FOURTH SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY January 31, :00 AM

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FOURTH SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY

January 31, 2021 – 8:00 AM

AS WE GATHER… This morning we wrap up our series on “A Skeptics Guide to the Scripture,” as we conclude with what is at the very heart of our study, “Is the Bible Reliable?” The answer is a resounding “YES!” In this fact we trust and find joy in all our days: God is faithful to each of His promises, not just the big ones like Heaven, but the ones we can so easily take for granted as well. His authority brings certainty to His promises. Today’s Gospel from Mark 1, we are reminded of Jesus’ divine authority in His teaching to the people and also in His power over evil spirits. This power and authority was foretold by prophets such as Moses, pointing to the One who would fulfill all things as the long-awaited perfect prophet and Savior. In that power and authority, Christ has won our victory through His death and rising, and we are blessed with freedom in that faith to be used to His glory in service to others. He said it and we can count on Him.

OPENING HYMN “Blessed Jesus, at Your Word” [LSB 904; Vs. 1 & 2] Public Domain Vs.1 Blessèd Jesus, at Your Word

We are gathered all to hear You. Let our hearts and souls be stirred Now to seek and love and fear You, By Your teachings, sweet and holy, Drawn from earth to love You solely.

Vs.2 All our knowledge, sense, and sight

Lie in deepest darkness shrouded Till Your Spirit breaks our night With the beams of truth unclouded. You alone to God can win us;

You must work all good within us.

INVOCATION

Pastor: In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. People: Amen.

CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION

Pastor: Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.

People: Blessed is the man against whom the Lord counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit.

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Pastor: As Moses speaks to the people through God, we confess those times we do not listen to Your words and close our hearts to You.

People: Forgive us, Lord.

Pastor: As Paul warns, we confess those times when our freedom in Christ causes one who is weak in faith to stumble.

Pastor: As Jesus, the long-awaited Prophet and Savior, taught with and showed His authority and power, we confess those times when we allow the forces of evil to make us forget the deliverance and love of God we have in Christ.

Pastor: With David the psalmist, we humbly come before the Lord.

Silence for reflection.

Pastor: I acknowledged my sin to You, and I did not cover my iniquity;

People: I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,” and You forgave the iniquity of my sin.

Pastor: Therefore let everyone who is godly offer prayer to You at a time when You may be found; surely in the rush of great waters, they shall not reach him.

People: You are a hiding place for me; You preserve me from trouble; You surround me with shouts of deliverance.

HYMN “Blessed Jesus, at Your Word” [LSB 904; Vs. 3] Gracious Savior, good and kind,

Light of Light, from God proceeding, Open now our heart and mind;

Help us by Your Spirit’s pleading. Hear the cry Your Church now raises; Hear and bless our prayers and praises.

Pastor: Almighty God, our heavenly Father, has had mercy upon us and given His only Son to die for us and for His sake forgives us all our sins. As a servant of Christ and by His authority, I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. To those who believe in His name He gives the power to become the children of God and has promised them His Holy Spirit. May the Lord, who has begun this good work in us, bring it to completion in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. People: Amen.

Pastor: Many are the sorrows of the wicked,

People: but steadfast love surrounds the one who trusts in the Lord.

HYMN “Blessed Jesus, at Your Word” [LSB 904; Vs. 4]

Father, Son, and Spirit, Lord, Praise to You and adoration!

Grant that we may trust Your Word, Confident of our salvation,

While we here below must wander,

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www.trinitymerrill.com SALUTATION

Pastor: The Lord be with you. People: And also with you. PRAYER OF THE DAY

Pastor: Let us pray. Almighty and everlasting God, You know we live in the midst of so many dangers that in our frailty we cannot stand upright. Grant strength and protection to support us in all dangers and carry us through all temptations; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

People: Amen.

OLD TESTAMENT READING Deuteronomy 18:15–20

“The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your brothers—it is to him you shall listen— just as you desired of the LORD your God at Horeb on the day of the assembly, when you said, ‘Let me not hear again the voice of the LORD my God or see this great fire any more, lest I die.’ And the LORD said to me, ‘They are right in what they have spoken. I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers. And I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him. And whoever will not listen to my words that he shall speak in my name, I myself will require it of him. But the prophet who presumes to speak a word in my name that I have not commanded him to speak, or who speaks in the name of other gods, that same prophet shall die.”

