Sexagesima (2024-02-04)

Isaiah 55:10-13
Psalm 84
2 Corinthians 11:19-12:9 or Hebrews 4:9-13
Luke 8:4-15

Scripture Alone

The Sower sows the seed of His Word (Luke 8:4-15). This Word is living and powerful (Heb. 4:9-13) to conceive new life in those who hear it. But the planting of Christ is attacked by the devil, the world, and the flesh. Satan snatches the Word away from hard hearts. The riches and pleasures of this life choke off faith. Shallow and emotional belief withers in time of temptation and trouble. But see how Christ bears this attack for us! Christ’s cross was planted in the hard and rocky soil of Golgotha. A crown of thorns was placed upon His head. Satan and His demons hellishly hounded and devoured Him. Yet, through His dying and rising again, He destroyed these enemies of ours. Jesus is Himself the Seed which fell to the ground and died in order that it might sprout forth to new life and produce much grain. In Him, the weak are strong (2 Cor. 11:19-12:9). He is the Word of the Father which does not return void (Is. 55:10-13) but yields a harvest hundredfold.

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From Martin Luther’s “A Simple Way to Pray”

First, I read and consider what God is teaching me.
Second, I turn to thanksgiving on account of what God has done.
Third, I confess my sin based upon the text.
Fourth, I say a prayer using the text.

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Septuagesima (2024-01-28)

Exodus 17:1–7
Psalm 95:1-9
1 Corinthians 9:24—10:5
Matthew 20:1–16

Grace Alone

The people of Israel contended with the Lord in the wilderness (Ex. 17:1–7). They were dissatisfied with His provision. In the same way, the first laborers in the vineyard complained against the landowner for the wage he provided them (Matt. 20:1–16). They charged him with being unfair, but in reality he was being generous. For the Lord does not wish to deal with us on the basis of what we deserve but on the basis of His abounding grace in Christ. The first—those who rely on their own merits—will be last. “For they were overthrown in the wilderness” (1 Cor. 10:5). But the last, those who rely on Christ, will be first. For Christ is the Rock (1 Cor. 9:24–10:5). He is the One who was struck and from whose side blood and water flowed that we may be cleansed of our sin.

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From Martin Luther’s “A Simple Way to Pray”

First, I read and consider what God is teaching me.
Second, I turn to thanksgiving on account of what God has done.
Third, I confess my sin based upon the text.
Fourth, I say a prayer using the text.

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St. Titus, Pastor and Confessor (Jan. 26)

Acts 20:28–35
Psalm 71:1-14
Titus 1:1–9
Luke 10:1–9

St. Titus, Pastor and Confessor

“Faith,” the “knowledge of the truth” and the “hope of eternal life” are manifested daily among us in His Word through the preaching of the Gospel of Christ Jesus (Titus 1:1–3). The times seem desperate: “Fierce wolves” are among us, “not sparing the flock” (Acts 20:29), and “the harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few” (Luke 10:2).The Lord, however, is diligent to build and care for the Church, “which he obtained with his own blood” (Acts 20:28). We are not to fear, but rather to “pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest” (Luke 10:2). Send us faithful laborers! Preserve all pastors and teachers, that they “hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught” so that they, like St. Titus, “may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it” (Titus 1:9)! Give us ears to hear their preaching in repentance and faith. Preserve them from falsehood, greed and unholy living. We commend them to You and the Word of Your grace (Acts 20:32), that “when the chief Shepherd appears,” (1 Peter 5:4) He may declare, “Well done, good and faithful servant. … Enter into the joy of your master” (Matt. 25:21).

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From Martin Luther’s “A Simple Way to Pray”

First, I read and consider what God is teaching me.
Second, I turn to thanksgiving on account of what God has done.
Third, I confess my sin based upon the text.
Fourth, I say a prayer using the text.

