9 March 2025
First Sunday in Lent
Ringing of the Bell
– The bell rings as the call to worship, reminding us to discontinue conversation and reverently prepare for worship.
Prelude
Welcome and Announcements
Lutheran Service Book Divine Service Setting Three
Stand
657 A Mighty Fortress Is Our God LSB 657 sts. 1–4
1
A
mighty fortress is our God,
A sword and
shield
victorious;
He
breaks the cruel oppressor’s
rod
And
wins salvation glorious.
The
old satanic foe
Has
sworn to work us woe.
With
craft and dreadful might
He
arms himself to fight.
On
earth he has no equal.
2
No
strength of ours can match his might.
We would be
lost,
rejected.
But
now a champion comes to fight,
Whom God
Himself
elected.
You
ask who this may be?
The
Lord of hosts is He,
Christ
Jesus, mighty Lord,
God’s
only Son, adored.
He
holds the field victorious.
3
Though
hordes of devils fill the land
All threat’ning
to
devour us,
We
tremble not, unmoved we stand;
They cannot
overpow’r
us.
Let
this world’s
tyrant rage;
In
battle we’ll
engage.
His
might is doomed to fail;
God’s
judgment must
prevail!
One
little word subdues him.
4
God’s
Word forever shall abide,
No thanks
to foes, who
fear it;
For
God Himself fights by our side
With
weapons of the
Spirit.
Were
they to take our house,
Goods,
honor, child, or spouse,
Though life
be wrenched
away,
They
cannot win the day.
The
Kingdom’s
ours forever!
Text:
tr. Lutheran Book of Worship, 1978; Martin Luther,
1483–1546
Text:
© 1978
Lutheran
Book of Worship. Used by permission: LSB Hymn
License no. 110004199
CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION
The sign of the cross may be made by all in remembrance of their Baptism.
Invocation
P In the name of the Father and of the T Son and of the Holy Spirit.
C Amen.
Exhortation LSB 184
P Beloved in the Lord! Let us draw near with a true heart and confess our sins unto God our Father, beseeching Him in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to grant us forgiveness.
P Our help is in the name of the Lord,
C who made heaven and earth.
P I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord,
C and You forgave the iniquity of my sin.
Silence for reflection on God’s Word and for self-examination.
Confession of Sins LSB 184
P O almighty God, merciful Father,
C I, a poor, miserable sinner, confess unto You all my sins and iniquities with which I have ever offended You and justly deserved Your temporal and eternal punishment. But I am heartily sorry for them and sincerely repent of them, and I pray You of Your boundless mercy and for the sake of the holy, innocent, bitter sufferings and death of Your beloved Son, Jesus Christ, to be gracious and merciful to me, a poor, sinful being.
Absolution LSB 185
P Upon this your confession, I, by virtue of my office, as a called and ordained servant of the Word, announce the grace of God unto all of you, and in the stead and by the command of my Lord Jesus Christ I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the T Son and of the Holy Spirit.
C Amen.
Kyrie
C Lord, have mercy upon us.
Christ, have mercy upon us.
Lord, have mercy upon us.
SERVICE OF THE WORD
Salutation and Collect of the Day
P The Lord be with you.
C And with thy spirit.
P Let us pray.
O Lord God, You led Your ancient people through the wilderness and brought them to the promised land. Guide the people of Your Church that following our Savior we may walk through the wilderness of this world toward the glory of the world to come; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
C Amen.
Sit
Psalm Psalm 91:1–13
He
who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will
abide in the shadow of the Almighty.
I
will say to the Lord,
“My
refuge and my fortress,
my
God, in whom I trust.”
For
he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler
and
from the deadly pestilence.
He
will cover you with his pinions,
and
under his wings you will find refuge;
his
faithfulness is a shield and buckler.
You
will not fear the terror of the night,
nor
the arrow that flies by day,
nor
the pestilence that stalks in darkness,
nor
the destruction that wastes at noonday.
A
thousand may fall at your side,
ten
thousand at your right hand,
but
it will not come near you.
You
will only look with your eyes
and
see the recompense of the wicked.
Because
you have made the Lord
your dwelling place—
the
Most High, who is my refuge—
no evil shall be allowed to
befall you,
no
plague come near your tent.
For
he will command his angels concerning you
to
guard you in all your ways.
On
their hands they will bear you up,
lest
you strike your foot against a stone.
