November 16, 2025

THE SERVICE

TWENTY-SECOND SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST—JUDGMENT/PEACE

If you were making a list of things that might make society more peaceful, would you include “more judgment”? Likely not. Many people assume that judgement leads to conflict, not peace. However, a lack of judgment is a luxury many cannot afford. Our world is full of victims of abuse, violence, and oppression. In many cases this evil goes unnoticed and unpunished. A future without the hope of judgment means no peace. If there is no hope of judgment, victims would be driven either into total despair or to be consumed by the desire for revenge. A future that includes judgment, however, gives those who are wronged the peace of knowing that one day there will be perfect justice.

When we are horribly wronged, what are our options? Taking matters into our own hands? Despair? Jesus provides a better option. Trust that he will keep his promise to return, bringing judgment. The effect of that promise? We have peace, knowing that every wrong will eventually be righted by the one righteous Judge.

OPENING HYMN 897 Lord Jesus, You Have Come

1 Lord Jesus, you have come
    a teacher sent from heaven
and by both word and deed
    God’s truth to us have given.
You wisely have ordained
    the holy ministry
that we, your flock, may know
    the truth that sets us free.

2 O blessèd ministry
    of reconciliation,
that shows the way to God
    and brings to us salvation!
Lord, by your gospel pure
    you bless and keep your fold,
you call, enlighten, keep,
    you comfort and uphold.

3        Preserve this ministry
    while harvest days are keeping;
and since the fields are ripe
    and hands are few for reaping,
send workers forth, O Lord,
    the sheaves to gather in
that not a soul be lost
    which you have come to win.

4       The servants you have called
    and to your Church are giving
preserve in doctrine pure
    and holiness of living.
Your Spirit fill their hearts
    and charge their words with pow’r;
what they should boldly speak,
    O give them in that hour!

5       Bring those into your fold
    who still to you are strangers;
guard those who are within
    against offense and dangers.
Press onward with your Word
    till pastor and his fold
through faith in you, O Christ,
    your glory shall behold.

Text: Eberhard L. Fischer, 1695–1773, abr.; tr. composite
Text: Public domain

Please Stand

INVOCATION 154 Setting One

In the name of the Father and of the T Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.

CONFESSION

If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.
If we confess our sins, God is faithful and just
and will forgive us our sins
and purify us from all unrighteousness.

Let us confess our sins to the Lord.
Holy God, gracious Father,
    I am sinful by nature
        and have sinned against you in my thoughts, words, and actions.
    I have not loved you with my whole heart;
    I have not loved others as I should.
        I deserve your punishment both now and forever.
    But Jesus, my Savior, paid for my sins
        with his innocent suffering and death.
    Trusting in him, I pray: God, have mercy on me, a sinner.

Silence for meditation and reflection

ABSOLUTION 154

Our gracious Father in heaven has been merciful to us. He sent his only Son, Jesus Christ, who gave his life as the atoning sacrifice for the sins of the whole world. Therefore, as a called servant of Christ and by his authority, I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the T Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.

KYRIE 174 Lord, Have Mercy

In peace let us pray to the Lord.
♫ Lord, have mercy.

For the peace from above and for our salvation, let us pray to the Lord.
♫ Lord, have mercy.

For the peace of the whole world, for the well-being of the Church of God, and for the unity of all, let us pray to the Lord.
♫ Lord, have mercy.

For this holy house and for all who offer here their worship and praise, let us pray to the Lord.
♫ Lord, have mercy.

Help, save, comfort, and defend us, gracious Lord.
♫ Amen.

GLORIA IN EXCELSIS 176 Glory to God in the Highest

♫ Refrain Glory to God in the highest, and peace to his people on earth.

Lord God, heavenly King, almighty God and Father,
we worship you, we give you thanks, we praise you for your glory. Refrain

Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father, Lord God, Lamb of God,
you take away the sin of the world; have mercy on us.
You are seated at the right hand of the Father; receive our prayer. Refrain

For you alone are the Holy One, you alone are the Lord,
you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ,
with the Holy Spirit in the glory of God the Father. Amen. Amen. Refrain

THE WORD

The Lord be with you.
And also with you.

PRAYER OF THE DAY

Let us pray.

Lord God Almighty, so rule and govern our hearts and minds by your Holy Spirit that we may always look forward to the end of this present evil age and the day of your righteous judgment. Keep us steadfast in true and living faith, and present us at last holy and blameless before you; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Amen.

Be seated

FIRST READING Malachi 4:1-6

On the day of judgment, those who do evil will be laid low. But that day will mean rescue for those who revere the name of the LORD.