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The Conversion of St. Paul (Jan. 25)

Acts 9:1–22
Psalm 67
Galatians 1:11–24
Matthew 19:27–30

God’s Enemies Are Conquered by the Revelation of Grace in Christ

Christ brings about a great reversal in St. Paul. “He who used to persecute us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy” (Gal. 1:23). The enemy of the Gospel becomes its foremost preacher, and the last of the apostles becomes the first (Matt. 19:30). Paul is God’s “chosen instrument … to carry [His] name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel” (Acts 9:15). The conversion of Paul is only a more dramatic example of what God does in revealing Christ to us. The bondage of our sin makes saving faith impossible. “I believe that I cannot … believe” (Small Catechism, Third Article of the Creed). But even this is no obstacle for our Lord’s grace in Christ and the Holy Spirit’s power through the Gospel. Baptized, filled with the Holy Spirit, and hearing the Word of Christ, our ears are opened and our spiritual blindness is lifted (Acts 9:17–19). It is dangerous to be a traitor to Christ’s enemies — “I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name” (Acts 9:16) — but everything that is left behind is “rubbish” compared to “the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus” (Phil. 3:8) and the eternal life that we, with St. Paul, will at last inherit (Matt. 19:29).

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From Martin Luther’s “A Simple Way to Pray”

First, I read and consider what God is teaching me.
Second, I turn to thanksgiving on account of what God has done.
Third, I confess my sin based upon the text.
Fourth, I say a prayer using the text.

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St. Timothy, Pastor and Confessor (Jan. 24)

Acts 16:1–5
Psalm 71:15-24
1 Timothy 6:11–16
Matthew 24:42–47

St. Timothy, Pastor and Confessor

Our Master, Jesus Christ, “is coming at an hour you do not expect” (Matt. 24:44). He sets the servants of His Word as the watchmen and overseers of His household (Matt. 24:45). He commands them to keep, guard and “fight the good fight of the faith” entrusted to them (1 Tim. 6:12), “each according to his ability” (Matt. 25:15). Just as Christ “made the good confession” before Pilate (1 Tim. 6:13), so His servants stand before the Church and the world, and by their preaching the Lord strengthens faith and grants increase to His Church (Acts 16:5), the “pillar and buttress of the truth” (1 Tim. 3:15). St. Timothy, Paul’s friend and son in the faith, is an example of such a faithful and wise servant, set over the household of God in Ephesus to nourish in “righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness” (1 Tim. 6:11). The Lord still appoints men like Timothy to bear fruit that will abide (John 15:16), so that the whole household may confess and bear witness to the One “who gives life to all things” (1 Tim. 6:13).

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From Martin Luther’s “A Simple Way to Pray”

First, I read and consider what God is teaching me.
Second, I turn to thanksgiving on account of what God has done.
Third, I confess my sin based upon the text.
Fourth, I say a prayer using the text.

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Transfiguration of Our Lord (2024-01-21)

Exodus 34:29–35 or Exodus 3:1–14
Psalm 2
2 Peter 1:16–21
Matthew 17:1–9

Jesus Is Transfigured and Manifests His Glory

The Lord appeared to Moses in the light of the burning bush (Ex. 3:1–14). Later Moses’ face would shine with the light of God’s glory when he came down from Mount Sinai (Ex. 34:29–35). At the Transfiguration, Moses and Elijah appeared with the One who is the Light of Light Himself (Matt. 17:1–9). Jesus’ glory as God shines with brilliant splendor in and through His human nature. By this epiphany, our Lord confirmed the prophetic word (2 Pet. 1:16–21), revealing that He is the fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets. He manifested His majesty as the eternal Son of the Father, and He wonderfully foreshowed our adoption as sons (Collect). We who have been baptized into Christ’s body are given a glimpse of the glory that we will share with Him in the resurrection on the Last Day.

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From Martin Luther’s “A Simple Way to Pray”

First, I read and consider what God is teaching me.
Second, I turn to thanksgiving on account of what God has done.
Third, I confess my sin based upon the text.
Fourth, I say a prayer using the text.

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The Confession of St. Peter (Jan. 18)

Acts 4:8–13
Psalm 118:19-29
2 Peter 1:1–15
Mark 8:27–35 (36–9:1)

Losing Ourselves in the Confession of the One Name of Salvation

St. Peter speaks for all disciples when he confesses, “You are the Christ” (Mark 8:29). This confession is the bedrock of the Church, which Christ Himself builds (Matt. 16:18), for “this Jesus,” the stone rejected by earthly builders, “has become the cornerstone” (Acts 4:11). This was a scandal even to Peter. The Christ must suffer, be rejected, be killed “and after three days rise again” (Mark 8:31), for through this work of salvation received by faith, God’s “precious and very great promises” are granted, “so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature” (2 Peter 1:4). Wherever Jesus is the Christ, His disciples deny themselves, take up their crosses and follow Him (Mark 8:34). They have been cleansed from their former sins and increase in faith, virtue, knowledge, self-control, steadfastness, godliness, brotherly affection and love, effective and fruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Peter 1:5–9). All who trust in Jesus, the Christ of Peter’s confession, will save their life, though for His sake they lose it (Mark 8:35). “For there is no other name … by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).