Pastor: This is the Word of the Lord. People: Thanks be to God.

CONNECT TIME

During this time please use your mobile device to fill out the Connect Card online at

www.trinitymerrill.com/live, text any prayer requests to 715-200-4546, and text your giving

amount to 833-341-0335. You can also visit www.trinitymerrill.com/give to learn more about other ways to support the ministries at Trinity. Registration for three new Zoom Bible study opportunities is open now! Visit www.trinitymerrill.com/adults to get involved.

HOLY GOSPEL Mark 1:21–28

Pastor: The Holy Gospel according to St. Mark, the first chapter. People: Glory to You, O Lord.

And they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath [Jesus] entered the synagogue and was teaching. And they were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one who had authority, and not as the scribes. And immediately there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit. And he cried out, “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God.” But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent, and come out of him!” And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying out with a loud voice, came out of him. And they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, “What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean

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spirits, and they obey him.” And at once his fame spread everywhere throughout all the surrounding region of Galilee.

Pastor: This is the Gospel of the Lord. People: Praise to You, O Christ. CHILDREN’S MESSAGE

HYMN OF THE DAY “Preserve Your Word, O Savior” [LSB 658] Vs. 1 Preserve Your Word, O Savior,

To us this latter day,

And let Your kingdom flourish; Enlarge Your Church, we pray. O keep our faith from failing; Keep hope’s bright star aglow. Let nothing from truth turn us While living here below.

Vs. 2 Preserve, O Lord, Your honor,

The bold blasphemer smite; Convince, convert, enlighten The souls in error’s night. Reveal Your will, dear Savior, To all who dwell below,

Great light of all the living, That all Your name may know.

Vs.3 Preserve, O Lord, Your Zion,

Bought dearly with Your blood; Protect what You have chosen Against the hellish flood. Be always our defender When dangers gather round; When all the earth is crumbling, Safe may Your Church be found.

Vs.4 Preserve Your Word and preaching,

The truth that makes us whole, The mirror of Your glory,

The pow’r that saves the soul. Oh, may this living water, This dew of heav’nly grace, Sustain us while here living Until we see Your face.

Vs. 5 Preserve in wave and tempest

Your storm-tossed little flock; Assailed by wind and weather,

May it endure each shock. Stand at the helm, our pilot,

And set the course aright; Then we will reach the harbor

In Your eternal light.

SERMON

CATECHETICAL REVIEW

Pastor: Where is God's truth about our Savior Jesus Christ made known?

People: The truth is made known in the Bible: the Old Testament, which promises the coming Savior, and the New Testament, which tells of the Savior who has come.

Pastor: Why do we call the Bible the “Holy Scripture”?

People: The Bible is the “Holy Scripture” because God the Holy Spirit gave to His writers the thoughts that they expressed and the words that they wrote. We call this “verbal inspiration.” Therefore, the Bible is God’s own Word and truth, without error.

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Pastor: Even if it is God's Word, what is the Bible’s significance to us? People: Because the Bible alone offers forgiveness of our sins. Pastor: Where is this forgiveness found?

People: God offers forgiveness of sins in the Gospel. That is, the Good News that we are freed from the guilt, punishment, and the power of sin, and are saved eternally because of Christ’s keeping the Law and His suffering and death for us. This is God’s promise to us and this is most certainly true.

PRAYER OF THE CHURCH

THE LORD’S PRAYER Matthew 6:9–13

People: 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.

BENEDICTION

Pastor: 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. Numbers 6:24–26

People: Amen.

CLOSING HYMN “Thy Word Is a Lamp” [LSB 973] Refrain: Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet

And a light unto my path.

Vs.1 When I feel afraid, think I’ve lost my way, Still You’re there right beside me.

And nothing will I fear as long as You are near. Please be near me to the end. Refrain

Vs. 2 I will not forget Your love for me, and yet My heart forever is wandering.

Jesus, be my guide and hold me to Your side; And I will love You to the end. Refrain