The Lutheran Witness
Lutheran Witness: June/July 2024
The June/July issue of The Lutheran Witness explores the book of Acts, and how our Lord worked through the first Christian community to send forth the Gospel into all the world.
Features:
’With One and the Same Desire’: Christian community in the Book of Acts — Jeffrey A. Oschwald
‘In All the Scriptures’: Interpreting the Old Testament with Luke — Kevin Golden
Pastor Paul:
How St. Paul cared for his congregations over the long term — Phillip L. BrandtTruth, Wisdom and Gentleness: The Jerusalem Council and conflict in the Early Church — Peter Scaer
Devoted to Jesus: A reflection on Acts 2:42 — Kenneth Wieting
Departments:
Snippets: News from around the LCMS and the world
Walking Together: Congregational spotlight on Christ Lutheran Church, Pascagoula, Miss.
Worship: A History of Salvation
Searching Scripture: The Community of Marriage (1 Peter 3:1–7)
Lutheran Witness: June/July 2024
The June/July issue of The Lutheran Witness explores the book of Acts, and how our Lord worked through the first Christian community to send forth the Gospel into all the world.
From the President: The Collection: Christ’s Mercy in Action
From the Editor: The First Christian Community
Features:
‘With One and the Same Desire’: Christian community in the Book of Acts — Jeffrey A. Oschwald
‘In All the Scriptures’: Interpreting the Old Testament with Luke — Kevin Golden
Pastor Paul: How St. Paul cared for his congregations over the long term — Phillip L. Brandt
Truth, Wisdom and Gentleness: The Jerusalem Council and conflict in the Early Church — Peter Scaer
Devoted to Jesus: A reflection on Acts 2:42 — Kenneth Wieting
Departments:
Snippets: News from around the LCMS and the world
Walking Together: Congregational spotlight on Christ Lutheran Church, Pascagoula, Miss.
Worship: A History of Salvation
Searching Scripture: The Community of Marriage (1 Peter 3:1–7)
Learn More at: witness.lcms.org
Bulletin: Sunday June 30, 2024
Download/view the latest bulletin. It’s filled with our hymns, the order of service, all the readings from scripture, prayer requests for family & friends, service participants, communion statement, about our worship, the schedule of events for this coming weeks, along with announcements, news updates, happenings, and more!
View the bulletin for Sunday, June 30, 2024
Archive of AUDIO “Readings & Sermons”
Archive of VIDEO “Complete Service”
Archive of Bulletins
THIS WEEK AT ZION
Saturday June 29
No Events Scheduled
Sunday June 30
8:00 a.m. — Worship Service with Communion
9:00 a.m. - 10:15 a.m. - BBQ Distribution in Preschool Lobby
9:15 a.m. — Voter’s Meeting for Zion’s Budget & Children’s Summer Sunday School
10:30 a.m. — Worship Service with Communion
(The 8:00 a.m. service streamed on our YouTube channel)
Monday July 1
No Events Scheduled
Tuesday July 2
No Events Scheduled
Wednesday July 3
2:00 p.m. - Mid-Week Worship Service with Communion
2:30 p.m. - 30 min. Bible Study - The Book of “Hebrews”
(The 2:00 p.m. service streamed on our YouTube channel)
Thursday July 4
Happy Independence Day!
No Events Scheduled
Friday July 5
No Events Scheduled
Saturday July 6
No Events Scheduled
Sunday July 7
8:00 a.m. — Worship Service with Communion
9:15 a.m. — Adult/Teen Bible Study & Children’s Summer Sunday School
10:30 a.m. — Worship Service with Communion
6:00 p.m. - Youth Group Meeting/Youth Gathering Info Session
(The 8:00 a.m. service streamed on our YouTube channel)
Sunday 6/30 is Distribution Date for the BBQ Fundraiser
Youth Group BBQ Fundraiser Distribution
Distribution is Sunday from 9:00 through 10:15 a.m. in the preschool lobby ... if you ordered items, please pick them up during this time slot.
Email Susie at secretary@zlcb.org if you need to make other arrangements.
Youth Group BBQ Fundraiser Distribution
Distribution is Sunday from 9:00 through 10:15 a.m. in the preschool lobby ...
if you ordered items, please pick them up during this time slot.
Email Susie at secretary@zlcb.org if you need to make other arrangements.
Free Download: Lutherans Engage (magazine)
Download Lutherans Engage magazine for free
“It’s a thrilling ride when you try to go where God is leading,” says Principal John Jacob of Bethel Lutheran School in Morton, Ill. Bethel stepped out in faith to start a new Lutheran high school with only eight families and two teachers. Today, the program is flourishing. In this issue, you’ll find several such stories about Lutherans who have been presented with unusual and exciting opportunities to share the Gospel, from a new Lutheran church plant in Rome to a home for children with albinism in Tanzania to a church reaching out to its Hispanic community in Texas.
Download Lutherans Engage magazine for free
“It’s a thrilling ride when you try to go where God is leading,” says Principal John Jacob of Bethel Lutheran School in Morton, Ill. Bethel stepped out in faith to start a new Lutheran high school with only eight families and two teachers. Today, the program is flourishing. In this issue, you’ll find several such stories about Lutherans who have been presented with unusual and exciting opportunities to share the Gospel, from a new Lutheran church plant in Rome to a home for children with albinism in Tanzania to a church reaching out to its Hispanic community in Texas.
