18TH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST September 27, 2026
Immanuel Ev. Lutheran Church
Wisconsin Synod
Pastor Rev. Christopher Oehlke Pastor’s Phone: 1-262-909-7827
Organist Karen Davis, Mindy Kane, Church Telephone 763-682-4573
Lorraine Roush Email pastor@myimmanuel.org
WELCOME, VISITORS: We are glad you could be with us and we welcome you back any time. Please sign our “Welcome” card found in the pew holders or sign the guest book in the narthex/entry.
Prayer Before Worship
O Lord, my creator, redeemer and comforter, as I come to worship you in spirit and in truth, I humbly pray that you would open my heart to the preaching of your Word so that I may repent of my sins, believe in Jesus Christ as my only Savior and grow in grace and holiness. Hear me for the sake of His name. Amen.
SERVICE OF THE WORD
Beginning on Page 38 in the Hymnal.
HYMN (#439) “Lord, Take My Hand and Lead Me”
M: The grace of our Lord (+) Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you.
C: And also with you.
CONFESSION OF SINS
M: We have come into the presence of God, who created us to love and serve him as his dear children. But we have disobeyed him and deserve only his wrath and punishment. Therefore, let us confess our sins to him and plead for his mercy.
C: Merciful Father in heaven, I am altogether sinful from birth.
In countless ways I have sinned against you and do not deserve to be called your child. But trusting in Jesus, my Savior, I pray: Have mercy on me according to your unfailing love. Cleanse me from my sin, and take away
my guilt.
M: God, our heavenly Father, has forgiven all your sins. By the perfect life and innocent death of our Lord Jesus Christ, he has removed your guilt forever. You are his own dear child. May God give you strength to live according to his will.
C: Amen.
PRAYER AND PRAISE
M: In the peace of forgiveness, let us praise the Lord.
C: (Sung) Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good.
Blessed are they who take refuge in him.
Your Word, O Lord, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens.
Your faithfulness continues forever.
Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good.
Blessed are they who take refuge in him.
PRAYER OF THE DAY
M: Let us pray: Mercifully grant, O God, that your Holy Spirit may in all things direct and rule our hearts, for without your help we are unable to please you; through your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
C: (Sung) Amen.
THE WORD
FIRST LESSON Ezekiel 18:1-4, 25-32
18 The word of the Lord came to me: 2 “What do you people mean by quoting this proverb about the land of Israel: “‘The parents eat sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge’? 3 “As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, you will no longer quote this proverb in Israel. 4 For everyone belongs to me, the parent as well as the child—both alike belong to me. The one who sins is the one who will die.
25 “Yet you say, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’ Hear, you Israelites: Is my way unjust? Is it not your ways that are unjust? 26 If a righteous person turns from their righteousness and commits sin, they will die for it; because of the sin they have committed they will die. 27 But if a wicked person turns away from the wickedness they have committed and does what is just and right, they will save their life. 28 Because they consider all the offenses they have committed and turn away from them, that person will surely live; they will not die. 29 Yet the Israelites say, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’ Are my ways unjust, people of Israel? Is it not your ways that are unjust?
30 “Therefore, you Israelites, I will judge each of you according to your own ways, declares the Sovereign Lord. Repent! Turn away from all
your offenses; then sin will not be your downfall. 31 Rid yourselves of all the offenses you have committed, and get a new heart and a new spirit. Why will you die, people of Israel? 32 For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign Lord. Repent and live!
(NIV)
M: The Word of the Lord.
C: Thanks be to God.
PSALM OF THE DAY (Sung) Psalm 25 (page 74)
SECOND LESSON Philippians 2:1-11
2 Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. 5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; 7 rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross! 9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (NIV)
M: The Word of the Lord.
C: Thanks be to God.
VERSE OF THE DAY
M: Alleluia. My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you will not despise. Alleluia. (Psalm 51:17)
C: (Sung) Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
These words are written that we may believe
that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God.
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
GOSPEL Matthew 21:23-32
23 Jesus entered the temple courts, and, while he was teaching, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him. “By what authority are you doing these things?” they asked. “And who gave you this authority?” 24 Jesus replied, “I will also ask you one question. If you answer me, I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things. 25 John’s baptism—where did it come from? Was it from heaven, or of human origin?” They discussed it among themselves and said, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will ask, ‘Then why didn’t you believe him?’ 26 But if we say, ‘Of human origin’—we are afraid of the people, for they all hold that John was a prophet.” 27 So they answered Jesus, “We don’t know.” Then he said, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.
28 “What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work today in the vineyard.’
29 “‘I will not,’ he answered, but later he changed his mind and went.
30 “Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, ‘I will, sir,’ but he did not go. 31 “Which of the two did what his father wanted?” “The first,” they answered. Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you. 32 For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him. (NIV)
M: The Gospel of the Lord.
C: (Sung) Praise be to you, O Christ!
HYMN OF THE DAY (#405) “Oh, for a Faith that Will Not Shrink”
SERMON TEXT Luke 7:18-23
18 John’s disciples told him about all these things. Calling two of them, 19 he sent them to the Lord to ask, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?” 20 When the men came to Jesus, they said, “John the Baptist sent us to you to ask, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?’” 21 At that very time Jesus cured many who had diseases, sicknesses and evil spirits, and gave sight to many who were blind. 22 So he replied to the messengers, “Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor. 23 Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.” (NIV)
SERMON THEME “John the Baptist’s Imprisonment Teaches Us” 1) Satan Tempts Us to Doubt and Confusion
2) Jesus’ Miracles and Message Fortify Our Faith
APOSTLES’ CREED
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
maker of heaven and earth.
