I am still full of confidence, because I know
whom I have trusted, and I am sure that he is able to keep safe until that Day what he has entrusted to me. Hold firmly to the true words that I taught you, as the example for you to follow, and remain in the faith and love that are ours in union with Christ Jesus.
Through the power of the Holy Spirit, who lives in us, keep the good things that have been entrusted to you.
GOSPEL READING:
Luke 17: 5-10
'Faith and duty' (NIV)
The apostles said to the Lord, 'Increase our faith!'
He replied, 'If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, "Be uprooted and planted in the sea", and it will obey you.
'Suppose one of you had a servant ploughing or looking after the sheep. Would he say to the servant when he comes in from the field, "Come along now and sit down to eat"? Would he not rather say, "Prepare my supper, get yourself ready and wait on me while I eat and drink; after that you may eat and drink"?
Would he thank the servant because he did what he was told to do? So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, "We are unworthy servants;
we have only done our duty"'.
NOTES ON THE READINGS:
HABAKKUK 1: 1-4; 2:1-4:
How could it possible be?! The law of God had been restored by King Josiah but so soon the public morality flouted it, thus rendering it 'slack'. This kind of anarchy bred uncontrolled violence, the wicked getting the better of the righteous. The prophet himself felt that it was as if he were the one looking for trouble, at the behest of God. Habakkuk thus made complaint, but indicated that he would await the Lord's answer (2:1). The Lord's answer came to him as an injunction to record the answer with utmost care and precision and then to broadcast it (2:2). The vision which was given to the prophet would most surely come about, but at God's appointed time. Therefore wait! However, in the meantime the wicked will remain lost in their proud spirit, but the righteous will be preserved and prosper by their faith.
2 TIMOTHY 1:1-14:
Paul is writing to the young pastor, Timothy, who was Paul's 'beloved child' through coming to faith and later in training for ministry of the gospel. Paul is a prisoner at Rome at this time and refers joyfully back to the past, making it an occasion for thanksgiving and prayer. He remembers how much both he and Timothy owe to their forebears in regard to the foundation laid for their faith. He urges Timothy that this faith may grow together with his spiritual gifts in unashamed witness for the gospel. God's power will provide this strength, just as God's grace from eternity had bestowed the faith in Jesus Christ and his free redemption, making certain their life in heaven. Neither of them needs to be afraid in their proclamation, despite even imprisonment, for God will surely guard and keep whatever is entrusted to him.
Paul urges Timothy to maintain sound teaching in faith and love with the help of the Holy Spirit.
LUKE 17:5-10:
The apostles (the twelve) asked the Lord, 'Give us more faith'. Hearing his previous teaching, they realised their need to produce a stronger love than their weakness allowed.
The strengthening given in answer to their request came by Jesus' describing the power which accompanies a strong faith. The power he described is limited only by the power of God himself, who responds to that faith. Lest the apostles, or anyone else, should become self-satisfied over the astonishing power which may become evident, Jesus illustrates with a human example. A slave remains a slave even though he may on occasion attain a super-abundant performance of his duties. If it were possible for us to fulfil all our duties for God perfectly, we could still take no personal credit. After all, compared with God himself, or even at a lesser level the holy angels, we still remain worthless servants.
Bible readings for Sunday 13th October:
2 Kings 5:1-15,
2 Timothy 2:8-15;
Luke 17:11-19
Announcements:
1. This week in the Lord's Service - 6th - 13th Oct:
Tuesday - 7.30 pm - Deacons.
Wednesday - 7.30 pm - Evening Bible study group on Colossians continues at the home of Errol & Peggy Werner.
Thursday -1.30 pm -Ladies Fellowship Group.
Friday - 9.30 am - Worship Team.
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 - (With Holy Communion).
2. Elections meeting Sun.1st Dec:
An overview, together with 2013 office holder listings and a 'Ministry Opportunities' form in relation to the 2014 Elections have been emailed out this
week or placed in member's church boxes to take home today. It is requested that the form be returned as indicated by Sunday, 27th October, 2013
3. Lutheran Media Ministries:
The radio 'Face to Face' and TV programs for October are available from the kitchen notice
Coming up for your diary:
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( A/W.)