1“Surely the day is coming; it will burn like a furnace. All the arrogant and every evildoer will be stubble, and the day that is coming will set them on fire,” says the Lord Almighty. “Not a root or a branch will be left to them. 2But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its rays. And you will go out and frolic like well-fed calves. 3Then you will trample on the wicked; they will be ashes under the soles of your feet on the day when I act,” says the Lord Almighty.

4“Remember the law of my servant Moses, the decrees and laws I gave him at Horeb for all Israel.

5“See, I will send the prophet Elijah to you before that great and dreadful day of the Lord comes. 6He will turn the hearts of the parents to their children, and the hearts of the children to their parents; or else I will come and strike the land with total destruction.”

The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

SECOND READING 2 Thessalonians 1:5–10

The Thessalonian Christians were suffering a persecution. To empower their perseverance, Paul assures them of the coming judgment and punishment.

5All this is evidence that God’s judgment is right, and as a result you will be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are suffering. 6God is just: He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you 7and give relief to you who are troubled, and to us as well. This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels. 8He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. 9They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might 10on the day he comes to be glorified in his holy people and to be marveled at among all those who have believed. This includes you, because you believed our testimony to you.

The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

Please Stand

GOSPEL (in English and Karen) Luke 21:5–19

Jesus instructs us, when persecuted, to not seek vengeance. Instead, we are to stand firm and persevere, confident in the justice of coming judgment.

5Some of his disciples were remarking about how the temple was adorned with beautiful stones and with gifts dedicated to God. But Jesus said, 6“As for what you see here, the time will come when not one stone will be left on another; every one of them will be thrown down.”

7“Teacher,” they asked, “when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are about to take place?”

8He replied: “Watch out that you are not deceived. For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am he,’ and, ‘The time is near.’ Do not follow them. 9When you hear of wars and uprisings, do not be frightened. These things must happen first, but the end will not come right away.”

10Then he said to them: “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. 11There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven.

12“But before all this, they will seize you and persecute you. They will hand you over to synagogues and put you in prison, and you will be brought before kings and governors, and all on account of my name. 13And so you will bear testimony to me. 14But make up your mind not to worry beforehand how you will defend yourselves. 15For I will give you words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict. 16You will be betrayed even by parents, brothers and sisters, relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death. 17Everyone will hate you because of me. 18But not a hair of your head will perish. 19Stand firm, and you will win life.

The Gospel of the Lord.
Praise be to you, O Christ!

Be seated

CHILDREN'S MESSAGE

HYMN OF THE DAY 488 The Day Is Surely Drawing Near

1 The day is surely drawing near
    when Jesus, God’s anointed,
shall with great majesty appear
    as judge of all appointed.
All mirth and laughter then shall cease
when flames on flames will still increase,
    as Scripture truly teaches.

2 A trumpet loud shall then resound
    and all the earth be shaken.
Then all who in their graves are found
    shall from their sleep awaken
and with the living in that hour,
by God’s almighty, boundless pow’r,
    be changed at his commanding.

3 A book is opened then to all,
    a record truly telling
what each has done, both great and small,
    when they on earth were dwelling,
and ev’ry heart be clearly seen,
and all be known as they have been
    in thoughts and words and actions.

4       Then woe to those who scorned the Lord
    and sought but carnal pleasures,
who here despised his precious Word
    and loved their earthly treasures!
With shame and trembling they will stand
and at the judge’s stern command
    to Satan be delivered.

5       My Savior paid the debt I owe
    and for my sin was smitten;
within the Book of Life I know
    my name has now been written.
I will not doubt, for I am free,
and Satan cannot threaten me;
    there is no condemnation!

6 O Jesus Christ, do not delay,
    but hasten our salvation;
we often tremble on our way
    in fear and tribulation.
Your saints are waiting patiently;
come soon, Redeemer, make us free
    from ev’ry evil. Amen.

Text: Bartholomäus Ringwaldt, 1532–1599, abr.; tr. Philip A. Peter, 1832–1919, alt.
Text: Public domain

SERMON Philippians 3:17—4:1

17Join together in following my example, brothers and sisters, and just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do. 18For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things. 20But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.

1Therefore, my brothers and sisters, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, dear friends!

Please Stand

CONFESSION OF FAITH Nicene Creed 325 & 381 AD

We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one being with the Father. Through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation, he came down from heaven, was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, and became truly human. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate. He suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who in unity with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets. We believe in one holy Christian and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen.

Be seated

PRAYER OF THE CHURCH

Lord Jesus Christ, judge of all the earth, we marvel at your glory and might and eagerly await your second coming.