Making the Right Choices

by | Aug 11, 2019

Ninth Sunday after Pentecost

SERMON TEXT:  Luke 10:38-42

As they went on their way, Jesus came into a village, and a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. She had a sister named Mary, who was sitting at the Lord’s feet and was listening to his word. But Martha was distracted with all her serving. She came over and said, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her to help me.” The Lord answered and told her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, but one thing is needed. In fact, Mary has chosen that better part, which will not be taken away from her.”

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Bible Readings

FIRST LESSON:  Genesis 18:1-14

The LORD appeared to Abraham by the oaks of Mamre, as he was sitting by the door to his tent during the heat of the day. Abraham looked up, and he saw three men standing in front of him. When he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them, and he bowed down to the ground. He said, “My lord, if I have now found favor in your sight, please do not pass your servant by. Now let me get a little water so that all of you can wash your feet and rest under the tree. Let me get some bread so that you can refresh yourselves. After that you may go your way. That is why you have come to your servant.” They said, “Yes, do as you have said.” Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah and said, “Quickly prepare twenty quarts of fine flour, knead it, and make some loaves of bread.” Abraham ran to the herd, brought a good, tender calf, and gave it to the servant. He hurried to prepare it. He took cheese curds, milk, and the calf that he had prepared and set it before them. He stood beside them under the tree while they ate. They asked him, “Where is Sarah, your wife?” He said, “She is over there in the tent.” One of the men said, “I will certainly return to you when this season comes around next year. Then Sarah your wife will have a son.” Sarah was listening to this from the tent door, which was behind him. Now Abraham and Sarah were old, well into old age. Sarah was past the age for childbearing. Sarah laughed to herself, saying, “After I am worn out, will I have pleasure, since my lord is also old?” The LORD said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Will I really give birth to a child though I am old?’ Is anything impossible for the LORD? At the set time next year I will return to you, and Sarah will have a son.”

SECOND LESSON:  Colossians 1:21-29

At one time, you were alienated from God and hostile in your thinking as expressed through your evil deeds. But now Christ reconciled you in his body of flesh through death, in order to present you holy, blameless, and faultless before him— if you continue steadfast and firm in faith, without being moved away from the hope of the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a minister. Now I rejoice in my sufferings on your behalf, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ on behalf of his body, which is the church. I became a minister of the church for your benefit when God gave me the task of fully proclaiming the word of God, namely, the mystery that was hidden for past ages and generations, but now has been revealed to his saints. God wanted to make known to them what is the wealth of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles—this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. We proclaim him as we admonish and teach everyone with all wisdom, so that we might present everyone perfect in Christ. This is the goal I am laboring to reach, striving with his strength, which is powerfully at work in me.

VERSE OF THE DAY:  Isaiah 55:11

My Word will not return to me empty but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

GOSPEL: Luke 10:38-42

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