The Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost, At-Home Service for August 8th

It would seem impossible to have heard the passage about the Canaanite woman and not make a comparison with what was heard last week concerning Peter. Jesus said to the Canaanite woman, “…great is your faith!” (Matthew 15:28). And, as we heard last week, Jesus said to Peter, “You of little faith,…” (Matthew 14:31)

Click here to view the at-home version of the service.

Pastor Rike’s Sermon

Before making that comparison it is important to note that faith was at work in both of them. Faith is qualitative. It is either present and working or it isn’t. Since faith was present in both the Canaanite woman as well as Peter it is necessary to clarify what distinguished one from the other; what made one great and the other little.

For his part, Peter had every encouragement to believe. Christ commanded Peter to come out onto the water and take those first, timid steps of faith (Matthew 14:29). But, with the first glimpse of difficulty, seeing the effects of the wind, Peter began to sink. Faith was present but diminished by Peter’s resistance. Peter trusted what the winds and waves could do more than he trusted Christ Jesus.

Click here to read Pastor Rike’s sermon.

---

Video Options

Follow along with the service on video led by Pastor Rike, with music performed by Randy Broker.

The Eleventh Sunday After Pentecost Service for August 8th includes: 
Intro
Hymn-There’s a Wideness in God’s Mercy performed by the Randy Broker
First Reading- Isaiah 56:1, 6-8
Holy Gospel- Matthew 15:21-28
Sermon by Pastor David Rike
Hymn- In Christ There Is No East or West performed by Randy Broker
Prayers
Blessing