Wednesday Words for August 6, 2014
From Interim Senior Pastor Len Hoffmann
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Thought for the Day:
I will listen to what the Lord God is saying.
Psalm 85:8
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A prayer of thanksgiving is offered for the Rev.-Elect Neal Cannon, brother of Pr. Paul, who has been called by Christ Lutheran Church, Belvidere, IL as Associate Pastor. The Ordination celebration will be held Reformation Sunday, October 26, 2014.
September 7 is Rally Day and Education Fair. Watch for details of this special celebration as Bethany is W.I.R.E.D. for Outreach and Service. W.I.R.E.D. = worship, involvement, renewal, education, discipleship. Worship will be at 8:30 and 10:30 with our new schedule starting on September 14, 8:00, 9:00 and 10:30 with children’s church, Sunday School and Adult Education at 9:00 a.m. Social Hour will be from 10:00 to 10:30 a.m.
August 10 at 9:45 a.m. “Everything You Always Wanted to Know about Teaching Sunday School, but were Afraid to Ask”. Members of our Education Team will answer your questions about schedule and curriculum. Please join them and become involved in Education.
Sunday at Bethany:
Listening is hard work. We often hear but don’t listen. Listening involves being present for the other and asking important questions.
Our scriptures for this Sunday demonstrate that listening to what God is saying often requires a purposeful and devotional effort. Elijah is hiding in fear for his life and is waiting to hear from the LORD. It is only when he comes out of his cave can he truly listen to what the LORD is telling him.
St. Paul reminds us that God’s Word, Jesus Christ, is on their lips and in their hearts. In listening with their hearts they are able to confess, believe and proclaim the Good News.
Peter in the Gospel asks for confirmation if it is really Jesus. Yet, when he starts to trust his own abilities he begins to sink, and asks Jesus to save him.
Are we taking time to listen to what God is saying to us as individuals and as a congregation? Are we being purposeful and devotional as God speaks to us? Do we present ourselves to God, so that we might hear Jesus voice as he seeks to walk with us in our journey of faith?
Pastor Len
Lectionary 19
Proper 14
Ninth Sunday after Pentecost
Prayer of the Day
O God our defender, storms rage around and within us and cause us to be afraid. Rescue your people from despair, deliver your sons and daughters from fear, and preserve us in the faith of your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.
First Reading 1 Kings 19:9-18
On Mount Horeb, where God had appeared to Moses with typical signs of God's presence—earthquake, wind, and fire—Elijah now experienced God in "sheer silence." God assured Elijah that he is not the only faithful believer. Seven thousand Israelites are still loyal. God instructed Elijah to anoint two men as kings and to anoint Elisha as his own successor.
9At that place he came to a cave, and spent the night there.Then the word of the LORD came to him, saying, "What are you doing here, Elijah?" 10He answered, "I have been very zealous for the LORD, the God of hosts; for the Israelites have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I alone am left, and they are seeking my life, to take it away." 11He said, "Go out and stand on the mountain before the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by." Now there was a great wind, so strong that it was splitting mountains and breaking rocks in pieces before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake; 12and after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a sound of sheer silence. 13When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. Then there came a voice to him that said, "What are you doing here, Elijah?" 14He answered, "I have been very zealous for the LORD, the God of hosts; for the Israelites have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I alone am left, and they are seeking my life, to take it away." 15Then the LORD said to him, "Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus; when you arrive, you shall anoint Hazael as king over Aram. 16Also you shall anoint Jehu son of Nimshi as king over Israel; and you shall anoint Elisha son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah as prophet in your place. 17Whoever escapes from the sword of Hazael, Jehu shall kill; and whoever escapes from the sword of Jehu, Elisha shall kill. 18Yet I will leave seven thousand in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed to Baal, and every
Second Reading Romans 10:5-15
A right relationship with God is not something we achieve by heroic efforts. It is a gift received in the proclamation whose content is Jesus Christ. This proclaimed word creates our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Hence Christian proclamation is an indispensable component of God's saving actions.
5Moses writes concerning the righteousness that comes from the law, that "the person who does these things will live by them." 6But the righteousness that comes from faith says, "Do not say in your heart, 'Who will ascend into heaven?'" (that is, to bring Christ down) 7or 'Who will descend into the abyss?' (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). 8But what does it say?
"The word is near you,
on your lips and in your heart"
(that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); 9because if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10For one believes with the heart and so is justified, and one confesses with the mouth and so is saved. 11The scripture says, "No one who believes in him will be put to shame." 12For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all and is generous to all who call on him. 13For, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved."
14But how are they to call on one in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in one of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone to proclaim him? 15And how are they to proclaim him unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!"
The Gospel Matthew 14:22-33
Matthew's gospel typically portrays Jesus' disciples as people of "little faith" who fail despite their best intentions. In this story, Matthew shows how Jesus comes to the disciples when they are in trouble and sustains them in their time of fear and doubt.
22Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. 23And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, 24but by this time the boat, battered by the waves, was far from the land, for the wind was against them. 25And early in the morning he came walking toward them on the sea. 26But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, saying, "It is a ghost!" And they cried out in fear. 27But immediately Jesus spoke to them and said, "Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid."
28Peter answered him, "Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water." 29He said, "Come." So Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came toward Jesus. 30But when he noticed the strong wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, "Lord, save me!" 31Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, "You of little faith, why did you doubt?" 32When they got into the boat, the wind ceased. 33And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God."