You
will tread on the lion and the adder;
the
young lion and the serpent you will trample
underfoot.
Old Testament Reading Deuteronomy 26:1–11
“When you come into the land that the Lord your God is giving you for an inheritance and have taken possession of it and live in it, you shall take some of the first of all the fruit of the ground, which you harvest from your land that the Lord your God is giving you, and you shall put it in a basket, and you shall go to the place that the Lord your God will choose, to make his name to dwell there. And you shall go to the priest who is in office at that time and say to him, ‘I declare today to the Lord your God that I have come into the land that the Lord swore to our fathers to give us.’ Then the priest shall take the basket from your hand and set it down before the altar of the Lord your God.
“And you shall make response before the Lord your God, ‘A wandering Aramean was my father. And he went down into Egypt and sojourned there, few in number, and there he became a nation, great, mighty, and populous. And the Egyptians treated us harshly and humiliated us and laid on us hard labor. Then we cried to the Lord, the God of our fathers, and the Lord heard our voice and saw our affliction, our toil, and our oppression. And the Lord brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, with great deeds of terror, with signs and wonders. And he brought us into this place and gave us this land, a land flowing with milk and honey. And behold, now I bring the first of the fruit of the ground, which you, O Lord, have given me.’ And you shall set it down before the Lord your God and worship before the Lord your God. And you shall rejoice in all the good that the Lord your God has given to you and to your house, you, and the Levite, and the sojourner who is among you.”
A This is the Word of the Lord.
C Thanks be to God.
Epistle Romans 10:8b–13
“The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
A This is the Word of the Lord.
C Thanks be to God.
Stand
Verse LSB 157
C Return to the Lord, your God, for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love, and abounding in steadfast love.
Holy Gospel Luke 4:1–13
P The Holy Gospel according to St. Luke, the fourth chapter.
C Glory be to Thee, O Lord.
Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness for forty days, being tempted by the devil. And he ate nothing during those days. And when they were ended, he was hungry. The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.” And Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone.’” And the devil took him up and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time, and said to him, “To you I will give all this authority and their glory, for it has been delivered to me, and I give it to whom I will. If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours.” And Jesus answered him, “It is written,
“‘You
shall worship the Lord your God,
and
him only shall you serve.’”
And he took him to Jerusalem and set him on the pinnacle of the temple and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, for it is written,
“‘He
will command his angels concerning you,
to
guard you,’
and
“‘On
their hands they will bear you up,
lest
you strike your foot against a stone.’”
And Jesus answered him, “It is said, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’” And when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from him until an opportune time.
P This is the Gospel of the Lord.
C Praise be to Thee, O Christ.
Sit
424 O Christ, You Walked the Road LSB 424
1
O
Christ, You walked the road
Our wand’ring
feet
must go.
You
faced with us temptation’s
pow’r
And fought
our
ancient foe.
2
No
bread of earth alone
Can
fill our hung’ring
hearts.
Lord,
help us seek Your living Word,
The food
Your grace
imparts.
3
No
blinding sign we ask,
No
wonder from above.
Lord,
help us place our trust alone
In Your
unswerving
love.
4
When
lures of easy gain
With
promise brightly shine,
Lord,
help us seek Your kingdom first;
Our wills
with Yours
align.
5
O
Christ, You walked the road
Our wand’ring
feet
must go.
Stay
with us through temptation’s
hour
To
fight our ancient foe.
Text:
Herman G. Stuempfle, Jr., 1923–2007
Text:
© 1997
GIA
Publications, Inc. Used by permission: LSB Hymn
License no. 110004199
Sermon - Pastor Eric Ash
Lent 1 C March 9, 2025 Luke 23:43
Today You Will be With Me in Paradise
Wednesday night, Ash Wednesday, we began a series of sermons based on Jesus’ Seven Last Words from the cross. That evening we considered Jesus’ statement, “Father forgive them, they do not know what they do.” We said that when Jesus died on the cross all of our sins were forgiven: sins known and unknown; bad things we did and good things we didn’t do; sins past, present, and future. By grace through faith, we are pardoned.
Today we will look at Luke 23:43, Jesus’s statement, “Today you will be with me in Paradise.” This is what Jesus said to one of the two thieves crucified on either side of him. Jesus’ enemies were mocking him as he hung on the cross. Even the thief on his left mocked him. But the thief on his right, called Dysmas… although he’s not named in the Bible, we call him Dysmas, which means thief in Greek… the penitent good thief defends Jesus and says to him, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom. “To which Jesus replied, “Today you will be with me in Paradise.”
