2025-09-28 — Christian Giving Is “impossible”

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Church Year: Pentecost 16:
Date: September 28, 2025

Theme: Christian Giving Is “impossible”

1. It presents an impossible challenge – that can only be met by faith
2. It comes with an impossible promise – that can only be believed by faith

– 1 Kings 17:8-16

– Professor Paul Naumann

Bulletin:

Liturgy: WS, p. 12 ff.

Hymns:

TLH 279 : Today Thy Mercy Calls Us Hymnary.org link
TLH 439 : O God of Mercy, God of Might Hymnary.org link
TLH 441 : We Give Thee but Thine Own Hymnary.org link
TLH 403 : Savior, Thy Dying Love Hymnary.org link

Scripture Readings:

Hebrews 9:24-28 Mark 12:38-44

Theme: Christian Giving Is “impossible”

1. It presents an impossible challenge – that can only be met by faith
2. It comes with an impossible promise – that can only be believed by faith

1 Kings 17:8–16 (Listen)

The Widow of Zarephath

8 Then the word of the LORD came to him, 9 “Arise, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and dwell there. Behold, I have commanded a widow there to feed you.” 10 So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, behold, a widow was there gathering sticks. And he called to her and said, “Bring me a little water in a vessel, that I may drink.” 11 And as she was going to bring it, he called to her and said, “Bring me a morsel of bread in your hand.” 12 And she said, “As the LORD your God lives, I have nothing baked, only a handful of flour in a jar and a little oil in a jug. And now I am gathering a couple of sticks that I may go in and prepare it for myself and my son, that we may eat it and die.” 13 And Elijah said to her, “Do not fear; go and do as you have said. But first make me a little cake of it and bring it to me, and afterward make something for yourself and your son. 14 For thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, ‘The jar of flour shall not be spent, and the jug of oil shall not be empty, until the day that the LORD sends rain upon the earth.’” 15 And she went and did as Elijah said. And she and he and her household ate for many days. 16 The jar of flour was not spent, neither did the jug of oil become empty, according to the word of the LORD that he spoke by Elijah.

(ESV)