The Fourth Sunday of Easter

OT: Ezekiel 17:1-10

OTA: Ezekiel 34:11-16

NT: 1 Corinthians 15:50-58

NTA: 1 Peter 2:13-25

CL: Matthew 13:1-23

GA: Matthew 26:30-35

Ps: Psalm 78:53-72

April 17^th

Collect of the Day:

O God, our Maker and Redeemer, who has cast Your word upon the Earth, allow us to be nurtured and grow in the true faith; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Theme for the Week          Sowing of Seed

Verse of the Week:              Matthew 13:16

Daily Bible Reading List:

Mon:  Ezekiel 34:11-16       Tues:  Matthew 13:1-23      Wed:  Matthew 26:30-35

Thurs:            1 Corinthians 15:50-58     Fri:  Ezekiel 17:1-10

Catechism Reading:

The Second Petition

Thy kingdom come.

What does this mean?

The kingdom of God certainly comes by itself without our prayer,

but we pray in this petition that it may come to us also.

How does God's kingdom come?

God's kingdom comes

when our heavenly Father gives us His Holy Spirit,

so that by His grace we believe His holy Word

and lead godly lives here in time and there in eternity.

The Third Petition

Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

What does this mean?

The good and gracious will of God is done even without our prayer,

but we pray in this petition that it may be done among us also.

How is God's will done?

God's will is done

when he breaks and hinders every evil plan and purpose

of the devil, the world, and our sinful nature,

which do not want us to hallow God's name

or let His kingdom come;

and when He strengthens and keeps us firm in His Word and faith

until we die.

This is His good and gracious will.

The Third Sunday of Easter

OT: 2 Samuel 18:19-33

OTA: Daniel 7:9-14

NT: 1 Corinthians 15:12-19

NTA: 1 Corinthians 15:12-34

CL: Matthew 28:11-20

GA: Matthew 10:5-25

Ps: Psalm 96:1-13

April 10^th

Collect of the Day:

O God, through the humiliation of Your Son You raised up the fallen world.  Grant to Your faithful people, rescued from the peril of everlasting death, perpetual gladness and eternal joys; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Theme for the Week          Carrying the Good News

Verse of the Week:              Matthew 28:19-20

Daily Bible Reading List:

Mon:  2 Samuel 18:19-33  Tues:  Daniel 7:9-14           Wed:  Matthew 28:11-20

Thurs:            1 Corinthians 15:12-19     Fri:  Matthew 10:5-25

Catechism Reading:

First

What is Baptism?

Baptism is not just plain water,

but it is the water

included in God's command

and combined with God's word.

Which is that word of God?

Christ our Lord says in the last chapter of Matthew:

"Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations,

 baptizing them

in the name of the Father and of the Son

and of the Holy Spirit" (Matthew 28:19).

The Second Sunday of Easter

OT: Exodus 33:10-20

OTA: Ezekiel 37:1-14

NT: 1 Corinthians 15:1-11

NTA: 1 Peter 1:1-9

CL: John 20:19-31

GA: Matthew 18:10-20

Ps: Psalm 98:1-9

April 3^rd

Collect of the Day:

Almighty God, grant that we who have celebrated the Lord’s resurrection may be Your grace confess in our life and conversation that Jesus is Lord and God; through the same Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Theme for the Week          Righteous by Faith

Verse of the Week:              John 20:29

Daily Bible Reading List:

Mon:  Exodus 33:10-20      Tues:  1 Peter 1:1-9            Wed:  John 20:19-31

Thurs:            1 Corinthians 15:1-11       Fri:  Ezekiel 37:1-14

Catechism Reading:

What is the Office of the Keys?[1]

 The Office of the Keys is that special authority

which Christ has given to His church on earth

to forgive the sins of repentant sinners,

but to withhold forgiveness from the unrepentant

as long as they do not repent.

Where is this written?²

 This is what St. John the Evangelist writes in chapter twenty:

The Lord Jesus breathed on His disciples and said,

'Receive the Holy Spirit.

If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven;

if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven' (John 20:22-23).

What do you believe according to these words?²

 I believe that when the called ministers of Christ deal with us

by His divine command,

in particular when they exclude openly unrepentant sinners

from the Christian congregation

and absolve those who repent of their sins and want to do better,

this is just as valid and certain, even in heaven,

as if Christ our dear Lord dealt with us Himself.

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[1] These questions may not have been composed by Luther himself but reflect his teachings and were included in editions of the Small Catechism during his lifetime.

Easter Sunday

Maundy Thursday

OT: Exodus 12:1-16

OTA: Exodus 24:3-11

NT: 1 Corinthians 12:12-31

NTA: 1 Corinthians 11:23-32

CL: Matthew 26:14-35

GA: John 13:1-20

Ps: Psalm 22:22-31

Good Friday

OT: Isaiah 52:13-53:12

OTA: Hosea 6:1-6

NT: 1 Corinthians 15:35-49

NTA: Hebrews 4:14-16

CL: Matthew 26:36-27:61

GA: John 18:1-19:42

Ps: Psalm 22:1-21

Easter Sunday

OT: Jeremiah 31:1-14

OTA: Daniel 10:2-21

NT: 1 Corinthians 15:20-34

NTA: Colossians 2:6-16

CL: Matthew 28:1-10

GA: John 20:1-18

Ps: Psalm 16:1-11

March 27^th

Collect of the Day:

Almighty God the Father, through Your only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ, You have overcome death and opened the gate of everlasting life to us.  Grant that we, who celebrate with joy the day of our Lord’s resurrection, may be raised from the death of sin by Your life-giving Spirit; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Theme for the Week          The Resurrected Man

Verse of the Week:              Matthew 28:6

Daily Bible Reading List:

Mon:  John 20:1-18 Tues:  Daniel 10:2-21         Wed:  Matthew 28:1-10

Thurs:            1 Corinthians 15:20-34     Fri:  Jeremiah 31:1-14

Catechism Reading:

Fourth

What does such baptizing with water indicate?

It indicates that the Old Adam in us

should by daily contrition and repentance

be drowned and die with all sins and evil desires,

and that a new man should daily emerge and arise

to live before God in righteousness and purity forever.

Where is this written?

 St. Paul writes in Romans chapter six:

"We were therefore buried with Him

through baptism into death

in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead

through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life" (Romans 6:4).