What is paradise? Many of our church members have gardens. Gardens can be a pleasant place to relax, especially as an escape from summer heat, and maybe a good place to enjoy a refreshing beverage. The ancient kings of Persia would build a courtyard in the middle of their palaces. Kind of like our gardens, there would be shade trees to shield them from the scorching sun and beautiful flowers to delight the eyes. This place of relaxation and refreshment was called a paradise.
In our gospel reading today, the desert wilderness where Satan tempted Jesus was pretty far from a paradise. Although he was famished and suffering in ways we cannot even imagine, Jesus did not sin. He did not give in to Satan’s taunts and temptations. I was talking to one of our members about Melanie and me moving to Las Vegas and I called it Sin City. This person said something very wise to me. He said, “It’s not Sin City, it’s Temptation City. Temptation is always there. It’s up to the individual whether he sins.” That’s absolutely true and profound.
The place of Jesus’ and the thieves’ crucifixion was just about the opposite of a paradise. Crucifixion was physical torture. In Jesus case, it was also abandonment by his friends, which must have caused him emotional agony. Jesus was even abandoned there by God his Father, as we’ll examine when we look at his cry, “My God, my God why have you forsaken me?” There was no relaxation, no refreshment, no relief for Jesus on the cross. Maybe that’s why out of all the names and images Jesus could have used for Heaven, the one he uses in speaking to the good thief was paradise.
Jesus had described Heaven before as being like an everlasting wedding banquet, a great feast. The Revelation speaks of Heaven as an eternal service of worship, all of us offering our joyful praise to the Lamb of God. But here, Jesus speaks of a place of gentle cooling breezes and sweet aromas, a place as comfortable as a hammock in your own backyard on a lazy summer Sunday afternoon. That’s Heaven. That’s the paradise we long for. It’s The garden of Eden before The Fall.
Jesus’ statement to Dysmas raises the question, what does it mean that, “Today you will be with me in Paradise”? The question is often asked, when we die are we with Christ in Heaven, or do we “sleep” in the grave until the day of Jesus’ return to earth, the Great Resurrection? There is a scriptural answer to that question. Of course, there is much about death and the afterlife that we don’t know. The Bible only tells us what we need to know. Concepts like eternity are hard for us humans to wrap our mind around.
Near death experiences are fascinating, but we do not base our faith on human experiences they can be faulty. Christ alone has truly died and truly risen. He alone has credibility when it comes to teaching about the afterlife for believers, and the Holy Spirit, the Sprit that proceeds from Christ, has spoken to us through the Apostle Paul and others in the Bible about the life beyond this world.
Death for the Christian is separation of our bodies and our spirits, that immaterial part of us that relates to God. When we die, our spirits are immediately in God’s presence and it is a good, pleasant to be – it’s paradise. At Christ’s Second Advent, when there is a New Heaven and New Earth, our bodies will be resurrected as new immortal bodies and reunited with our spirits to be like Jesus’ resurrected body. Given that all we know is this world, life beyond this world is hard for us to grasp. But we can be certain that we will be eternally safe, secure and supremely happy in Jesus’ care. Knowing that, we can bear some uncertainties regarding the mysteries of life and death until we experience the afterlife for ourselves by God’s grace.
“Today you will be with me in Paradise,” raises another question about salvation: How can a no-good, dirty, rotten thief get into Paradise on the basis of a last-minute conversion? Are these deathbed “come to Jesus moments” valid? Several years ago, at a Bible study, a gentleman was livid at the thought of a lifelong sinner getting a “get out of jail free card” from Jesus at the last possible moment. The man in the Bible study had been a committed Christian all his life. He taught Sunday School for many years and he gave generously to support the mission of the church. The idea that a criminal who had never done any of those things – who maybe never did a good deed in his life – would go to Heaven just like him by repenting right before he died was ludicrous to him.
What might have been behind the man feeling that way? Perhaps he was secretly jealous of those who break the rules and get away with it. He probably thought sinning was more fun than following Jesus, and he regretted not gratifying his desires more. Of course, we know that we are justified by grace through faith. We know that we do not earn our salvation with good works. We know that in God’s eyes there is no difference between big sinners and little sinners, we’re all just sinners saved by Christ’s sacrifice.
