The Fourth Sunday of Easter

OT: Lamentations 3:22-33

OTA: Ezekiel 34:11-16

NT: Revelation 21:9-27

NTA: 1 Peter 2:13-25

CL: Mark 5:21-43

GA: Mark 6:30-44

Ps: Psalm 70:1-5

May 7^th

Collect of the Day:

O God, the giver of all that is good, by Your holy inspiration grant that we may think those things that are right and by Your merciful guiding accomplish them; 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           Seek the LORD

Verse of the Week:  Mark 5:28

Daily Bible Reading List:

Mon: Mark 6:30-44  Tues: Lamentations 3:22-33           Wed: Mark 5:21-43

Thurs: Revelation 21:9-27   Fri: Ezekiel 34:11-16

Catechism Reading:

The Third Article: Sanctification

I believe in the Holy Spirit,

the holy Christian church,

the communion of saints,

the forgiveness of sins,

the resurrection of the body,

and the life everlasting. Amen.

What does this mean?

I believe that I cannot by my own reason or strength

believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to Him;

but the Holy Spirit has called me by the Gospel,

enlightened me with His gifts,

sanctified and kept me in the true faith.

In the same way He calls, gathers, enlightens, and sanctifies

the whole Christian church on earth,

and keeps it with Jesus Christ in the one true faith.

In this Christian church He daily and richly forgives all my sins

and the sins of all believers.

On the Last Day He will raise me and all the dead,

and give eternal life to me and all believers in Christ.

This is most certainly true.

The Third Sunday of Easter

OT: Ezekiel 43:1-12

OTA: Deuteronomy 25:5-10

NT: Revelation 21:1-8

NTA: 1 Corinthians 6:12-20

CL: Mark 12:18-27

GA: John 4:15-30

Ps: Psalm 38:1-22

April 30^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           God of the Defilers

Verse of the Week:  Mark 12:27

Daily Bible Reading List:

Mon: Ezekiel 43:1-12           Tues: 1 Corinthians 6:12-20           Wed: Mark 12:18-27

Thurs: Revelation 21:1-8     Fri: Deuteronomy 25:5-10

Catechism Reading:

What benefits does Baptism give?

It works forgiveness of sins,

rescues from death and the devil,

and gives eternal salvation to all who believe this,

as the words and promises of God declare.

Which are these words and promises of God?

 Christ our Lord says in the last chapter of Mark:

"Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved,

but whoever does not believe will be condemned" (Mark 16:16).

The Second Sunday of Easter

OT: Deuteronomy 1:19-33

OTA: Ezekiel 37:1-14

NT: Revelation 5:1-14

NTA: 1 Corinthians 15:1-12

CL: John 20:19-31

GA: John 1:29-34

Ps: Psalm 88:1-18

April 23^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           Believe the Plan of God

Verse of the Week:  John 20:29

Daily Bible Reading List:

Mon: 1 Corinthians 15:1-12            Tues: John 1:29-34   Wed: John 20:19-31

Thurs: Revelation 5:1-14     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

OT: Exodus 14:1-31

OTA: Exodus 14:10-13, 21-31

NT: Revelation 1:1-20

NTA: 1 Corinthians 15:12-28

CL: Mark 16:1-8

GA: Matthew 28:1-10

Ps: Psalm 64:1-10

April 16^th

Collect of the Day:

O God, for our redemption You gave Your only-begotten Son to the death of the cross and by His glorious resurrection delivered us from the power of the enemy. Grant that all our sin may be drowned through daily repentance and that day by day we may arise to live before You in righteousness and purity forever; 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           Fear and Triumph

Verse of the Week:  Mark 16:8

Daily Bible Reading List:

Mon: Mark 16:1-8     Tues: Exodus 14:1-31          Wed: Revelation 1:1-20

Thurs: 1 Corinthians 15:12-28       Fri: Matthew 28:1-10

Catechism Reading:

Second

What benefits does Baptism give?

It works forgiveness of sins,

rescues from death and the devil,

and gives eternal salvation to all who believe this,

as the words and promises of God declare.

Which are these words and promises of God?

 Christ our Lord says in the last chapter of Mark:

"Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved,

but whoever does not believe will be condemned" (Mark 16:16).