First Lutheran Church of Little Rock

5th Sunday after Pentecost

Text: Luke 15:1–3, 11–32

Theme: What Is God the Father Like?

1. In the Name of the Father…Amen.

1. The text for this morning begins with verses 1–2 of Luke 15:
– “Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear
him [Jesus]. And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying,
‘This man
receives [welcomes] sinners and eats with them.’ ” This is the Word
of God.

1. Grace, mercy, and peace from God our heavenly Father and from our
Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

1. Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, let us pray:

612 As Rebels, Lord, Who Foolishly Have Wandered

1

As rebels, Lord, who foolishly have wandered

Far from Your love—unfed, unclean, unclothed—

Dare we recall Your wealth so rashly squandered,

Dare hope to glean that bounty which we loathed?

2

Still we return, our contrite words rehearsing,

Speech, that within Your warm embrace soon dies;

All of our guilt, our shame, our pain reversing

As tears of joy and welcome fill Your eyes.

Introduction

1. What Is God the Father Like?

1. Unfortunately, our experience with our earthly fathers, good or bad,
has clouded our vision of God the Father as shown to us by Jesus.

1. We need Jesus to tell us what the Father is really like.

I. He’s humiliated.

1. When you’re a dad and your little kids are asleep, you go in and kiss
them and nuzzle your nose in and smell their hair.
1. And then you pray that God will make you a better father.
2. Life is about them now.
3. And you don’t regret the overtime and the love and the worrying
and protecting, not if it’s for your child.
4. You’re their father.

1. Jesus said:
1. “There was a man who had two sons. And the younger of them said to
his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property [estate] that
is coming
to me’ ” (verses 11–12a).
1. Been punched in the stomach lately, Dad?
2. Can you see the face you’ve always loved, the kid who rode on your
shoulders, cold and distant and with dry eyes and a steel smile, telling
you the relationship is over, just like that?
3. “I can’t wait forever for you to die, Pops.
4. Just fork over my share so I can get out of here.”
5. Can you feel your heart beating in your neck, and your face
stinging?
6. Can you spell T-R-A-U-M-A?
7. Why?
8. And there’s no answer. It stinks!
1. “And he divided his property between them” (verse 12b).

1. Feel the story back then; it’s not like Dad just sat down and wrote
out a check.
1. The boy can’t take herds of cattle with him on the love boat!
2. This knife would twist awhile.
3. Even if it’s a matter of taking ten cents on the dollar for his
father’s valuables and heirlooms, all that’s at stake is his
father’s good
name.
4. That was a public scandal in those days.
5. There was even a ceremony, get-sat-sah (“cutting off”), for when a
father was insulted like this.
6. What father would let himself be humiliated like that?
7. Our Father who art in heaven, that’s who.

1. What is God the Father like?
1. He’s humiliated—by every prodigal son or daughter who lives on his
earth, breathes his air, eats his food, and doesn’t want to know him.
2. God is publicly humiliated by every prodigal who utters the divine
name just for fun, a hundred times a day, to remind God that he’s getting
as far away from him as possible.
3. It’s like Jesus was narrating the whole sordid tale of the Genesis
3 story of original sin all over again:
1. “I don’t want this luxury garden home you’ve given me.
2. I wanna be out on my own!”
4. What kind of father would let himself be humiliated like that?
5. A father whose love for his son soars high above his own dignity.

1. The narrative from Luke 15 continues:
1. Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took
a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in
reckless living. And when he had spent everything, a severe
famine arose in
that whole country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired
himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his
fields to feed pigs. And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the
pigs ate, and no one gave him anything.
2. But when he came to himself, he said, “How many of my father’s
hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here
with hunger!
I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, ‘Father, I have
sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called
your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.’ ” (verses 13–19)

1. The text says:
1. “He came to himself.”
1. Ding! He turned back toward his father’s house.
2. That’s exactly what repentance is, regardless of the motivation,
which, in this case was good old-fashioned starving to death.
3. It’s not like he still had tons of money but just couldn’t live
with himself after what he did to his father.
4. His repentance was just like ours.
5. Self-serving.
6. He just wanted to survive, so he went home to where the food was,
where there was someone who cared about him.
7. Didn’t we?
8. His confession of sin even had a deal worked into it.
9. A toolbox, “three squares,” and a time card seemed like a plan.
10. Far be it from you or me to beat up on the kid.
11. He just didn’t know.
12. He had no idea the size of the love and the grace that was
waiting.
13. Neither did I. Did you?

