THIRD SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
New Tree, New Fruit
June 29, 2025
AS WE GATHER
If you have ever enjoyed a homegrown tomato or plucked a ripe peach straight from the tree, you know there is no substitute for good fruit. Today, the Holy Spirit is continuing the work begun in your Baptism, bringing forth good fruit. Too often, we imagine bearing good fruit is a result of our own careful cultivation, paying special attention to getting things right. The Spirit takes another approach. Just as the flavor of fresh fruit is a delight to our senses, the Spirit delights our soul with the tantalizing tastes of joy, kindness, gentleness, and love! The Spirit teaches us to crave what is good and, in so doing, leads believers to produce the fruit the Lord always intended.
+ PREPARATION +
HYMN Come Thou Fount of Ev’ry Blessing LSB 686
Come Thou Fount of ev’ry blessing Tune my heart to sing Thy grace
Streams of mercy never ceasing Call for songs of loudest praise
While the hope of endless glory Fills my heart with joy and love
Teach me ever to adore Thee May I still Thy goodness prove
Oh to grace how great a debtor Daily I’m constrained to be
Let that grace now like a fetter Bind my wond’ring heart to Thee
Prone to wander Lord I feel it Prone to leave the God I love
Here’s my heart O take and seal it Seal it for Thy courts above
Oh that day when freed from sinning I shall see Thy lovely face
Clothed then in the blood washed linen How I’ll sing Thy wondrous grace
Come my Lord no longer tarry Take my ransom’d soul away
Send Thine angels soon to carry Me to realms of endless day
INVOCATION
Pastor: In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit.
People: Amen.
OPENING SENTENCES Ezekiel 17:22–24, adapt.
Pastor: Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of the faithful,
People: and kindle in them the fire of Your love.
Pastor: Thus says the Lord God: “I Myself will take a sprig and plant it on a high and lofty mountain,
People: that it may bear branches and produce fruit.
Pastor: And all the trees of the field shall know that I am the Lord;
People: I bring low the high tree, and make high the low tree,
Pastor: dry up the green tree, and make the dry tree flourish.
People: I am the Lord; I have spoken, and I will do it.”
CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION
Pastor: I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord,
People: and You forgave the iniquity of my sin.
Pastor: Almighty Father, we confess that by our inability, insolence, and inaction, we have not made Your ways our ways.
People: For our failure to walk in the ways of love, joy, and peace, forgive us, Lord.
Pastor: Lord Jesus, we admit we too often conform our desires to the world around us, adopting its compromised standards for living.
People: For our failure to value the gifts of patience, kindness, and goodness, forgive us, Lord.
Pastor: Holy Spirit, our very natures are set against You, Your Gospel proclamation, and the fruit You intend to bring.
People: For our failure to manifest the fruits of faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control, forgive us, Lord.
For Jesus’ sake, melt our sinful hearts, and mold us into the reflections of Your righteousness that You call us to be.
Pastor: Almighty God in His mercy has given His Son, Jesus, to die for you, and for His sake forgives You all Your sins. As a called and ordained servant of the Word made flesh 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.
People: Amen.
+ WORD +
HYMN OF PRAISE O God My Faithful God LSB 696
O God my faithful God True fountain ever flowing Without whom nothing is All perfect gifts bestowing
Give me a healthy frame And may I have within A conscience free from blame A soul unstained by sin
Grant me the strength to do With ready heart and willing Whatever You command My calling here fulfilling
That I do what I should While trusting You to bless The outcome for my good For you must give success
Lord let me win my foes With kindly words and actions And let me find good friends For counsel and correction
Help me as You have taught To love both great and small And by Your Spirit’s might To live in peace with all
PRAYER OF THE DAY
Pastor: Let us pray. Lord of all power and might, author and giver of all good things, graft into our hearts the love of Your name and nourish us with all goodness that we may love and serve our neighbor; 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 1 Kings 19:9b–21 (The Lord brings Elijah assurance that he is not alone in resisting the temptations of idolatry.)
