08/30/2026
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FOURTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST—PROPER 17
Formed to Follow
August 30, 2026
AS WE GATHER
One of the areas of traditional historical study that has changed greatly in recent years is cartography, the science of mapmaking and map reading. Fewer people these days depend on the once-common foldout paper maps that were in use everywhere years ago. Directions to desired destinations are now often supplied by satellite imagery. Whatever technology is used, it is still important to be able to follow the instructions given with the map for it to be used successfully. Following is vital! On several occasions, Jesus says to those who would be His disciples very simply and straightforwardly, “Follow Me” (Matthew 4:19; Luke 9:59). Those who followed Him found renewal and blessing. As we follow His leading through our worship, we are renewed and blessed.
+ PREPARATION +
OPENING HYMN “‘Come, Follow Me,’ the Savior Spake” LSB #688
INVOCATION (Remembering our baptism we begin)
P: In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit.
C: Amen.
CONFESSION and ABSOLUTION
P: It is good and right that we should make confession of our sins. The section on Confession in Luther’s Small Catechism informs and directs us with these words, which summarize it well.
C: “Confession has two parts. First, that we confess our sins, and second, that we receive absolution, that is, forgiveness, from the pastor as from God Himself, not doubting, but firmly believing that by it our sins are forgiven before God in heaven.”
P: If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
C: But if we confess our sins, God, who is faithful and just, will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
P: Humble yourselves then before God, confess your sins to Him, and implore His forgiveness.
C: Most merciful God, we confess that we are by nature sinful and unclean. We have sinned against You in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done and by what we have left undone. We have not loved You with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We justly deserve Your present and eternal punishment. For the sake of Your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us. Forgive us, renew us, and lead us, so that we may delight in Your will and walk in Your ways to the glory of Your holy name. Amen.
P: God be gracious to you and strengthen your faith.
C: Amen.
P: As you believe, so let it be. As a called and ordained servant of Christ and by His authority, I therefore forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
C: Amen.
+ WORD +
INTROIT Psalm 37:5–7; antiphon: v. 4
P: Delight yourself in the LORD,
C: and He will give you the desires of your heart.
P: Commit your way to the LORD;
C: trust in Him, and He will act.
P: He will bring forth your righteousness as the light,
C: and your justice as the noonday.
P: Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for Him;
C: fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way,
P: over the man who carries out evil devices!
All: Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.
P: Delight yourself in the LORD,
C: and He will give you the desires of your heart.
KYRIE
P: In peace let us pray to the Lord.
C: Lord, have mercy.
P: For the peace from above and for our salvation let us pray to the Lord.
C: Lord, have mercy.
P: For the peace of the whole world, for the well-being of the Church of God, and for the unity of all let us pray to the Lord.
C: Lord, have mercy.
P: For this holy house and for all who offer here their worship and praise let us pray to the Lord.
C: Lord, have mercy.
P: Help, save, comfort, and defend us, gracious Lord.
C: Amen.
SALUTATION
P: The Lord be with you.
C: And also with you.
PRAYER OF THE DAY
P: Let us pray.
Almighty God, Your Son willingly endured the agony and shame of the cross for our redemption. Grant us courage to take up our cross daily and follow Him wherever He leads; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
C: Amen.
OLD TESTAMENT READING Jeremiah 15:15–21
15O LORD, you know;
remember me and visit me,
and take vengeance for me on my persecutors.
In your forbearance take me not away;
know that for your sake I bear reproach.
16Your words were found, and I ate them,
and your words became to me a joy
and the delight of my heart,
for I am called by your name,
O LORD, God of hosts.
17I did not sit in the company of revelers,
nor did I rejoice;
I sat alone, because your hand was upon me,
for you had filled me with indignation.
18Why is my pain unceasing,
my wound incurable,
refusing to be healed?
Will you be to me like a deceitful brook,
like waters that fail?
19Therefore thus says the LORD:
“If you return, I will restore you,
and you shall stand before me.
If you utter what is precious, and not what is worthless,
you shall be as my mouth.
They shall turn to you,
but you shall not turn to them.
