Verse for the week:
“You are not your own; you were bought with a price.” I Cor
6.19-20
Prayer for the week:
O Lord, teach us how to pray. Direct the lives of your servants toward
the goal of everlasting salvation, that, surrounded by all the changes and
uncertainties of life, we may be defended by your gracious and ready help in
Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (adapted from Lutheran
Book of Worship, Minister’s Desk edition, p.113.)
Bible reading for the day: Matthew 16.13-20 (note: Peter
confesses Jesus as the Christ, the Son of God… and Jesus declares that he will
build the church not on Peter, but on this confession of faith.)
13 Now when Jesus came into the district of
Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son
of Man is?” 14 And they said, “Some say John
the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the
prophets.” 15 He said to them, “But who do you
say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter replied, “You
are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17 And
Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh
and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in
heaven. 18 And I tell you, you are Peter,
and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates
of hell shall not prevail against it. 19 I
will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you
bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall
be loosed in heaven.” 20 Then he strictly
charged the disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ.
Prayer (based on TRIP** method): Gracious and almighty Father, thank you
for sending Jesus, your Son and for giving me and your whole church faith that
trusts him and confesses his name. You have entrusted us with the authority to
bind and forgive sin. Please forgive us when we are bad at this and when our
faith crumbles. Continue to build your church not on us nor our will, but on
the confession of Christ as Lord, for he has already crashed the gates of hell.
In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.
Hymn: follow this link to a beloved classic that
gives further voice to today’s conversation with the Lord: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v-AzLnm1Tws
“I believe in the Holy Spirit...”
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 through the Gospel, enlightened me with
his gifts, and sanctified and preserved me in the true faith. In the same way,
he calls, gathers, enlightens, and sanctifies the whole Christian church on
earth, and preserves it in unity with Jesus Christ in the one true faith. In
this Christian church, he daily forgives abundantly all my sins and the sins of
all believers. At the last day, he will raise me and all the dead and will
grant everlasting life to me and to all who believe in Christ. This is most
certainly true! (from The Small Catechism, by Martin Luther)
Benediction: Now
to him who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far
more than all we can ask or imagine, to him be glory in the church and in
Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen. (Eph 3:20-21)
*There are many patterns
for devotions. This pattern has been
followed by God’s people for centuries.
**The T.R.I.P. approach to
prayer is based on the way Martin Luther prayed and taught others to pray. It was later developed by Walter and Ingrid
Trobisch and then adapted by Mount Carmel Ministries (Alexandria, MN www.dailytext.com). The method is founded on scripture and easy
to remember: T: thanksgiving
R: regret
(repentance)
I:
intercession (asking God to take a specific action)
P: plan
or purpose
Reading a biblical text and
then applying this method gives one a sound, simple way to form one’s
prayers...not to mention that it helps one learn how to faithfully reflect on
God’s Word and talk to God.
Thank you, pastor Paul.
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