October 25, 2026
PRELUDE
Call to Worship
from Psalm 47:6–9 and Rev 1:5–6
Pastor: Sing praises to God, sing
praises!
People: Sing praises to our King,
sing praises!
Pastor: For God is the King of all
the earth; sing praises
with a psalm!
People: The Lord reigns over the
nations; our God sits on
his holy throne.
Pastor: To Him who loves us and
has freed us from our sins
by his blood and made us
a kingdom, priests to his
God and Father,
People: To Him be glory forever
and ever.
Pastor: The princes of the peoples
gather as the people of
the God of Abraham. For
the shields of the earth
belong to God; he is highly
exalted!
All: The Lord on high is
mighty! Amen.◆
PRAYER of INVOCATION
From 2 Sam 22:7-14
SONG of ADORATION “A Mighty Fortress” #465
Confession and Assurance
READING of GOD’S LAW
Hear God’s Law, His Will for Your Life, from Luke 3:9-17
John, son of Zechariah, preached to them in the desert, saying:
Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire."
And the crowds asked him, "What then shall we do?" And he answered them, "Whoever has two tunics is to share with him who has none, and whoever has food is to do likewise."
Tax collectors also came to be baptized and said to him, "Teacher, what shall we do?" And he said to them, "Collect no more than you are authorized to do." Soldiers also asked him, "And we, what shall we do?" And he said to them, "Do not extort money from anyone by threats or by false accusation, and be content with your wages."
This is the Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
PRAYER of CONFESSION
Martin Luther
Lord, I am a vessel, empty of my own righteousness.
My Lord, fill me with the righteousness of Christ.
I am weak in the faith; strengthen me.
I am cold in love; warm me and make me fervent, that my
love may go out to my neighbor.
I do not have a strong and firm faith; at times I doubt and
am unable to trust You altogether.
O Lord, help me. Strengthen my faith and trust in You.
In You I have sealed the treasure of all I have.
I am poor; You are rich, and came to be merciful to the poor.
I am a sinner; You are upright.
With me, there is an abundance of sin; in You is the fullness
of righteousness.
Therefore, I will remain in You, from whom I can receive,
but to whom I may not give. Amen.◆
ASSURANCE of PARDON “God Gives Grace” #576
SONG of RESPONSE “Come Let Us Return . . . “ #101
Life of Worship
PROFESSION of FAITH
From I Cor 15:3-5, Phil 2:6-11
We believe the Truth of the Gospel, these things being of first importance:
That Christ, though in His very essence God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures; He was buried; He was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.
Therefore God has highly exalted Him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Amen. ◆
OFFERING
DOXOLOGY #334
PRAYER of DEDICATION
CHILDREN’S CATECHISM
Q37. What is justification?
-
Justification is an act of God's free grace, wherein He pardons all our sins, and accepts us as righteous in His sight, only for the righteousness of Christ imputed to us, and received by faith alone.
PRAYER of INTERCESSION
Ministry of the Word
SONG “O God, Our Help in Ages Past” #561
PRAYER of ILLUMINATION
SCRIPTURE READING Ephesians 2:1-10
SERMON “Braaaaaaaaains” Pastor Zach
SONG of DEPARTURE “By Faith” #157
BENEDICTION
POSTLUDE