II. He’s brokenhearted.

1. “But while he was still a long way off,” his father spotted him
(verse 20).
1. He was waiting up for him.
2. Ever been there?
3. I think we all have.
4. Did you care why your child came home?
5. Some do, some don’t.
6. If that happens in bad men like us, what happens inside a Father
who is truly good?

1. This is the Holy of Holies, brothers and sisters in Christ.
1. Right here in verse 20.
2. It all comes down to one Greek word.
3. It’s this word that’s going to make us live forever:
1. “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and
esplagchnisthe”—literally, “his guts fell out,” “his heart broke.”
4. The boy was justified—that is, he was pronounced innocent—not in
his confession (he hasn’t said anything yet!), but outside of himself,
across the field in the breaking of the father’s heart.
5. Broken—like some sort of priceless alabaster box and poured over
the boy as some sort of liquid innocence.
6. This is what God is like: brokenhearted.
7. He’s “Our Father,” and by these words, he would tenderly invite us
to believe that he is our true Father and we are his true children.
8. And the “red carpet” of welcome waiting for every sinner is God’s
exposed, crushed heart rolled out.

1. He ran to his son, fell on his neck, and kissed him fervently.
1. Where have we read this before?
1. Remember how Jacob cheated his brother Esau?
2. He thought Esau would kill him if they ever saw each other
again.
3. They had both made their fortunes and had their families.
4. And when Jacob realized that he would meet up with Esau—and his
army—he sent parades of gifts ahead of him, in the hopes that if he
groveled enough, his offended brother might spare his life.
2. But what happened?:
1. “Then Esau ran to meet him and embraced him, and fell on his
neck and kissed him, and they wept” (Genesis 33:4).
2. There is so much of Jesus in the Old Testament!

1. “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and
before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father
said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and
put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. And bring the fattened calf
and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. For this my son was dead, and is
alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate”
(verses 21–24).

1. Does anybody know what’s wrong with this picture?
1. Surely the get-sat-sah, the cutting off ceremony, that obviously
hadn’t happened before, would happen now, since the son blew the
inheritance!
2. But did it?
3. What happened to justice?
4. Justice happened when the father’s heart was rent asunder.
5. What a picture!
6. One minute the father was clothed in dignity and the son stood in
the distance humiliated.
7. Who has the dignity now?
8. Not the father!
9. In a pitiful display, robes flying, he’s half exposed himself
running to his son, happy to be his last resort, despising the shame!
10. The son’s sin was covered, atoned for, by the humiliation of the
father . . . that he caused!
11. Who does this sound like?

1. Can’t the father hear the townsfolk saying he’s easy and calling him
a sucker?
1. Apparently not.
2. Hearts that big break too loudly to hear background noise.

1. Instead, witness the blessed exchange of dignity and honor from the
father to the prodigal son.
1. The son robed.
2. The father disrobed.
3. The son honored with the ring and shoes.
4. The father dishonored with his running and cleaving like Esau as
if he were the repentant sinner.
5. The son was restored completely in the public spectacle of the
father’s broken heart.
6. Even that was not public enough for the father.

1. Perhaps an “open house” is public enough?
1. Can you see the father all winded and sweaty and delighted,
rounding up anyone and everyone?
2. “Great news! You remember when my son treated me for dead and
hawked his inheritance—my livelihood—so he could get as far away
from me as
possible?
3. He blew the money partying!
4. He had to come home!
5. He had no choice! Isn’t that great?!!
6. Hurry up!
7. The band is playing!
8. We’re having veal marsala!
9. Bring your appetite and put on your dancing shoes!
10. It’s time to celebrate!”

