At the Lord's table

Verse for the week: “the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.”  Mt 20.28

Prayer for the week:  Almighty God, by the blood of the lamb, you give us what we cannot earn or deserve: forgiveness of our sins, life, and salvation. Send your Holy Spirit and grant us to believe with joy what the scriptures proclaim, through Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord. Amen.

Bible reading for the day:  Psalm 23

 ¹ The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
²     He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
³     He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness
    for his name's sake.

⁴ Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
    I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
    your rod and your staff,
    they comfort me.

⁵ You prepare a table before me
    in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
    my cup overflows.
⁶ Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
    all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord
    forever.

Prayer (based on TRIP* method):  Gracious, good Shepherd, thank you for the table of your kingdom which you prepare and set for me and your church: a sip of wine, a morsel of bread, yet at the same time your body & your blood brimming over with the gifts of forgiveness, life, and salvation.  Thank you!  Deliver me from forgetting that you are with me…that the rod & staff of your word and your presence can defeat anything the devil and his allies throw at us.  Send your Holy Spirit and sustain me as your sheep that together with your whole church, I may delight in your green pastures and your pathways…and may sing to others the praise of you, my Good Shepherd.  In Jesus’ name I ask it.  Amen.

What benefits do we receive in the Lord’s Supper?

The benefits are pointed out in these words: “Given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins.” Through these words the forgiveness of sin, life, and salvation are given to us in the Sacrament, for where there is forgiveness of sin, there is also life and salvation. (from The Small Catechism, by Martin Luther ©Reclaim Resources, Sola Publishing, 2011)

Benediction:  Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and through grace gave us eternal comfort and good hope, comfort your hearts and strengthen them in every good work and word.  Amen.  II Thess 2.16-17

 

*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).  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.