Lectionary - Ordinary 27 Year A
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Exodus 20:1-4,7-9,12-20 The ten commandments
Psalms 19 Rejoicing in the law of God
Philippians 3:4b-14 I press on towards the goal
Matthew 21:33-43 Parable of the tenants who killed the son

Possible Hymns
(Numbers refer to The Australian Hymn Book and Sing Alleluia.)
10 All people that on earth do dwell
105 The great love of God
343 Christ is made the sure foundation
356 Come we that love the Lord
362 What shall we offer our good Lord
407 Father of peace and God of love
433 Let us break bread together with the Lord
511 Fight the good fight with all thy might
515 Fill thou my life, O Lord my God
532 Where cross the crowded ways of life

Sermon summary (Click here for complete sermon)

In the parable of the vineyard (Matthew 21:33-43) we see people who were not willing to admit their responsibility to the owner and tried to act as if it all belonged to them. To secure their ambitions they killed the owner's son. We, of course looking back know that the son in the story stands for Jesus and that his death was not the end of his story, so that in the terms of Psalm 118 the stone that the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone.

We are stewards of riches which belong to the Lord of creation. Like anyone put in charge, as stewards, of what belongs to someone else, if we have it long enough, and especially if we have not often been called to account, we are easily tempted to imagine that we own it outright and that we can do as we please with it. It is easy to forget whose we are: to exalt in our knowledge of his becoming the cornerstone without at first confessing our identity with the killers would miss the point of the story.

Believers are beneficiaries of the vineyard after the wicked tenants have been thrown out, but it is not our doing, it is the Lord's doing, and it is amazing in our eyes.

The parable is based on another allegory that would have been know to Jesus and his listeners, a symbolic story in which the actors correspond directly to real people, in the Old Testament in Isaiah 5:1-7.

The people were "his pleasant planting, he expected justice, but saw bloodshed; righteousness, but heard a cry!" (Isaiah 5:7). Therefore he withdrew his protection and allowed the vineyard to be laid waste. Isaiah, who told it originally, was only one of many prophets who were sent by the Lord of the vineyard whom they treated shamefully, and Matthew with his greater interest in the Jewish background makes an emphasis on this point. (Matthew 21:34-36). There is direct parallel the to the stoning in 2 Chronicles 24:21 (regarding Zechariah).

The early Christians were encouraged to remember the suffering of the faithful in former times (Hebrews 11:37). Jesus too remembered the treatment of the prophets when he cried in love for the city (Matthew 23:37; cf Luke 13:34). He saw himself in this succession. Again he referred to the ancient writings in summing up (Matthew 21:42; Psalms 118:22-23).

The stone rejected by the builders was one of most vivid images in the teaching of Jesus as it pointed to his death. It remained with his disciples and was recalled with passion in their proclamation of the gospel. (Acts 4:11; 1 Peter 2:7; Ephesians 2:19-22).

All may benefit, if only they will enter the house built of those stones and is which God dwells. And when the harvest time comes, we all meet at the feast of the Kingdom.

Order of service - Ordinary 27 (Pentecost 20) Year A | DB Home | RCL Resources Index |

The Gathering of the People of God

CALL TO WORSHIP
Those who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.-- Isaiah 40:31

HYMN 10 All people that on earth do dwell

PRAYER OF ADORATION

CONFESSION
Merciful God, our Maker and our Judge,
We have sinned against you in thought, word and deed:
We have not loved you with our whole heart,
We have not loved our neighbours as ourselves;
We repent, and are sorry for all our sins.
Father, forgive us.
Strengthen us to love and obey you in newness of life;
Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

DECLARATION OF FORGIVENESS
God proves his love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us. -- Romans 5:8
Hear then Christ's word of grace: Your sins are forgiven.
Thanks be to God

DOXOLOGY

WELCOME AND GREETING EACH OTHER

Service of the Word

INTRODUCTION OF THEME:

OLD TESTAMENT Exodus 20:1-4,7-9,12-20 The ten commandments
PSALM 19 Rejoicing in the law of God
EPISTLE Philippians 3:4b-14 I press on towards the goal
GOSPEL Matthew 21:33-43 Parable of the tenants who killed the son

HYMN 511 Fight the good fight with all thy might

SERMON

CREED

OFFERING
SHARING TIME [Notices, Celebrations and requests for intercessions]
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
Father, we pray for the holy catholic Church;
that we all may be one.
Grant that every member of the church
may truly and humbly serve you;
that your name may be glorified by all people.
We pray for all ministers of the gospel;
that they may faithfully proclaim your Word and administer your holy sacraments.
We pray for all who govern and hold authority in the nations of the world;
that there may be justice and peace on the earth.
Give us grace to do your will in all that we undertake;
that our works may find favour in your sight.
Have compassion on those who suffer from any grief or trouble;
that they may be delivered from their distress
We praise you for your saints who have entered into joy;
may we also come to share in your heavenly kingdom.
Let us pray for our community for the life and worship of this congregation and for those whose needs are known to us.....
Let us pray for ourselves.....

THE COLLECT FOR THE DAY

The Lord's Supper

THE PEACE

HYMN 433 Let us break bread together with the Lord

GREAT PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
The Lord be with you. And also with you.
Lift up your hearts. We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. It is right to give our thanks and praise.

Thanks and praise ..... in the eternal hymn: [SA 100c and 100d]
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.

We thank you ....

[The great prayer of thanksgiving continues, recalling God's goodness in caring for his people, the life and saving work of our Lord Jesus Christ, how he commanded his disciples to remember him with the bread and the wine, and we pray for the gift of the Holy Spirit on us and what we do.]

THE LORD'S PRAYER [Front of hymn book]
BREAKING THE BREAD
THE LAMB OF GOD [Sing Alleluia 100e]
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.

COMMUNION
PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION

The Sending Forth of the People of God

HYMN 105 The great love of God

WORD OF MISSION
BLESSING
DISMISSAL
Go in peace to love and serve the Lord:
In the name of Christ. Amen.

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