III. He’s unfair.

1. The story continues:
1. Now his older son was in the field, and as he came and drew near
to the house, he heard music and dancing. And he called one of
the servants
and asked what these things meant. And he said to him, “Your brother has
come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he
has received
him back safe and sound.” But he was angry and refused to go in.
His father
came out and entreated [pleaded with] him. (verses 25–28)

1. You’d think a good son would be glad just to see his father happy
again at any cost.
1. Besides, it was the duty of the older son to be the intermediary
between his father and his brother, since he loved both.
2. But this son loved neither.
3. You could almost imagine a faithful son pleading with his father:
1. “Father, I cannot celebrate this! I can’t watch you do this to
yourself.
2. I watched you waste away since your good for nothing son pulled
that rotten stunt, and now that he’s broke he’s back to sap
you dry and
slap you in the face all over again.
3. I’m sorry, but I can’t just schmooze with a cheese tray like
everything’s okay.”
4. If he’d said that, you’d think you were listening to an otherwise
decent guy who just missed the point on the father’s joy.
5. But that’s not what he said.
6. Remember Jesus’ audience.

1. But he [the older son] answered his father, “Look, these many years I
have served [slaved for] you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you
never gave me a young goat, that I might celebrate with my friends. But
when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property [estate] with
prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!” And he said to him,
“Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. It was fitting
[necessary] to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and
is alive; he was lost, and is found.” (vv 29–32)

1. In modern language the older son is saying to the father:
1. “You are so unfair!
2. What about me?
3. I’ve slaved for you.
4. Wasn’t that my inheritance he just wasted?
5. I’ve never disobeyed you (’til now).
6. You never gave me a goat so that I could party with my friends.
7. I agree with the neighbors: you’re a fool.”

1. The guests standing there with their wine glasses must have been
skeptical and awestruck, to say the least!
1. How many times has this father been dragged through the mud?
2. Both of his sons have read him the riot act in public.
3. They are the same.
4. Coiled in on themselves.
5. All the humiliated, brokenhearted father has done with both sons
is run after them, plead with them, and give to them, yet he’s unfair?

1. But he is.
1. Completely unfair.
2. He “tenderly invites” his older son, saying, “Hell’s bells to our
dignity, son. Let our hearts break and bring on the humiliations.
3. We have to celebrate; he’s your brother, and he’s back from the
dead!
4. Who cares about fair?”

1. The story ends with Jesus staring at the Pharisees and the scribes,
and all of us ninety-nine who don’t need to repent, who resent the fact
that heaven puts on a feast for the one who does, as if their atonement
cost us anything.
1. He gave them a chance to finish the story, to answer the Father’s
pleading, to repent and take on the Father’s heart, and to let
their hearts
break over their lost brothers.
2. But no “older brother” was found to finish that story.

1. Or was there?

1. Oh, it was finished all right, in Jerusalem, and it wasn’t a parable.
1. See how unfairly the older Son gave his share to pay his brother’s
debt.
2. See how unfairly the older Son was publicly humiliated to cover
his brother’s sin.
3. See the older Son crucified to buy his brother back with his own
broken heart.
1. “I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint; my
heart is like wax; it is melted within my breast” (Psalm 22:14).
1. See, from his head, his hands, his feet
Sorrow and love flow mingled down!

Conclusion

1. When you’ve seen Jesus, you’ve seen the Father.
1. He’s not just fair.
2. He’s wonderful!

1. And when Jesus, nailed up, saw the work of his heart in the
distance—you, little brother, little sister—he was satisfied!
1. His unfair heart of love grew too large, and broke, and was thrust
open, like some sort of celebration piñata raining down a
fountain of water
to wash his little brothers and sisters clean for your Father and blood
into the chalice to keep you strong so you never stray again.

1. What is God the Father really like?
1. He’s humiliated, so we can come home to our Father.
2. He’s brokenhearted, so we can run to our Father.
3. He’s unfair, so we can feast in our Father’s house. Amen.

1. Let us pray:

3

A feast of love for us You are preparing;

We who were lost, You give an honored place!

“Come, eat; come, drink, and be no more despairing—

Here taste again the treasures of My grace.”

Text: © 1992 Stephen P. Starke, admin. Concordia Publishing House. Used by
permission: LSB Hymn License no. 110000247

1. The peace of God, which transcends all understanding, guard your
hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.