Photo Essay: Call Day - Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, Missouri & Fort Wayne, Indiana
Photo Essay:
Call Day - Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, Missouri & Fort Wayne, Indiana
Photo essay of Call Day at Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri and at Fort Wayne, Indiana.
Additional details at: LCMS.org
Photos courtesy of LCMS Communications/Erik M. Lunsford
Photo essay of Call Day at Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri and at Fort Wayne, Indiana.
Additional details at: LCMS.org
Photos courtesy of LCMS Communications/Erik M. Lunsford
VIDEO: Wednesday June 26, 2024 - Complete Service
Each service at Zion Lutheran Church (normally the first of our two services) is streamed LIVE on our YouTube channel. This includes Sunday’s, Wednesday’s, Lenten, Advent and special services. The entire service is streamed from beginning-to-end. Weddings and Funerals can also be streamed, if requested in advance.
View the Bulletin for Wednesday, June 26, 2024
Worship Service: 2:00 p.m.
Bible Study: 2:30 p.m.
All are welcome, bring a friend, neighbor or relative
Visit our YouTube channel — Click the red “subscribe” box, and then click on the “bell” next to that box to receive Live Streaming notifications. You must be logged into YouTube to activate these features.
Archive of AUDIO “Readings & Sermons”
Archive of VIDEO “Complete Service”
Archive of BULLETINS
AUDIO: Readings & Sermon for Wednesday June 26, 2024
This audio-only file includes all the readings from scripture, along with the sermon — and when available, the announcements, adult choir, men’s choir, and/or bell choir. Also posted along with the audio file is the text for all the scripture readings, and a link to the current bulletin, and our YouTube channel if you prefer to watch the LIVE Stream.
View the Bulletin for Wednesday, June 26, 2024
Worship Service: 2:00 p.m.
Bible Study: 2:30 p.m.
All are welcome, bring a friend, neighbor or relative
Visit our YouTube channel — Click the red “subscribe” box, and then click on the “bell” next to that box to receive Live Streaming notifications. You must be logged into YouTube to activate these features.
Archive of AUDIO “Readings & Sermons”
Archive of VIDEO “Complete Service”
Archive of BULLETINS
Joshua 1:1-18
After the death of Moses the servant of the LORD, the LORD said to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses' assistant, “Moses my servant is dead. Now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, into the land that I am giving to them, to the people of Israel. Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given to you, just as I promised to Moses. From the wilderness and this Lebanon as far as the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites to the Great Sea toward the going down of the sun shall be your territory. No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you. Be strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to their fathers to give them. Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go. This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”
And Joshua commanded the officers of the people, “Pass through the midst of the camp and command the people, ‘Prepare your provisions, for within three days you are to pass over this Jordan to go in to take possession of the land that the LORD your God is giving you to possess.’”
And to the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh Joshua said, “Remember the word that Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you, saying, ‘The LORD your God is providing you a place of rest and will give you this land.’ Your wives, your little ones, and your livestock shall remain in the land that Moses gave you beyond the Jordan, but all the men of valor among you shall pass over armed before your brothers and shall help them, until the LORD gives rest to your brothers as he has to you, and they also take possession of the land that the LORD your God is giving them. Then you shall return to the land of your possession and shall possess it, the land that Moses the servant of the LORD gave you beyond the Jordan toward the sunrise.”
And they answered Joshua, “All that you have commanded us we will do, and wherever you send us we will go. Just as we obeyed Moses in all things, so we will obey you. Only may the LORD your God be with you, as he was with Moses! Whoever rebels against your commandment and disobeys your words, whatever you command him, shall be put to death. Only be strong and courageous.”
Acts 8:1-25
And Saul approved of his execution.
And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. Devout men buried Stephen and made great lamentation over him. But Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison.
Now those who were scattered went about preaching the word. Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed to them the Christ. And the crowds with one accord paid attention to what was being said by Philip, when they heard him and saw the signs that he did. For unclean spirits, crying out with a loud voice, came out of many who had them, and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed. So there was much joy in that city.
But there was a man named Simon, who had previously practiced magic in the city and amazed the people of Samaria, saying that he himself was somebody great. They all paid attention to him, from the least to the greatest, saying, “This man is the power of God that is called Great.” And they paid attention to him because for a long time he had amazed them with his magic. But when they believed Philip as he preached good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. Even Simon himself believed, and after being baptized he continued with Philip. And seeing signs and great miracles performed, he was amazed.
Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent to them Peter and John, who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, for he had not yet fallen on any of them, but they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then they laid their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit. Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles' hands, he offered them money, saying, “Give me this power also, so that anyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.” But Peter said to him, “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money! You have neither part nor lot in this matter, for your heart is not right before God. Repent, therefore, of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, the intent of your heart may be forgiven you. For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity.” And Simon answered, “Pray for me to the Lord, that nothing of what you have said may come upon me.”
Now when they had testified and spoken the word of the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel to many villages of the Samaritans.
Confession
What sins should we confess?
Before God we should plead guilty of all sins, even those we are not aware of, as we do in the Lord’s Prayer; but before the pastor we should confess only those sins which we know and feel in our hearts.
Which are these?
Consider your place in life according to the Ten Commandments: Are you a father, mother, son, daughter, husband, wife, or worker? Have you been disobedient, unfaithful, or lazy? Have you been hot-tempered, rude, or quarrelsome? Have you hurt someone by your words or deeds? Have you stolen, been negligent, wasted anything, or done any harm?