The Old Adam inside us thinks we want a system where people get what they deserve because we think we deserve more than the next guy. If we really got what we deserved, we’d be in big trouble. It would be Hell, literally. Thanks be to God that he treats us with tender mercy, not uncompassionate justice.
Some people might question if Dysmas’ penitence was sincere. How can we ever be sure that anyone is sincere in what they say? It seems to me that as a dying man he had little to win and nothing left to lose. Why not be honest then? Flattering Jesus wasn’t going to save his life. Perhaps only a person in such a desperate state, a person with no where else to turn, can recognize Jesus for who he is and turn towards him.
The Jewish authorities, Pilate, the mocking crowd could not see who Jesus was because they trusted in themselves. But suspended between Heaven and Earth, the good thief saw something kingly, something divine in Jesus’ innocent suffering and death. He expressed confident faith in saying not, “Jesus remember me if you come into your kingdom.” Rather he said, “Jesus remember me when you come into your kingdom.” For him Christ’s reign was a certainty not just a possibility. Would we all believe so.
Based on that confession of faith, Jesus assured a convicted, condemned criminal that even he will find a place in God’s Garden. Perhaps from the cross Jesus could offer assurance of salvation to a more easily recognizable saint or more notable disciple. But instead, God ordained that he would give that promise of salvation to a miserable sinner so that we, miserable sinners that we are, can know the promise is for us, too. Christ died for sinners. Jesus said sinners will receive. Our pardon is instantaneous when we hear Jesus speak it – and Jesus is speaking that word of forgiveness to you today.
So, now we have heard how in his first word from the cross, “Father forgive them, they do not know what they do,” Jesus prayed an intercessory prayer for his enemies and also for us. In the second word from the cross, “Today you will be with me in Paradise,” Jesus answered the prayer of an individual sinner, and also the prayer of every penitent person throughout history. In that we find hope that every child of earth, every wayfaring stranger, every lost soul might come to faith – if even in the hour of death – and find a welcomed rest in Paradise forever. And may the peace of God that passes all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.
Votum
P The peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
C Amen.
Stand
Nicene Creed
C I believe in one God,
the Father Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth
and of all things visible and invisible.
And in one Lord Jesus Christ,
the only-begotten Son of God,
begotten of His Father before all worlds,
God of God, Light of Light,
very God of very God,
begotten, not made,
being of one substance with the Father,
by whom all things were made;
who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven
and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary
and was made man;
and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate.
He suffered and was buried.
And the third day He rose again according to the Scriptures
and ascended into heaven
and sits at the right hand of the Father.
And He will come again with glory to judge both the living and the dead,
whose kingdom will have no end.
And I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the Lord and giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son,
who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified,
who spoke by the prophets.
And I believe in one holy Christian and apostolic Church,
I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins,
and I look for the resurrection of the dead
and the life T of the world to come. Amen.
Prayers
In peace, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For deliverance, that the Lord Most High would be our dwelling place and refuge against every evil and plague, and that by the work of the Holy Spirit we may be satisfied with His salvation, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For missionaries, that the God of all nations would protect and provide for them as they proclaim the Word of faith and bring it near to all who will hear, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For the governing authorities, that God would protect them from every temptation of the devil, who falsely claims sovereignty over them, and equip them to curb what is evil and promote what is good, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For those in need of healing and restoration, [especially _____________,] that God would answer their prayers, be with them in trouble and rescue them according to His gracious will, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
Lord God, heavenly Father, see how the adversary continually afflicts us and walks about as a roaring lion seeking to devour us. We implore You for the sake of the suffering and death of Your Son, Jesus Christ, to help us by the grace of the Holy Spirit and strengthen our hearts by Your Word, that our enemy would not prevail over us, but instead that we may abide evermore in Your grace and be preserved to life everlasting; through the same Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Pax Domini LSB 197
P The peace of the Lord be with you always.
C Amen.
Sit
Offertory Invitation
The Psalmist wrote, "Ascribe to the Lord the honor due his Name; bring offerings and come into this courts." Therefore, we now make our offerings to God.
The Organist plays as the offerings are collected
Stand
Offertory LSB 192
C Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.
Cast me not away from Thy presence, and take not Thy Holy Spirit from me.
Restore unto me the joy of Thy salvation, and uphold me with Thy free spirit. Amen.
