20th Sunday after Pentecost

Sunday Summary: In Humble Repentance, Faith 
Lives by Grace and Mercy and Is Exalted by God in 
Christ Jesus tells a parable “to some who trusted in 
themselves that they were righteous” (Luke 18:9). In 
this parable, the Pharisee unjustly boasted before 
God on the basis of his own merits, whereas the tax 
collector intently prayed, “God, be merciful to me, a 
sinner!” (Luke 18:13). That poor, miserable sinner 
trusted Christ, and he went “down to his house 
justified, rather than the other” (Luke 18:14). So do 
little children, “even infants,” come to Jesus with 
their need, and they “receive the kingdom of God”
through faith (Luke 18:15–17). For “the one who 
humbles himself will be exalted,” but “everyone who 
exalts himself will be humbled” (Luke 18:14). That is 
why “the LORD had regard for Abel and his offering, 
but for Cain and his offering he had no regard”
(Gen. 4:4–5). St. Paul’s life, “poured out as a drink 
offering,” was another sacrifice like Abel’s (2 Tim. 
4:6). The Lord stood by Paul and strengthened him, 
that “the message might be fully proclaimed” (2 
Tim. 4:17). It is by that Gospel message of Christ 
that we “have loved his appearing” and as 
repentant sinners pray to “the Lord, the righteous 
judge” by faith (2 Tim. 6:8).

DIVINE SERVICE SETTING 3
Entrance Hymn:   LSB 909

Confession & Absolution – 184

Introit: Psalm 56:10–13; antiphon: v. 3

When I | am afraid,*
I put my | trust in you.
In God, whose | word I praise,*
in the LORD, whose | word I praise,
in God I trust; I shall not | be afraid.*
What can man | do to me?
I must perform my vows to you, | O God;*
I will render thank offerings | to you.
For you have delivered my soul from death, yes, 
my feet from | falling,*
that I may walk before God in the | light of life.
Glory be to the Father and | to the Son*
and to the Holy | Spirit;
as it was in the be- | ginning,*
is now, and will be forever. | Amen.
When I | am afraid,*
I put my | trust in you.

Kyrie – 186

Gloria in Excelsis – 187

Collect of the Day:

Almighty and everlasting God, You are always 
more ready to hear than we to pray and always 
ready to give more than we either desire or 
deserve. Pour down on us the abundance of 
Your mercy; forgive us those things of which 
our conscience is afraid; and give us those good 
things for which we are not worthy to ask 
except by the merits and mediation of Jesus 
Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns 
with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and 
forever.

Old Testament Reading: Genesis 4:1–15

1Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived 
and bore Cain, saying, “I have gotten a man with the 
help of the LORD.” 2And again, she bore his brother 
Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, and Cain a 
worker of the ground. 3
In the course of time Cain 
brought to the LORD an offering of the fruit of the 
ground, 4
and Abel also brought of the firstborn of his 
flock and of their fat portions. And the LORD had 
regard for Abel and his offering, 5but for Cain and 
his offering he had no regard. So Cain was very 
angry, and his face fell. 6The LORD said to Cain, 
“Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen? 
7
If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you 
do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire 
is for you, but you must rule over it.” 8Cain spoke to 
Abel his brother. And when they were in the field, 
Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him. 
9Then the LORD said to Cain, “Where is Abel your 
brother?” He said, “I do not know; am I my 
brother’s keeper?” 10And the LORD said, “What have 
you done? The voice of your brother’s blood is 
crying to me from the ground. 11And now you are 
cursed from the ground, which has opened its mouth 
to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. 
12When you work the ground, it shall no longer yield 
to you its strength. You shall be a fugitive and a 
wanderer on the earth.” 13Cain said to the LORD, 
“My punishment is greater than I can bear. 14Behold, 
you have driven me today away from the ground, 
and from your face I shall be hidden. I shall be a 
fugitive and a wanderer on the earth, and whoever 
finds me will kill me.” 15Then the LORD said to him, 
“Not so! If anyone kills Cain, vengeance shall be 
taken on him sevenfold.” And the LORD put a mark 
on Cain, lest any who found him should attack him.

Gradual: Psalm 91:11; 103:1

He will command his angels con- | cerning 
you*
to guard you in | all your ways.
Bless the LORD, | O my soul,*
and all that is within me, bless his | holy 
name!

Epistle: 2 Timothy 4:6–8, 16–18

6For I am already being poured out as a drink 
offering, and the time of my departure has come. 7
I 
have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, 
I have kept the faith. 8Henceforth there is laid up for 
me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the 
righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and 
not only to me but also to all who have loved his 
appearing. . . . 16At my first defense no one came to 
stand by me, but all deserted me. May it not be 
charged against them! 17But the Lord stood by me 
and strengthened me, so that through me the 
message might be fully proclaimed and all the 
Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the 
lion’s mouth. 18The Lord will rescue me from every 
evil deed and bring me safely into his heavenly 
kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. 
Amen.

Holy Gospel: Luke 18:9–17

[Jesus] also told this parable to some who trusted in 
themselves that they were righteous, and treated 
others with contempt: 10“Two men went up into the 
temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax 
collector. 11The Pharisee, standing by himself, 
prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like 
other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even 
like this tax collector. 12I fast twice a week; I give 
tithes of all that I get.’ 13But the tax collector, 
standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to 
heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be 
merciful to me, a sinner!’ 14I tell you, this man went 
down to his house justified, rather than the other. For 
everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but 
the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
15Now they were bringing even infants to him 
that he might touch them. And when the disciples 
saw it, they rebuked them. 16But Jesus called them to 
him, saying, “Let the children come to me, and do 
not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of 
God. 17Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive 
the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.”

Nicene Creed – 191
Hymn of the Month: 566
Sermon
Offertory – 192
Offering
Prayer of the Church:

After each petition:
Pastor:  ...let us pray to the Lord.
Congregation: Lord, have mercy.

Service of the Sacrament –194
Sanctus – 195
Distribution Hymns- 635, 643
Post-Communion Hymn: 617
Nunc Dimittis – 199
Benediction - 201
Announcements
Hymn to Depart: 919