1. In the Name of the Father…Amen.

4th Sunday after Pentecost

Text: Luke 12:13–21

Theme: A hostile takeover

1. In the Name of the Father…Amen.

1. The sermon text for this morning comes from the gospel of Luke
12:13-21, which reads as follows:

(13) Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to
divide the inheritance with me.”

(14) But he said to him, “Man, who made me a judge or arbitrator over
you?”

(15) And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all
covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his
possessions.”

(16) And he told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man
produced plentifully,

(17) and he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, for I have nowhere to
store my crops?’

(18) And he said, ‘I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build
larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods.

(19) And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for
many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.”’

(20) But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of
you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’

(21) So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich
toward God.”

1. This is the Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.

1. Grace, mercy, and peace from God our heavenly Father and from our
Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

1. Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, let us pray:

782 Gracious God, You Send Great Blessings

1

Gracious God, You send great blessings

New each morning all our days.

For Your mercies never ending,

For Your love we offer praise. Refrain

ref

Lord, we pray that we, Your people

Who Your gifts unnumbered claim,

Through the sharing of Your blessings

May bring glory to Your name.

Introduction

1. The man in the crowd didn’t know it, but he was praying about money.
1. We do plenty of that in these uncertain times.
2. “Lord, will I hold on to my job?”
3. And that’s for reasons that may have nothing to do with your
performance.
4. It’s hardball at high levels behind closed doors that have
nothing to do with you.
5. It doesn’t matter how good you are at your job, or how much
your boss loves you.
6. If the company you work for collides with a company that’s
higher up on the food chain, guess what?
7. Gulp! You and your boss are cleaning out your desk, and are
told to “Hit the road, Jack, but don’t take it personally.”
8. Corporate mergers, foreign acquisitions, hostile takeovers,
macroeconomic speed bumps—we hear about them every day, but
for the one who
built his or her life around that job, it’s always a hostile takeover.
9. What does all that have to do with this text? Everything!

1. Remember what was said at the transfiguration of our lord?
1. The voice came from the cloud:
1. “This is my Son, my Chosen One; listen to him!”
2. Then, as soon as Jesus and the disciples come down from the
mountain, the Gospel shifts gears:
1. “He set his face to go to Jerusalem” (Luke 9:51).
3. We are to Listen to this Jesus as he travels to Jerusalem.

1. (Oops) “Who made me a judge over you?” doesn’t sound like
something Jesus would say.

1. “Someone in the crowd said to him, ‘Teacher, tell my brother to
divide the inheritance with me.’ ”

1. This fellow sounds like a typical heckler in the crowd, trying to get
Jesus off message.

1. Jesus’ initial reply almost sounds as if he were silencing a heckler:
“Man, who made me judge or arbitrator over you?”

1. The reasons it sounds to us as if Jesus is dismissing the guy out of
hand are two:
1. first, because I would have answered a fool like a fool, and
rolled my eyes.

1. The second reason is because, at first glance, this doesn’t sound
like something Jesus would say, at least according to popular theology.

1. He told those two brothers, “That’s your problem,”

1. and I say, “What?”

1. He said, “That’s not part of my job description,”

1. and we say, “Whoa! What a minute, Jesus! I thought . . .”

2. (Ugh) We’re surrounded by a huge sector of Christen­dom that really
believes that is Jesus’ job description.

1. Because we’re surrounded by a huge sector of Christendom that really
thinks that this is Jesus’ job description.

1. I’m living the American dream, making a better life, trying to turn a
buck.

1. When things don’t shake out the way I want, I am, after all, a
Christian.

1. What’s the point of being a Christian in the land of opportunity if I
can’t rub the lamp and make a wish?

1. Jesus, out of love for this guy, told him the truth:
1. “I’m not your genie, and this isn’t small-claims court. You
have a problem.”
2. This man had the ear of God in a body, and this is all he could
come up with?
3. Get my money?
4. And when I receive, when you receive, the key to heaven, the
divine name, and we have the ear of the King, do we ask for important
things, or have we taken his name in vain?

