Preparing for Worship – 8th Sunday after Trinity – 8/2/2020

This week, we welcome Rev. Andrew Kneeland, a recent graduate of the Free Lutheran Seminary. Pastor Andrew has taken a call as Adjunct Pastor at Gloria Deo Lutheran Church in St. Louis, MO, where he will also attend Concordia Seminary in pursuit of a PhD. in Historical Theology. Pr. Andrew will be preaching about the battle of the LORD against Goliath, which is not a part of our normal lectionary texts. If you would like to read the assigned texts for the week, you will find them below, in the explanation of the week.

Explanation of the Week

“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves” (Matt 7:15-23). Deceit has its strength in masquerading as the truth. False prophets speak a vision of their own heart, not from the mouth of the Lord (Jer 23:16-29) They deny the judgment of the Lord, speaking peace to the unrepentant, when in truth there is condemnation and wrath. “You will know them by their fruits.” The “fruits” of a true prophet are not outward righteousness or success but faithfulness in proclaiming the Word of the Lord. This is the will of the Father in heaven, that pastors take heed to the flock, the Father’s adopted ones (Rom 8:12-17), warning them against the wolves and their lies, and shepherding the church of God which He purchased with His own blood (Acts 20:27-38). For indeed, the cross is that good tree bearing good fruit, namely the body and blood of Christ, given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins.