MALAGASY LUTHERAN CHURCH
Communion prayer, 15th Sunday after Trinity
Week of 10 to 15 September 2018
“ Store up true wealth”
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Introduction: ”Store up true wealth”: this theme implies that the nature of wealth that man may seek and to which his heart may be committed is diverse. what Jesus said in this respect is most true: ”For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” Mt 6 :21. Here everyone can choose the nature of wealth they want to seek and their heart is committed to. Not all of them are neverthleess equivalent to one another : some are enduring, others temporary ; some are permanent, others perishable ; some are life-giving, others death-giving. To some up, those that are lasting and constant and life-giving come from above, from God. For it is written: ” He who comes from above is above all; he who is of the earth is earthly and speaks of the earth. He who comes from heaven is above all.” Jn.3:31. This means a differentiation. In this regard, Jesus said: “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?” Mr.8:36. Furthermore, the Apostel John said: ” Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning” James.1:16-17. The perfect gift is true wealth, it is all about having God and believing in Jesus as our Lord and Savior. Therefore, ”Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. 17 And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.” 1 Jn.2:15-17. What God wants from us is to believe in the One He has sent, for “ He who believes in the Son has everlasting life” Jn.3:36.
Monday 10: Attach your heart to God.
“ You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength” De.6:5.
Reading 1: Mt.6:31-34. Reading 2: De.6:4-7. Preaching 1 (choice). Preaching 2: De.6:5. Other references:
– “My son, give me your heart” Pr.23:26a.
– “As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love” Jn.15:9.
Tuesday 11: Get rooted in what is permanent.
“For the form of this world is passing away” 1 Co. 7:31b.
Reading 1: 1 Co. 1:4-9. Reading 2: Mt. 6:19-23 Preaching 1(choice). Preaching 2: Mt. 6:19-20. Other references:
-“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord” 1 Co. 15:58.
-“Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses” 1 Ti. 6:12.
Wednesday 12: Store up riches in God.
“but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven” Mt. 6:20a.
Reading 1: 1 Co. 1:4-9. Reading 2: Mt. 6:19-23. Preaching 1(choice). Preaching 2: Mt. 6:19-20. Other references:
-“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field” Mt. 13:44.
-“ Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness, while you are enriched in everything for all liberality” 2 Co. 9:10-11a.
Thursday 13: Seek eternal riches.
“If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable” 1 Co. 15:19.
Reading 1: Lu. 18:18-30. Reading 2: 1 Co. 15:12-19. Preaching 1: (choice). Preaching 2: 1 Co. 15:19. Other references:
-“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you” Mt. 6:33.
-“For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?” Mk. 8:36.
Friday 14: Greed is evil.
“ Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed” Luk. 12:15a.
Reading 1: 1 Ti. 6:6-10. Reading 2: Luk. 12:13-21. Preaching 1(choice). Preaching 2: Luk. 12:15. Other references:
– “And she wrote letters in Ahab’s name, sealed them with his seal, and sent the letters to the elders and the nobles who were dwelling in the city with Naboth. She wrote in the letters, saying: Proclaim a fast, and seat Naboth [a]with high honor among the people; and seat two men, scoundrels, before him to bear witness against him, saying, “You have blasphemed God and the king.” Then take him out, and stone him, that he may die. ” 1 K. 21:8-10.
– “Now this man purchased a field with the wages of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst open in the middle and all his entrails gushed out.” Ac. 1:18.
Saturday 15: God is the most valuable and the most secure treasure.
“ Who is like You, O Lord, among the gods? Who is like You,…?” Ex. 15:11.
Reading 1: Jn. 6:64-69. Reading 2: Ex. 15:11-18. Preaching 1(choice). Preaching 2: Ex. 15:11. Other references:
-“Therefore You are great, O Lord God. For there is none like You, nor is there any God besides You, according to all that we have heard with our ears.” 2 S. 7:22
-“But it is good for me to draw near to God; I have put my trust in the Lord God, That I may declare all Your works ” Ps. 73:28.
Note: This pericope is available in Malagasy, French, English and German, and can be consulted on the website: www.hifimadanet.org and on Facebook : « Hifi – english « .