1. Pop theology teaches us that as a Christian I have the right to more
stuff.
1. Is “more stuff” what it all boils down to?
2. Trust me when I tell you more stuff doesn’t make for happiness.
3. It makes for sore muscles!
4. And talk about settling cheap.
5. But that’s easy to fix.
6. The more subtle and more serious malfunction is if we think
that we already know the right questions to ask,
7. and Jesus’ only job is to pony up the answer we expect.
8. If God would only give me what I ask, that would be my happy
ending!
1. Money?
2. Stuff?
3. That is a wrongheaded illusion.
4. Jesus knew it (he always knows!) and told the man, “Take
care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for
one’s life does
not consist in the abundance of his possessions” (verse 15).

1. You want to know how it turns out if you get what you want?
1. A rich man’s land produced a bumper crop. And he began to say
to himself, “What shall I do? ” (cf verses16b–17a).
2. The farmer consults with . . . himself.
3. Mirror, mirror on the wall. . . . It’s so easy to tell lies
when it’s just you!
4. And it’s so much easier to mug your conscience when there are
no witnesses.
5. “I have no place to store my surplus. What to do?”
6. Like he even had to ask himself. Gotta love it.

1. “What shall I do? I have no place to store my surplus. Here’s what
I’ll do, I’ll tear down my barns and I’ll build huge barns and gather
all my grain and my goods.”
1. My surplus.
2. My grain.
3. My goods.
4. I’ll bet he called himself a “self-made millionaire” too.
5. What exactly is that?
6. Someone who gives himself a brain that’s clever with money?

1. The rich farmer never once questioned whether the bumper crop was for
him to keep.
1. That would be thinking outside the box for him.
2. No, this spells early retirement.
1. “Relax, eat, drink, be merry” (verse 19c).
1. Isn’t it obvious?
1. “And I will say to my soul” (verse 19a).
1. Was that his to keep, either?
2. Folks all just assume their souls are theirs to keep.
3. “To keep” is the operative phrase here.
4. For this man, “to keep” was everything!
5. Greed is a downward spiral.
6. “But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a
snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge
people into ruin
and destruction” (1 Timothy 6:9).
7. Look at him plunging.
1. “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years” (verse 19b).
1. Many good things—to keep…many good years—my years.

1. “But God said to him, ‘Fool!’ ” (verse 20a).
1. Who told you they were your things?
2. Thou fool! Who told you they were your years?
3. And who told you it was your soul?
4. “Fool! This night your soul is required of [demanded back from]
you; and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?”
(verse 20).
“What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and
forfeits his
soul?” (Matthew 16:26a).
5. For that man, death was a hostile takeover.
6. But man, despite his riches, “will not remain; he is like the
beasts that perish” (Psalm 49:12).
7. For sinners, the reign of death, hell, and grave is a hostile
takeover.
8. It swallows you up even while you go about your business—even
if you’re good at your business.
9. It Makes no difference.
10. That’s why it’s a hostile takeover.
11. You’re out.
12. Empty your desk.
13. It’s heartbreaking.

1. The punch line is even more heartbreaking:
1. “So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich
toward God” (verse 21).
1. He had to lay up for himself, right?
2. Because you only go around once, right?
3. He thought he had good things, but he had no idea how good
things could be.
4. He wasn’t “rich toward God.”
5. He thought he had many years more.
6. What, ten, twenty, thirty?
7. Thirty years goes by in a second!
8. He had no concept of “many”!
9. “My ship has come in. I won’t have to work, and I’ll have
plenty of stuff ’til I die!” Hey! This is what I call livin’!
10. That’s all there is to life when you’re made in the image of
God?
11. Hoarding and hiding?
12. That’s what they mean by “be merry”? So much for desire.

1. One could assume that the rich fool laid up for himself and as a
result wasn’t rich toward God.
1. But that’s not quite right.
2. The truth is, he wasn’t rich toward God, and as a result he
couldn’t afford not to lay up for himself.
3. Giving a real offering to God doesn’t make you rich toward God.
4. It means you already are.
5. Already rich enough and merry enough to lay up thank-you
presents in heaven by taking care of people here.