20And I will make you to this people
a fortified wall of bronze;
they will fight against you,
but they shall not prevail over you,
for I am with you
to save you and deliver you,
declares the LORD.
21I will deliver you out of the hand of the wicked,
and redeem you from the grasp of the ruthless.”
L: This is the Word of the Lord.
C: Thanks be to God.
GRADUAL Psalm 34:9, 19, alt.
All: Fear the Lord, you his saints, for those who fear him lack nothing! Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.
EPISTLE Romans 12:9–21
9Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. 10Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. 11Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. 12Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. 13Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.
14Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. 15Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. 16Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be conceited. 17Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. 18If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. 19Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” 20To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” 21Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
L: This is the Word of the Lord.
C: Thanks be to God.
ALLELUIA and VERSE Matthew 16:25
All: Alleluia. Whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. Alleluia.
HOLY GOSPEL Matthew 16:21–28
P: The Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew, the sixteenth chapter.
C: Glory to You, O Lord.
21From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. 22And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you.” 23But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.”
24Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 25For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. 26For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his life? Or what shall a man give in return for his life? 27For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done. 28Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”
P: This is the Gospel of the Lord.
C: Praise to You, O Christ.
CHILDREN’S MESSAGE
HYMN OF THE DAY “Hail, Thou Once Despised Jesus” LSB #531
SERMON “Following the Lord” Matthew 16:21-28
CREED Nicene Creed
All: 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 + of the world to come. Amen.
OFFERTORY “Lord of All Good” LSB #786
PRAYER OF THE CHURCH
P: Friends in Christ, I urge you all to lift up your hearts to God and pray with me as Christ our Lord has taught us and freely promised to hear us.
God, our Father in heaven, look with mercy on us, Your needy children on earth, and grant us grace that Your holy name be hallowed by us and all the world through the pure and true teaching of Your Word and the fervent love shown forth in our lives. Graciously turn from us all false doctrine and evil living whereby Your precious name is blasphemed and profaned. Lord, in Your mercy,
C: hear our prayer.
P: As our educational system and schools are one again in session be with the teachers, the students, and especially our school here at St. Paul’s as we reach out with Your love. Lord, in Your mercy,
C: hear our prayer.
P: May Your kingdom come to us and expand. Bring all transgressors and those who are blinded and bound in the devil’s kingdom to know Jesus Christ, Your Son, by faith that the number of Christians may be increased. Give strength and confidence to all pastors and called servants of Your church, that they may proclaim boldly Your Word to the joy and edifying of all people. Bless Trinity, Cissna Park and St. John’s, Ash Grove with a pastor. Lord, in Your mercy,
C: hear our prayer.
P: Strengthen us by Your Spirit according to Your will, both in life and in death, in the midst of both good and evil things, that our own wills may be crucified daily and sacrificed to Your good and gracious will. Into Your merciful hands we commend ___ and all who are in need, praying for them at all times: Thy will be done. Lord, in Your mercy,
C: hear our prayer.
P: Grant us our daily bread, preserve us from greed and selfish cares, and help us trust in You to provide for all our needs. We pray for all farmers and those who work in agriculture, for beneficial weather, safety in their work, and good yields. Lord, in Your mercy,
C: hear our prayer.
P: Forgive us our sins as we also forgive those who sin against us so that our hearts may be at peace and may rejoice in a good conscience before You, and that no sin may ever frighten or alarm us. Lord, in Your mercy,
C: hear our prayer.
P: Lead us not into temptation, O Lord, but help us by Your Spirit to subdue our flesh, to turn from the world and its ways, and to overcome the devil with all his wiles. Lord, in Your mercy,
C: hear our prayer.
P: And lastly, O heavenly Father, deliver us from all evil of both body and soul, now and forever. Care for the members of our armed forces as they protect our country and our way of life, and grant protection to them as they serve both at home and abroad. Especially we lift to You, Eric Barrie, Caldan Cotter, Gage Gray, Jake Kocher, Jake Mitchell, and Nic Timm, and also their families. Lord, in Your mercy,
C: hear our prayer.
P: We trust, O Lord, in Your great mercy to hear and answer us; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God now and forever.