9bAnd behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and he said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 10 He said, “I have been very jealous for the Lord, the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away.” 11 And he said, “Go out and stand on the mount before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. 12 And after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper. 13 And when Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And behold, there came a voice to him and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 14 He said, “I have been very jealous for the Lord, the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away.” 15 And the Lord said to him, “Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus. And when you arrive, you shall anoint Hazael to be king over Syria. 16 And Jehu the son of Nimshi you shall anoint to be king over Israel, and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah you shall anoint to be prophet in your place. 17 And the one who escapes from the sword of Hazael shall Jehu put to death, and the one who escapes from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha put to death. 18 Yet I will leave seven thousand in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him.” 19 So he departed from there and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen in front of him, and he was with the twelfth. Elijah passed by him and cast his cloak upon him. 20 And he left the oxen and ran after Elijah and said, “Let me kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow you.” And he said to him, “Go back again, for what have I done to you?” 21 And he returned from following him and took the yoke of oxen and sacrificed them and boiled their flesh with the yokes of the oxen and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he arose and went after Elijah and assisted him.
EPISTLE Galatians 5:1, 13–25 (Rather than the desires of the flesh, the Spirit cultivates in believers the craving and the capacity for bearing good fruit.)
1For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.
13 For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. 14 For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 15 But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another. 16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 19 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, 21 envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.
HOLY GOSPEL Luke 9:51–62 (Jesus faces the lonely task of ministry, setting His face on the saving task ahead of Him in Jerusalem.)
51 When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem. 52 And he sent messengers ahead of him, who went and entered a village of the Samaritans, to make preparations for him. 53 But the people did not receive him, because his face was set toward Jerusalem. 54 And when his disciples James and John saw it, they said, “Lord, do you want us to tell fire to come down from heaven and consume them?” 55 But he turned and rebuked them. 56 And they went on to another village.
7 As they were going along the road, someone said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” 58 And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” 59 To another he said, “Follow me.” But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” 60 And Jesus[c] said to him, “Leave the dead to bury their own dead. But as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” 61 Yet another said, “I will follow you, Lord, but let me first say farewell to those at my home.” 62 Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”
CHILDREN’S MESSAGE
HYMN Faith and Truth and Life Bestowing LSB 584
Faith and truth and life bestowing Open now the Scriptures Lord Seed to life eternal sowing
Scattered on the wind abroad Let not hearts Your Word receiving Like a barren field be found
Choked with thorns and unbelieving Shallow earth or stony ground
May the Spirit’s pow’r unceasing Bring to life the hidden grain Daily in our hearts increasing
Bearing fruit that shall remain So in Scripture song and story Savior may Your voice be heard
Till our eyes behold Your glory Give us ears to hear Your Word
SERMON
CATECHISM The Second Article
People: I believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended into hell. The third day He rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. From thence He will come to judge the living and the dead.
Pastor: What does this mean?
I believe that Jesus Christ, true God, begotten of the Father from eternity, and also true man, born of the virgin Mary, is my Lord, who has redeemed me, a lost and condemned person, purchased and won me from all sins, from death, and from the power of the devil; not with gold or silver, but with His holy, precious blood and with His innocent suffering and death, that I may be His own and live under Him in His kingdom and serve Him in everlasting righteousness, innocence, and blessedness, just as He is risen from the dead, lives and reigns to all eternity.
This is most certainly true.
GREETING/ANNOUNCEMENTS
OFFERING
PRAYER OF THE CHURCH
Pastor: Let us pray for the whole people of God in Christ Jesus and for all people according to their needs.
Gracious Holy Spirit, grow the faith of all those who believe. Bring forth the fruit of holiness and supply them with opportunities to display that fruit for the sake of their neighbor. Lord, in Your mercy,
People: hear our prayer.
Pastor: Abiding Holy Spirit, be a companion for all who feel lonely and isolated, and preserve them from depression and despair. Send us, Your people, to be visible and tangible witnesses that Your presence is with them always. Lord, in Your mercy,
People: hear our prayer.
Pastor: Ministering Holy Spirit, safeguard and support all those You have called into ministry. Encourage them amid the challenges of their Gospel work that they do not face the trials and triumphs of this mission alone. Lord, in Your mercy,
People: hear our prayer.
Pastor: Interceding Holy Spirit, plead for all who face sorrow, sickness, or adversity, comforting them with Your tender care, [especially . . .]. Lord, in Your mercy,
People: hear our prayer.
Pastor: Sanctifying Holy Spirit, strengthen Your church. Give all the baptized passion for Your Word, eagerness for service, and courage to reject the world’s faulty wisdom and misplaced priorities. Fan into flame hearts that might be a beacon for those in darkness. Lord, in Your mercy,
People: hear our prayer.
Pastor: Eternal Holy Spirit, preserve Your church until the day of the return of Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Father, one God, now and forever.
People: Amen.