3. (Aha) When the man asked Jesus to get him his money, Jesus was not
saying, “You’re asking too much!”

1. Wake Up! Wake Up! You’re Asking Too Little!

1. But what about this poor guy in the crowd?

1. What does a wrong question and a stiff warning and a sad parable
change?

1. The man in the crowd now knows that he’s not rich toward God.

1. He’s going to lose his soul, and Jesus is headed for Jerusalem.

1. When the man asked Jesus to get him his money, Jesus was not saying,
“No can do! You’re asking too much!” Instead, He was saying:
1. “Wake Up! Wake Up! You’re Asking Too Little!”
2. Ask me what I mean by “rich toward God.”
3. Ask me where I’m going and why.
4. Ask me why it matters to you.
5. Say to your soul, “Soul, you’re not rich toward God. You
haven’t any good things, and you haven’t many years, but
death will spring
on you like a trap, and there’s not a thing you can do about it.”

1. None of our good deeds could ever make us rich toward God, and every
sin put us deeper in the red.

1. And death picks people off and hell gulps people down even while they
go about their business, because death knows and hell knows
there’s no one
big enough to stand up against them.

1. Or so they thought.

4. (Wow) You’re out. Clean out your desk. This is not a negotiation!
This is a Hostile Takeover! Jesus is in.

1. There’s a new kid in town.
1. They call him Immanuel.
2. He’s not a consultant, and he’s not interested in a merger when
it comes time to pay for your sin.
3. He looks at you and me and every sinner and says:
1. “What goes around comes around.
2. I know you planned on facing death, hell, and the grave when
the wrath of God falls, but you know something? You’re out.
3. Clean out your desk. This is not a negotiation! This is a
Hostile Takeover!

1. That’s why Jesus set his face toward Jerusalem—so they could slap it.
1. He aimed his feet to where the nails were waiting.
2. He reached his goal and things got hostile.
3. They crucified him.
4. The sky turned black, and it was Jesus’ turn to ask the
question:
1. “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
1. What did I do to deserve this?
5. The voice in the parable answered:
1. “Fool!”
6. But this time it was no parable.
7. This was the real voice of God the Father aimed right at Jesus!:
1. “Fool! Their souls are required of you this night.”
1. He became sin for us.
2. This is the Hostile Takeover of what we had coming.
3. The Hostile Takeover of our judgment:
4. “Not rich toward God.”
5. The notice of accusations against us that hung over our
heads was ripped from us and was now hanging over his head
on the cross.

1. “And the things you have prepared, whose will they be?”
1. And the things he had prepared,
2. the life so devoted,
3. such a bumper crop of good deeds of love, righteousness, and
innocence that he had to build bigger storehouses for it all!
4. Whose will they be?
5. Whose?!! Yours.

1. “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was
rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you by his poverty might
become rich” (2 Corinthians 8:9).

1. It was all for you.
1. With every good work and every act of love in his sinless life,
Jesus laid up many good things for you for many years.
2. Because of Jesus, You are rich in God.

5.(Yeah) At this altar, you will show what it really means to eat,
drink, and be merry!

1. At this altar, you will show what it really means to eat, drink, and
be merry!
1. You can afford anything, especially if it means good news to
those who have been slaves to the giant corporation of sin,
death, hell,
and the grave.

Conclusion

1. While you give yourselves away, announce that hostile takeover!

1. all power is given to Jesus in heaven and in earth:
1. “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them
in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy
Spirit, teaching
them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I
am with you
always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19-20).
2. New products and services: the forgiveness of sins, the
resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.
3. New Owner.
4. No worries.
5. Amen.

1. Let us pray:

D

4

Heav’nly Father, may our caring

Bear the imprint of Your grace;

With the Son and Holy Spirit,

Praise be Yours in ev’ry place! Refrain

ref

Lord, we pray that we, Your people

Who Your gifts unnumbered claim,

Through the sharing of Your blessings

May bring glory to Your name.

Text: © 2004 Gregory J. Wismar. Used by permission: LSB Hymn License no.
110000247

1. The peace of God, that transcends all understanding, guard your
hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.

1. In the Name of the Father…Amen.