When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And he began to teach them many things. (Mark 6:34)
SCRIPTURE READINGS
HYMNS FOR THE WEEK
- Opening Hymn “Praise the Almighty” (LSB 797) Text here.
- Hymn of the Day “The Church’s One Foundation” (LSB 644) Text here.
- Distribution Hymns
- Closing Hymn “The King of Love My Shepherd Is” (LSB 709) Text under “more” in video.
ninth sunday after pentecost
Sermon
The sermon will be based on the text from Jeremiah 23:1-6 & Mark 6:30-44, please read the note from Pastor Woodhouse regarding his sermon below:
Greetings, Saints of St. James!
It is wonderful to be with you, and to be beginning my service as your pastor! I look forward to meeting each of you, getting to know you, and learning how best I can care for you as we grow in faith and eagerly await Christ’s return and the new life that awaits us.
As I prepare to preach for the first time from this pulpit, I am reminded of the advice given by C.F.W. Walther in his Pastoral Theology for the inaugural sermon:
The inaugural sermon must chiefly communicate two things to the congregation: (1) what they should expect from their elected [preacher] and (2) what he expects from them – all of this without flattery and profane striving after favor, in Christian earnestness and holy truthfulness, but in evangelical, engaging friendliness and sincere, undisguised humility.
With that advice in mind, it seems especially appropriate that my first sermon at St. James will be on the Old Testament and Gospel readings for this week of the church year. From Jeremiah 23, we receive God’s warning that a great many false shepherds surround us in this world, eager to mislead us and separate us from God’s love and the salvation He has won for us. But it ends with a promise that God will send us a shepherd who will finally and faithfully love us so that we will never again be led astray into danger.
And the Gospel reading from Mark 6 helps to illustrate the fact that in Jesus Christ, that Good Shepherd has finally arrived to feed, protect and lead the people of God. But if we read especially carefully, we also recognize that there is a place in God’s plan for “undershepherds” who can serve as the means by which God’s love and blessings are proclaimed and distributed. Your pastor is appointed to be just such an undershepherd.
As I begin my service to the flock at St. James, I pray that I can faithfully represent God’s innumerable blessings and grace for each of you, and that you in turn will recognize that my task is always to point your attention to your true, Good Shepherd: Jesus Christ Himself.
God’s blessings on each of you this week!
Your servant in Christ,
Pr. Woodhouse