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 is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty.
From there he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy Christian Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.
THANKSGIVING
OFFERING – Please leave offering in the plate as you depart.
HYMN (#420) “God Moves in a Mysterious Way”
PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH
M: O Lord, our God, you are wise and powerful, good and gracious.
Your mercies are new every morning. Each day you open your
hand and provide for the needs of your children on earth.
C: We praise you for every grace and blessing.
M: Strengthen your Church in all the world. Let your comforting
message of salvation in Christ Jesus be proclaimed to troubled
souls everywhere.
C: Use our ministries and offerings to extend your healing and
your hope.
M: We bring you our requests for the various structures of our
society. Bless our national, state, and local governments.
C: Grant us civil servants who are worthy of honor and respect.
M: Grant prosperity to our businesses and industries. Give
employers a sense of fairness toward their workers, and
employees a feeling of joy and pride in their workmanship.
C: Help us find satisfaction in all work well done.
M: Invigorate the schools of our land. Give success to every effort
that helps students read, think, and communicate in ways that
will promote an informed and responsible citizenry. Arouse
curious minds to discover the wonders of your created order.
C: Give us teachers and students who pursue excellence.
M: Strengthen the families of our country. Give fathers and mothers
a renewed commitment to be good parents. Give children and
young people the wisdom to regard their parents as your
representatives.
C: Lead us to love one another as you have loved us.
M: Hear us, Lord, as we bring you our private petitions.
Silent prayer.
M: Gracious Father, we pray boldly as Jesus taught, with the
confidence that you will hear and with the faith that you will
respond for our welfare.
C: Amen.
LORD’S PRAYER
C: 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.
M: O Lord God, our heavenly Father, pour out the Holy Spirit on your faithful people. Keep us strong in your grace and truth, protect and comfort us in all temptation, and bestow on us your saving peace, through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
C: (Sung) Amen.
M: Brothers and sisters, go in peace. Live in harmony with one another. Serve the Lord with gladness.
The Lord bless you and keep you.
The Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you.
The Lord look on you with favor and (+) give you peace.
C: (Sung) Amen. Amen. Amen.
HYMN (#402) “My Faith Looks Up to Thee”
18TH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST September 27, 2026
Immanuel Ev. Lutheran Church
THE SCHEDULE
Wed., Sept. 30 6:30 p.m., Catechism Class
Next Sun., Oct. 4: Greeters: Kowalke Family
Shut-In Visitors for September: Betty McAlpine
OUR FATHER’S BUSINESS
THANK YOU to Pastor Paul Marggraf for sharing God’s Word with us this morning and conducting our service. Pastor Oehlke is attending his nephew’s wedding in Georgia, returning home Sunday evening.
TODAY’S BIBLE STUDY: There will be no Adult Bible Study after our worship service this morning, but will be resuming next Sunday.
LWMS: The Hannah Circuit Fall Rally will be at St. Paul’s-Montrose on Oct. 4, beginning at noon. In addition to the “baby shower” items being collected, attendees are urged to bring a food item for MLC students for which participants will become part of a door prize drawing. Immanuel will have a plate offering today and Oct. 4.
YOUTH NERF WARS: Redeeming Grace Lutheran Church in Rogers is hosting their fall nerf event on Saturday, October 10th. The first session will be for 1st-4th grades from 3:00-5:00 p.m. and a second session for 5th-8th grade is from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Please bring non-perishable food-shelf items for admission. Food shelf items are turned in for raffling off nerf prizes throughout the event. All food donations will be going to support our local food shelf in Rogers. Please bring your friends along! Parents are welcome to participate in the 1st-4th grade session. We have plenty of nerf equipment to share and we’ll provide all the darts. Event will be outside, so wear appropriate clothes! RSVP to Pastor Mayer at pastorjmayer@gmail.com. We hope to see you there!
MEN OF HIS WORD CONFERENCE: Registration is open for the 2026 Men of His Word Conference, “Courage Under Fire,” on Oct. 24 at the Mayo Civic Center in Rochester. See the west bulletin board for details.
CRADLE ROLL: A volunteer is being sought to take over the mailings for Immanuel’s Cradle Roll program which provides materials connecting new families and infants with spiritual support from birth through the start of Sunday School. If you have just a spare few minutes each month to do this, please contact Emily Kleist or Julie Gutknecht.
AT-HOME-in-the-WORD CONFERENCE: God teaches us to pass on His truths to the next generation, but parents often feel uncertain about how to incorporate faith into daily home life. Whether you are raising toddlers or teenagers, or are first-time parents or grandparents, please join Redeeming Grace Lutheran Church on Saturday, October 3rd for a morning of practical tips to help you confidently engage your children in the Christian faith at home. See more information on the west bulletin including their QR code or link for this free conference. Please register by Wednesday, September 30th. Child care will be provided.
ATTENDANCE AT THE LORD’S HOUSE:
Sunday, Sept. 20 68
FOR THE LORD’S WORK: Sept. 20: General Fund-$1027 West-$50, Fishers-$3. Missions: Sept. 20-$580. (Missions YTD-$16,234).
