The Twenty-Third Sunday After Pentecost

Enter the Presence of God

Welcome & Greeting

Welcome, as you arrive and get settled, feel free to greet your neighbor and take a moment to prepare your heart and mind for that which we enjoin to do together today: Worship the living God.

Passing of the peace

Call to Worship

God calls us into his presence. It is common in our liturgy to have a call from Scripture that directs our actions, instructing us on that which we are to do- not as from the word of a man, but as from the Word of God. In light of recent events, we find our souls crying out even now for justice, mercy, and peace. So hear with me this Psalm that tells us our right response, which we get to partake in.

Psalm 43 ESV

Vindicate me, O God, and defend my cause against an ungodly people, from the deceitful and unjust man deliver me! For you are the God in whom I take refuge; why have you rejected me? Why do I go about mourning because of the oppression of the enemy? Send out your light and your truth; let them lead me; let them bring me to your holy hill and to your dwelling! Then I will go to the altar of God, to God my exceeding joy, and I will praise you with the lyre, O God, my God. Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.

Let us pray together:

Grant us, Lord, not to be anxious about earthly things, but to love things heavenly; and even now, as we live among things that are passing away, to hold fast to those that shall endure; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. In the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Confession of Sin

1 John 1:8 ESV

If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

Brothers and sisters, the proof of God’s amazing love is this: While we were yet sinners Christ died for us. Because we have faith in him, we have the honor and freedom to approach his throne of mercy with confidence. In faith and penitence, let us confess our sins before God and one another. I will pray with corporatally for all of us, after which there will be a period for you to confess silently to our Redeemer and King.

Prayer of Confession

Almighty and most merciful Father, we have erred and strayed from your ways like lost sheep.

We have followed too much the devices and desires of our own hearts.

We have offended against your holy laws.

We have left undone those things which we ought to have done, and we have done those things which we ought not to have done; and apart from your grace, there is no health in us.

O Lord, have mercy upon us.

Spare all those who confess their faults.

Restore all those who are penitent, according to your promises declared to all people in Christ Jesus our Lord.

And grant, O most merciful Father, for his sake, that we may now live a godly, righteous, and sober life, to the glory of your holy Name.

Following our corporate confession, we take a moment to confess our sins in silence.

In the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Words of Comfort and Promise

For those sinners in need of a Savior today, hear these words of promise:

1 John 1:9 ESV

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Hear the Word of God

Prayer for Enlightenment

Almighty and Everlasting God, the Fountain of all wisdom and the Giver of all grace, we approach Your throne of mercy, earnestly seeking the light of Your understanding. In this world of shadows and uncertainty, our souls long for the clarity that only Your Holy Spirit can provide.

Gracious Father, just as the sun scatters the darkness at dawn, we ask You to dispel the obscurities that cloud our minds. May our hearts be liberated from the entanglements of earthly concerns so that we may wholly embrace the divine wisdom You offer. Help us to comprehend the breadth and depth of Your teachings, that our lives may be built upon the solid rock of Your truth.

As we delve into the mysteries of Your holy Word, grant us the discernment to distinguish Your voice amid the clamor of this age. Open our ears to hear, our eyes to see, and our minds to understand the wonders of Your law. May we absorb Your teachings with all diligence and faith, that we may not only grasp but also cherish Your will.

Empower us, O Lord, to live in alignment with Your divine precepts. In moments of doubt and confusion, guide us back to the narrow way. May our every action and thought be a testament to the transformative power of Your Word.

We pray for an outpouring of Your Spirit upon us, that we may grow in our knowledge and love for You. Illuminate our journey with the light of Your presence, that we may walk as children of the day, shunning the works of darkness.

In all things, may our lives bring praise and honor to Your holy name. We commit ourselves to the study of Your Word and to the obedience of Your commandments, trusting that through them, we will find the fullness of life and joy.

We lay our prayer before You in the blessed name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, who is the Word made flesh and the Light of the World. Amen.

Scriptural Lessons

Matthew 23:1–12 ESV

Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat, so do and observe whatever they tell you, but not the works they do. For they preach, but do not practice. They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger. They do all their deeds to be seen by others. For they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long, and they love the place of honor at feasts and the best seats in the synagogues and greetings in the marketplaces and being called rabbi by others. But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brothers. And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven. Neither be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Christ. The greatest among you shall be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

After the lesson, we respond:

This is the Word of the Lord!

Thanks be to God!