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From Martin Luther’s “A Simple Way to Pray”

First, I read and consider what God is teaching me.
Second, I turn to thanksgiving on account of what God has done.
Third, I confess my sin based upon the text.
Fourth, I say a prayer using the text.

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Second Sunday after the Epiphany (2024-01-14)

Exodus 33:12–23 or Amos 9:11–15
Psalm 67 or Psalm 111
Ephesians 5:22–33 or Romans 12:6–16
John 2:1–11

Jesus’ First Miracle Reveals God’s Glory

The coming of the Messianic kingdom means the restoration of creation. The sign of this restoration is that “the mountains shall drip sweet wine” (Amos 9:11–15). When the elements of a fallen creation fail and run short at a wedding feast, our Lord Jesus steps in to restore creation and miraculously changes water into an abundance of the very best wine (John 2:1–11). With this sign, Christ manifests His glory. The “back” of God (Ex. 33:12–23) is revealed to those who believe. The hour will come when Jesus will again manifest His glory by taking creation’s curse into His own body to release us from its power. The Bridegroom will give His life for the Bride (Eph. 5:22–32), and from His side will flow water and blood, the holy sacraments by which she is cleansed and made one with Him. Through this sacrificial love of Christ we are enabled to “love one another with brotherly affection . . .” and to “outdo one another in showing honor” (Rom. 12:6–16).

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From Martin Luther’s “A Simple Way to Pray”

First, I read and consider what God is teaching me.
Second, I turn to thanksgiving on account of what God has done.
Third, I confess my sin based upon the text.
Fourth, I say a prayer using the text.

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Baptism of Our Lord (2024-01-07)

Joshua 3:1–3, 7–8, 13–17 or Isaiah 42:1–7
Psalm 85
1 Corinthians 1:26–31
Matthew 3:13–17

In His Baptism, Jesus Takes His Place with Sinners

Our Lord Jesus is baptized “to fulfill all righteousness” (Matt. 3:13–17). He partakes of a baptism for sinners in order that He might be our substitute and bear the judgment we deserve. In the water, Jesus trades places with us. Our sin becomes His sin. His righteousness becomes our righteousness. Our glory, therefore, is in “Christ Jesus, who became to us . . . righteousness and sanctification and redemption” (1 Cor. 1:26–31). Jesus is the “chosen” One sent from the Father to release us from the prison house of sin and death (Is. 42:1–7). Baptized into Christ, we also become the chosen ones, beloved of the Father. We cross the Jordan with Jesus (Joshua 3) through death into the promised land of new life with God.

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From Martin Luther’s “A Simple Way to Pray”

First, I read and consider what God is teaching me.
Second, I turn to thanksgiving on account of what God has done.
Third, I confess my sin based upon the text.
Fourth, I say a prayer using the text.

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Epiphany of Our Lord (2024-01-06)

Isaiah 60:1–6
Psalm 24
Ephesians 3:1–12
Matthew 2:1–12

The Lord God Is Manifested in the Incarnate Son

The Feast of the Epiphany centers in the visit of the Magi from the East. In that respect, it is a “Thirteenth Day” of Christmas; and yet, it also marks the beginning of a new liturgical season. While Christmas has focused on the Incarnation of our Lord—that is, on God becoming flesh—the season of Epiphany emphasizes the manifestation or self-revelation of God in that same flesh of Christ. For the Lord Himself has entered our darkness and rises upon us with the brightness of His true light (Is. 60:1–2). He does so chiefly by His Word of the Gospel, which He causes to be preached within His Church on earth—not only to the Jews but also to Gentiles (Eph. 3:8–10). As the Magi were guided by the promises of Holy Scripture to find and worship the Christ Child with His mother in the house (Matt. 2:5–11), so does He call disciples from all nations by the preaching of His Word, to find and worship Him within His Church (Is. 60:3–6). With gold they confess His royalty; with incense, His deity; and with myrrh, His priestly sacrifice (Matt. 2:11).

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From Martin Luther’s “A Simple Way to Pray”

First, I read and consider what God is teaching me.
Second, I turn to thanksgiving on account of what God has done.
Third, I confess my sin based upon the text.
Fourth, I say a prayer using the text.

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