SUNDAY, AUGUST 23, 2026 13th SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
CHRIST THE KING LUTHERAN CHURCH
PASTOR: Rev. Harry M. Krolus
CHURCH: 410-356-3400 CELL: 410-707-7663
Church email: ctklclcms@yahoo.com
Church Web Site: ctklchurch.org
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WELCOME to everyone who is worshiping with us today. We are glad that you are here! We pray that your worship experience here at Christ The King is spiritually uplifting and rewarding. If you are visiting, please sign our guest book and introduce yourself to Pastor Harry.
(Please turn off all electronic devices before worship begins; or, if you are using a Bible app to enhance your worship experience or to use PayPal, please enable the do not disturb function on your phone.)
WORDS OF WELCOME
THE HANDSHAKE OF CHRISTIAN PEACE
OPENING HYMN: 802 “Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise”
THE INVOCATION
P. We begin our worship in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
C. Amen.
THE PSALM FOR THE DAY: Psalm 26
P. Vindicate me, O LORD, for I have led a blameless life; I have trusted in the LORD without wavering.
C. Test me, O LORD, and try me, examine my heart and my mind;
P. for your love is ever before me, and I walk continually in your truth.
C. I do not sit with deceitful men, nor do I consort with hypocrites;
P. I abhor the assembly of evildoers and refuse to sit with the wicked.
C. I wash my hands in innocence, and go about your altar, O LORD,
P. proclaiming aloud your praise and telling of all your wonderful deeds.
C. I love the house where you live, O LORD, the place where your glory dwells.
P. Do not take away my soul along with sinners, my life with bloodthirsty men,
C. in whose hands are wicked schemes, whose right hands are full of bribes.
P. But I lead a blameless life; redeem me and be merciful to me.
C. My feet stand on level ground; in the great assembly I will praise the LORD.
THE KYRIE (Sung to the tune “Amazing Grace”)
Have mercy on Your people, Lord.
Have mercy, Christ, our King.
Renew us by Your mercy, Lord;
Accept the prayers we bring.
THE GLORIA (Sung to the tune “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing”)
Glory be to God on high!
This is now our joyful cry.
Peace to all who live on earth,
Grace and favor for new birth.
You we praise and glorify,
Worship you, O Lord most high.
Gracious Father, heav’nly King,
To your name alone we sing:
Praise the glory of your name,
Now and evermore the same!
Jesus Christ, the Father’s Son,
Sole-begotten, holy One,
Born on earth from realms on high,
Born true man for us to die,
Lamb of God, you take away
This world’s sin: Grant peace we pray.
With the Spirit, you alone
Are most high, O God the Son,
And the Father, God above.
Praise we now your glorious love.
THE OLD TESTAMENT LESSON: Isaiah 51:1-6
“Listen to me, you who pursue righteousness and who seek the LORD: Look to the rock from which you were cut and to the quarry from which you were hewn; look to Abraham, your father, and to Sarah, who gave you birth. When I called him he was but one, and I blessed him and made him many. The LORD will surely comfort Zion and will look with compassion on all her ruins; he will make her deserts like Eden, her wastelands like the garden of the LORD. Joy and gladness will be found in her, thanksgiving and the sound of singing. “Listen to me, my people; hear me, my nation: The law will go out from me; my justice will become a light to the nations. My righteousness draws near speedily, my salvation is on the way, and my arm will bring justice to the nations. The islands will look to me and wait in hope for my arm. Lift up your eyes to the heavens, look at the earth beneath; the heavens will vanish like smoke, the earth will wear out like a garment and its inhabitants die like flies. But my salvation will last forever, my righteousness will never fail.
THE NEW TESTAMENT LESSON: Romans 11:33 - 12:8
Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! “Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?” “Who has ever given to God, that God should repay him?” For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen.
Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God — this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is — his good, pleasing and perfect will.
For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.
THE CHILDREN’S MESSAGE
THE GOSPEL LESSON: Matthew 16:13-20
When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”
They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
“But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”
Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” Then he warned his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Christ.
THE CREED (Sung to the tune “Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise”)
In God we believe: the Creator whose pow’r
In mercy has brought us for worship this hour.
He graciously grants us our years and our days
And blesses with kindness our work and our ways.
In Jesus, the Savior, our hope is secured.
True God and true man once the cross he endured
To grant our lives wholeness, forgiveness of sin.
With hearts freed from guilt, we know true peace within.
God’s Spirit at work in our lives we confess;
With power and truth the church now he does bless.
As saints, God’s forgiven, one day we shall then
Be living in glory forever. Amen.
THE SERMON: “Not A Fan”
text: Romans 12:1-2
THE OFFERING
AN OFFERING SONG (783)
Take my life, that I may be consecrated, Lord, to thee;
Take my moments and my days; let them flow in ceaseless praise.
Take my silver and my gold, not a mite would I withhold;
Take my intellect, and use every pow’r as thou shalt choose.
CONGREGATIONAL PRAYERS
THE LORD’S PRAYER
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.
THE LORD’S SUPPER
We invite to the Lord’s Table all who have been baptized, accept the Bible as God’s authoritative Word, and believe that the body and blood of the risen Christ are really present in the bread and wine; given for the forgiveness of our sins. If you prefer the individual cup, please extend one index finger as your hands are folded on the altar railing. This will alert the communion assistants of your preference. Also, if for some medical reason you are not able to consume alcohol, non-alcoholic wine is available in the individual cups. The non-alcoholic wine is “red” while the wine is “white”.
ADMONITION TO COMMUNICANTS
P. As we approach the Lord’s table, we confess our belief in the Triune God, and that in this Sacrament we are receiving the precious body and blood of our Savior Jesus Christ, together with the bread and the wine for the forgiveness of sins and the strengthening of faith. Come to the Lord’s supper with thanksgiving; gratefully accepting his invitation and asking his blessing upon your reception.
THE WORDS OF INSTITUTION
THE SANCTUS (Sung to the tune “Holy, Holy, Holy”)
Holy, holy, holy Lord God Almighty!
Day and night we join to praise
Your love and majesty.
You alone are holy, worthy and righteous,
God in three persons, blessed Trinity!
Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty!
We rejoice to join the hymns
Of earth and sky and sea.
Generations praise you, with saints and angels.
Holy and bless’d through all eternity.
THE DISTRIBUTION
HYMNS: 637 “Draw Near And Take The Body Of The Lord”
556 “Dear Christians One And All Rejoice”
698 “May We Thy Precepts, Lord, Fulfill”
THE AGNUS DEI (Sung to the tune “My Faith Looks Up To Thee”)
O Lamb of God, we pray:
Take all our sins away---
Our faith increase.
Have mercy on us all,
Strengthen us when we fall,
Answer our fervent call
And grant us peace.
A CLOSING PRAYER
Almighty and ever living God, we thank you for having fed us with the body and blood of our Savior Jesus Christ, assuring us thereby that we are truly members of his body, the Church. And we ask you to help us by your Holy Spirit that we may continue in this fellowship and do the good works which you desire us to do; through Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord, to whom with you and the same Spirit, be all honor and glory, now and forever. Amen.
THE BLESSING
P. May our triune God, who has brought you safely to the beginning of this day, grant you his peace, now and always.
C. Amen.
CLOSING HYMN: 923 “Almighty Father, Bless The Word”