Homily

Brothers and Sisters,

In times of turmoil and uncertainty, Mr. Rogers, the children’s TV show host of the aptly-named Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood, a brother-in-Christ and Presbyterian minister who guided many through the complexities of life, advised us to "Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping." He didn't just offer comfort; he directed our gaze to those who embody the spirit of service in the midst of chaos.

Today, as we gather in fellowship and reflection in the shadow of world events that perhaps brings us feelings of worry and concern for tomorrow, let us turn our attention to the words of Matthew 23:1-12, the holy and inspired Word of the living God, composed by men through the inspiration of the great helper, the Holy Spirit.

Immediately before this passage, in Matthew 22, we see Jesus engage in theological combat with Jewish leaders. Following our passage, in Matthew 24-26, Jesus will take the disciples aside for his final instructions prior to his arrest, trial, crucifixion, and resurrection, which sets the temporal bounds for this teaching. In our passage, we hear Jesus speaking to the crowd and His disciples, and perhaps some eaves-dropping Pharisees and priests, on the topics of hypocrisy, pride, and false religion; for which humility is proffered as the cure.

Jesus, using strong irony, presents the problem: These leaders do not practice what they preach. They lay heavy burdens on men, but do not lift a finger to help (23:2–4) and they love honored seats, noble greetings, and exalted titles. They love to be called rabbi, father, and teacher, but in doing so they usurp the honor and titles of the Lord (23:5–10). I don’t believe it to be difficult to juxtapose these issues even into our modern time, even into an Army context, by the lack of what we might call integrity, duty, or selfless service, or the promotion of toxic leadership and its traits. In their thirst for honor, they miss the essence of their duty.

Jesus will continue in this chapter, which are beyond our reading, but provide context, to address five other points of how these Pharisees and Scribes fall short:

1. Although they claim to be teachers, they make salvation sound harder than it is. They do not open the door to God’s kingdom; they slam the door in others’ faces (23:13).

2. They trivialize biblical truth. Some of their teaching is simply mistaken (23:16–22). Other teachings are true, but insignificant. They minutely regulate food preparation, oaths, tithes, the washing of dishes, and divorce proceedings, but neglect the great matters: justice, mercy, and faithfulness (23:23–24).

3. They look good outwardly, but they are corrupt inwardly (23:25–28).

4. They have persecuted God’s prophets for centuries (23:29–36).

5. Yet Jesus longs to gather them to himself. They need not be finally lost. They can still bless the Lord and hear his blessing (23:37–39).

These Pharisees, sitting in the seat of Moses, are to be obeyed, straight in the black-and-white (or red letters) of the text. But, the Greek indicates quite the opposite. One commentator translates 23:3 as “obey every last thing they tell you,” which is an incredibly strong statement directly contradicted by further exposition within the passage. Do what they say, even though they don’t heed their own counsel, even though they burden you and will not help, even though the door to the kingdom will slam in your face, even though you will become twice the son of hell that they are. His irony is clear. Do not follow their teachings.

Jesus addresses four problems with these Scribes and Pharisees:

They fail to live what they teach. False leaders promulgate laws they scarcely intend to observe. If we would lead spiritually, we must live what we teach or at least seriously attempt to do so.

2. They seek applause. Within the historical context, even within secular writings of the time, honor was perhaps the single most sought-after thing. Spiritual leaders should try to block out thoughts of gaining human approval by doing things that look powerful and popular. We should seek the Lord’s approval first and last.

3. They display their piety through their phylacteries, a tiny box with copies of key passages of the law worn in literal observance of Deut 6:8. The Greek word used indicates and amulet used to ward off evil, hinting at a superstitious practice. Spiritual leaders should hide their good deeds as much as possible. We should give quietly, or bring healing or comfort, and keep the results to ourselves. We should call attention to God, not to ourselves.

4. They love to be exalted. Even church people—who ought to know better—succumb to the human tendency to adore our heroes and identify with them. Pastors and other Christian leaders should be especially zealous to give glory to God and not to arrogate it to ourselves.

Jesus offers one solution to this problem, this false, works-based religion: service and humility. Jesus calls us to service (Matt 20:26) and humility (Matt 23:11-12). This call for humility is echoed throughout Scripture: 1 Sam 2:7; Isa. 2:11-17; 26:5; Ezek. 17:24, where we are told the Lord humbles the proud. But here, we are not to wait for God to humble us. In James 4:10, we read: Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.” Holiness is our standard, not the performance of others, our Senior, Peers, or Subordinates, alike. We are to humble ourselves before the just, holy, and righteous God.

