LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1983, Page 364

Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

⤓ Download .txt · copy text

364

PROPOSED AGENDA

it, lowered the mat the paralyzed man was lying on. When Jesus saw their faith, he
said to the paralytic. “Son, vour sins are forgiven.” Now some teachers of the law
were sitting there, thinking to themselves, “Why does this fellow talk like that? He's
blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?” Immediately Jesus knew in his
spirit that this was what they were thinking in their hearts. and he said to them,
“Why are you thinking these things? Which is easier: to say to the paralytic, ‘Your
sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up. take your mat and walk’? But that you may
know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins...” He said to the
paralytic, “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.” He got up, took his mat
and walked out in full view of them all. This amazed everyone and they praised God,
saying, “We have never seen anything like this! (Mark 2:1-12)

The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger. abounding in love. He
will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever; he does not treat us
as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the
heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as
the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.
(Ps. 103:8-12)

On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.
But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not
come to call the righteous, but sinners.” (Matt. 9:1 2-13)

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for | am gentle and humbke in
heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is
light.” (Matt, 1 1:28-30)

Therefore. if anyone ts in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new
has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and
gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to
himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them. And he has committed
to us the message of reconciliation. (2 Cor. §:17-19)

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in
the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in
him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love
he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance
with his pleasure and will—to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has
freely given us in the One he loves. In him we have redemption through his
blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace. ...
(Eph. 1:3-7)

This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into
48

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he
has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ
from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept
in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God's power until the
coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you
greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in
all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than
gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and
may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you
have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you
betieve in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are
receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souk. (| Peter [:3-9)

Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up
in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. Be
self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring tion
looking for someone to devour. Resist him. standing firm in the faith, because
you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same
kind of sufferings. And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory
in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make
you strong, firm and steadfast. To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.
(1 Peter 5:6-11)

How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called
children of God: And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know
us is that it did not know him. Dear friends, now we are children of God, and
what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he
appears. we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. (! John 3:t-2)

7. The sick person may desire to make individual confession. in which case the
pastor will request others present to leave the room. Or the pastor leads the sick
person and others present in the following general confession.

@ Oaimighty God. merciful Father. I. a poor, miserable sinner. confess to you
all my sins and iniquities with which I have ever offended you and justly
deserved sour puntshment now and forever. But I am heartily sorry for them
and sincerely repent of them, and [ pray you of your boundless mercy and for
the sake of the holy. innocent, bitter sufferings and death of your beloved Son.
Jesus Chnist. to be gracious and merciful to me. a poor sinful being.

8. The pastor pronounces the absolution.

® Upon this your confession, I, as a called and ordained servant of the Word,
announce the grace of God to you. and in the stead and by the command of my

SO

the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God,
but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.
{}John 4:9-10)

PEACE AND HOPE

You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your
presence, with eternal pleasures at vour right hand. (Ps. 16:11)

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green
Pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth
me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Yea, though I walk through
the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod
and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence
of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely
goodness and mercy shail follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the
house of the Lord for ever. (Ps. 23)

The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? The Lord is the
stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid? (Ps. 27:1)

How priceless is your unfailing love! Both high and low among men find refuge
in the shadow of your wings. They feast on the abundance of your house; you
give them drink from your river of delights, For with you is the fountain of life:
in vour light we see light. (Ps. 36:7-9)

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. Do not
be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil. This will bring health to
your body and nourishment to your bones. (Prov. 3:5-8)

For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you
received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit
himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. Now if we are
children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we
share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

(Rom. 8:15-17)

So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to
persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he

has promised. For in just a very little while, “He who is coming will come and
will not delay. But my righteous one will live by faith.” (Heb. 10:35-38a)

49

Lord Jesus Christ I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the
+ Son and of the Holy Spirit.

+ Amen

9. The PRAYER SENTENCES (Preces) may be said.
» O Lord, save your servant,

who trusts in you
® Send your servant help from your holy sanctuary,
and strength from your holy dwelling.

P Look upon ~~" affliction and pain.

— and forgive al] ~~: sins

® O Lord, hear our prayer,

+ and let our cry come to you

10. One of the following PRAYERS is said.

» O Lord. look down from heaven: behold, visit. and relieve this your
servant, for whom we pray; look upon _"" <___ with the eyes of your mercy;
give >= _ comfort and sure confidence in you; defend __"™ "from every
danger to body and soul; and keep _"" in peace and safety; through
Jesus Christ, our Lord.

~ Amen

OR

P Father of all mercy, you never fail to help those who call on you for help.
Give strength and confidence to this, your child, in_"> ~"__ time of great need
that _~:~__ may know that you are near, and that underneath us are your
everlasting arms. Grant that, resting on your protection, __**_ may fear no

51