Offertory Prayer
Holy God, accept and bless these gifts which you have given us to honor your name. In this Eucharist, take away our sins and prepare us for the celebration of the Death and Resurrection of your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
SERVICE OF THE SACRAMENT
Preface LSB 194
P The Lord be with you.
C And with thy spirit.
P Lift up your hearts.
C We lift them up unto the Lord.
P Let us give thanks unto the Lord, our God.
C It is meet and right so to do.
Proper Preface
P It is indeed right and salutary that we should at all times and in all places offer thanks and praise to you, O Lord, holy Father, through Christ our Lord. You bid your people cleanse their hearts and prepare with joy for the paschal feast. Renew our zeal in faith and life, and bring us to the fullness of grace that belongs to the children of God. And so with the Church on earth and the hosts of heaven, we praise your name and join their unending hymn:
Sanctus LSB 195
C Holy, holy, holy Lord God of Sabaoth;
heav’n and earth are full of Thy glory.
Hosanna, hosanna, hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is He, blessed is He, blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna, hosanna, hosanna in the highest.
The Words of Our Lord
P On the night, in which he was betrayed, our Lord Jesus took bread, gave thanks, broke it, and gave it to his disciples saying, take, eat; this is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me. In the same also, after supper, he took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them saying, this cup is the New Testament in my blood, shed for you and for many, for the forgiveness of sins. Do this as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.
Lord's Prayer Invitation
Lord, remember us in your kingdom and teach us to pray. . .
Lord’s Prayer
Our Father who art in heaven,
hallowed be Thy name,
Thy kingdom come,
Thy will be done on earth
as it is in heaven;
give us this day our daily bread;
and forgive us our trespasses
as we forgive those
who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For Thine is the kingdom
and the power and the glory
forever and ever. Amen.
Fraction
P This is the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. Happy are they who are called to His feast.
C O Lord, I am not worthy to receive you, but only say the word and I will be healed. Amen.
Agnus Dei
C O Christ, Thou Lamb of God, that takest away the sin of the world, have mercy upon us.
O Christ, Thou Lamb of God, that takest away the sin of the world, have mercy upon us.
O Christ, Thou Lamb of God, that takest away the sin of the world, grant us Thy peace. Amen.
Sit
Distribution
The pastor and those who assist him receive the body and blood of Christ first and then distribute them to those who come to receive, saying:
Take, eat; this is the true body of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, given into death for your sins.
Amen.
Take, drink; this is the true blood of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, shed for the forgiveness of your sins.
Amen.
Stand
In dismissing the communicants, the following is said:
The Dismissal LSB 199
P The body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ strengthen and preserve you in body and soul to life everlasting. Depart T in peace.
C Amen.
Nunc Dimittis LSB 199
C Lord, now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace according to Thy word,
for mine eyes have seen Thy salvation, which Thou hast prepared before the face of all people,
a light to lighten the Gentiles and the glory of Thy people Israel.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Thanksgiving 200
A O give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good,
C and His mercy endureth forever.
Salutation LSB 201
P The Lord be with you.
C And with thy spirit.
Post-Communion Prayer
P Almighty God, you gave your Son both as a sacrifice for sin and a model of the godly life. Enable us to receive him always with thanksgiving and to conform our lives to his; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord.
C Amen
Benediction LSB 202
P The Lord bless you and keep you.
The Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious unto you.
The Lord lift up His countenance upon you and T give you peace.
C Amen, amen, amen.
418 O Lord, throughout These Forty Days LSB 418
1
O
Lord, throughout these forty days
You prayed
and kept
the fast;
Inspire
repentance for our sin,
And
free us from our past.
2
You
strove with Satan, and You won;
Your
faithfulness
endured;
Lend
us Your nerve, Your skill and trust
In God’s
eternal Word.
3
Though
parched and hungry, yet You prayed
And fixed
Your mind
above;
So
teach us to deny ourselves,
Since we
have known
God’s
love.
4
Be
with us through this season, Lord,
And all our
earthly
days,
That
when the final Easter dawns,
We join in
heaven’s
praise.
Text:
based on Claudia F. Hernaman, 1838–98;
para. Gilbert E. Doan, 1930–2024
Text:
© 1978
Lutheran
Book of Worship. Used by permission: LSB Hymn
License no. 110004199
CLOSING RESPONSE
P Go in Peace! Serve the Lord!
C Praise be to God!
Acknowledgments
Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Created by Lutheran Service Builder © 2025 Concordia Publishing House.