Mr. Roger’s quote has come under some criticism in recent time. The ideal fit for children following exposure to the deepest and darkest depravities of humanity, falls painfully short of an acceptable standard for adults. Sure, to "look for the helpers" is to recognize those among us who show up when the going is the toughest. It is to see those who, without seeking recognition, do what is right for the least-of-these. As soldiers, you are by nature of your commitment to the United States of America, those helpers Mr. Rogers spoke of. We are the ones called to step forward when others step back. But even outside of the uniform, in our day job, the opportunity and call is there to now “be the helpers.” Let us lead by serving. Let us carry our burdens with the strength of character and the courage of our convictions. May we always strive to be the servant leaders who walk in the light of God’s promises recorded in his holy Word, guided by justice and truth, and may our leadership be a reflection of the teachings of Jesus, who came not to be served, but to serve.

Jesus emphasizes that the greatest among us shall be our servant. In the military, rank may denote authority, but it is your actions that define your leadership. Jesus calls us to lead by example, in a Christ-like manner, imitating our Elders as they imitate Christ, even imitating the Lord ourselves, to eschew titles and embrace service, to be humble and consider others before ourselves. The cure is to admit our selfishness, humble ourselves before the Lord, and embrace the gospel. If you do not know Jesus, I would plead with you, let this be the day of Salvation, repent and believe the gospel today. If that’s you, Chaplain Allinger and I would love to pray with you and walk with you through your new life in Christ. Or if you’re a long-time believer needing prayer and encouragement, we’d would be honored to join our prayers with yours, to the glory of God our Father, Amen.

Respond to God

Prayers of Supplication

Let us pray the prayer that Jesus taught us:

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.

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.

Following the Lord’s Prayer, we continue with the following responsive prayers.

Be exalted, O Lord, above the heavens;

Let your glory cover the earth.

Show us your mercy, O Lord;

And grant us your salvation.

Clothe your ministers with righteousness;

And make your chosen people joyful.

Give peace in our time, O Lord;

For only in you can we live in safety.

Let your way be known on earth;

Your saving power among all nations.

Lord, keep our nation under your care;

And guide us in the way of justice and truth.

Let not the needy, O Lord, be forgotten;

Nor the hope of the poor be taken away.

Create in us clean hearts, O God;

And revive us by your Spirit.

Prayer of Response and Thanksgiving

Let us now pray in response and thanksgiving.

Lift up your hearts.

We lift them up to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

It is right for us to give thanks.

O Gracious and Loving God, our hearts swell with gratitude as we come before You, recognizing the bounty of Your endless gifts and the steadfastness of Your love. From the breath of life that fills our lungs to the majestic tapestry of creation that unfolds before our eyes, every good thing we have known is a testament to Your generosity.

We give thanks for the vibrant mosaic of life, the laughter of friends, the affection of family, and the community that surrounds us. We are grateful for the daily provisions, the roof over our heads, and the food on our tables, recognizing these as signs of Your caring hands.

Above all, we are profoundly thankful for the gift of redemption through Your son, Jesus Christ. For the grace that washes away our faults, for the mercy that welcomes us back when we stray, and for the peace that comforts us in times of trial, we offer You our praise. Your Spirit has healed our spirits, and Your love has restored our souls.

In the silent moments, we feel the hope of eternal life stirring within us, a hope that outshines the brightest star and outlasts the ages. For the grace that sustains us, the faith that upholds us, and the hope that carries us forward, we are eternally grateful.

Therefore, with hearts lifted high and spirits humbled by Your goodness, we dedicate ourselves anew to You. May our lives reflect the thanksgiving we profess. Let our actions bear witness to the love we have received. May we serve humbly, live generously, and love abundantly.

Help us to recognize Your mercies anew each day and respond with lives that echo Your grace. May our praise not only be spoken with our lips but demonstrated in our living, as we walk in holiness and righteousness before You.

For these blessings, and for the countless others that go unnoticed, we give You thanks, O God, our Gracious Father. Let our gratitude not fade with the setting sun, but let it endure forever, a perpetual offering of thanks through Jesus Christ our Lord.

To You, O God, be honor and glory, now and forever. Amen.

Depart in Peace

Having answered the call to worship, confessed and received assurance of pardon, and having heard the Gospel once again, the Church is to depart and serve, loving God with all of their heart, mind, soul, and strength, and loving their neighbor as themselves.

Hebrews 13:20–21 (ESV)

Benediction

20 Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, 21 equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever.

May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God the Father, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

And also with you.

Depart in Peace

Serve the Lord