C: Amen.
+ SACRAMENT +
PREFACE 2 Timothy 4:22
P: The Lord be with you.
C: And also with you.
P: Lift up your hearts.
C: We lift them to the Lord.
P: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
C: It is right to give Him thanks and praise.
PROPER PREFACE
P: It is truly good, right, and salutary that we should at all times and in all places give thanks to You, Lord our God, for You have graciously blessed us through the Word Incarnate, Jesus Christ, our Lord, who for our sake died on the cross and rose from the dead to put an end to death. We rejoice in His call to discipleship, taking up our crosses and joyfully following in His way. Confident of our Savior’s gracious leading and rejoicing in the company of the saints on earth and those above, we laud and magnify Your holy name:
SANCTUS LSB p. 161
Holy, holy, holy Lord God of pow’r and might:
Heaven and earth are full of Your glory.
Hosanna. Hosanna.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.
PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
P: Blessed are You, O Lord our God, King of all creation, for You have had mercy on us and have showed Your gracious power to us through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord. We give You thanks that in His most Holy Supper You reveal Your sacred presence among us. Grant that we may receive the blessings of forgiveness, life, and salvation that come to us in His body and blood as we gather at His command.
C: Amen.
THE WORDS OF OUR LORD Matt 26:26–28; Mk 14:22–24; Lk 22:19–20;1 Cor 11:23–25
P: Our Lord Jesus Christ, on the night when He was betrayed, took bread, and when He had given thanks, He broke it and gave it to the disciples and said: “Take, eat; this is My + body, which is given for you. This do in remembrance of Me.”
In the same way also He took the cup after supper, and when He had given thanks, He gave it to them, saying: “Drink of it, all of you; this cup is the new testament in My + blood, which is shed for you for the forgiveness of sins. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”
PROCLAMATION OF CHRIST 1 Corinthians 11:26; Revelation 22:20
P: As often as we eat this bread and drink this cup, we proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.
C: Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.
P: O Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father, in giving us Your body and blood to eat and to drink, You lead us to remember and confess Your holy cross and Passion, Your blessed death, Your rest in the tomb, Your resurrection from the dead, Your ascension into heaven, and Your coming for the final judgment. So remember us in Your kingdom and teach us to pray:
LORD’S PRAYER Matthew 6:9–13
All: 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.
PAX DOMINI
P: The peace of the Lord be with you always.
C: Amen.
AGNUS DEI LSB p. 163
Lamb of God, You take away the sin of the world; have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, You take away the sin of the world; have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, You take away the sin of the world; grant us peace.
DISTRIBUTION HYMNS
“Be Still, My Soul, before the Lord” LSB #771
“Christ Be My Leader” LSB #861
“Praise to You and Adoration” LSB #692
“Let Us Ever Walk with Jesus” LSB #685
“Sent Forth by God’s Blessing” LSB #643
POST-COMMUNION CANTICLE “Thank the Lord” LSB p. 164
Thank the Lord and sing His praise; tell ev’ryone what He has done.
Let all who seek the Lord rejoice and proudly bear His name.
He recalls His promises and leads His people forth in joy
with shouts of thanksgiving. Alleluia, alleluia.
POST-COMMUNION THANKSGIVING
P: Let us pray.
We give thanks to You, almighty God, that You have refreshed us through this salutary gift, and we implore You that of Your mercy You would strengthen us through the same in faith toward You and in fervent love toward one another; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
C: Amen.
BENEDICAMUS
P: Let us bless the Lord.
C: Thanks be to God.
BENEDICTION Numbers 6:24–26
P: The Lord bless you and keep you.
The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you.
The Lord look upon you with favor and + give you peace.
C: Amen.
CLOSING HYMN “Jesus, Lead Thou On” LSB #718
Creative Worship for the Lutheran Parish, Series A, Quarter 3.
Copyright © 2026 Concordia Publishing House. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
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 © 2026 Concordia Publishing House.
Quotations are from What Luther Says, edited by Ewald M. Plass © 1959 Concordia Publishing House. All rights reserved.
