Saturday, May 30, 2009

Memory Work and Readings for Pentecost (May 31)

Daily Readings
Sunday:
Numbers 21:10-35
Luke 21:20-38

Monday:
Numbers 22:1-20
Luke 22:1-23

Tuesday:
Numbers 22:21—23:3
Luke 22:24-46

Wednesday:
Numbers 23:4-28
Luke 22:47-71

Thursday:
Numbers 24:1-25
Luke 23:1-25

Friday:
Numbers 27:12-23
Luke 23:26-56

Saturday:
Numbers 32:1-6, 16-27
Luke 24:1-27



Bible Verse for Memorizing
Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. (Psalm 1:1-2)



Small Catechism for Memorizing: Baptism

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)

Saturday, May 23, 2009

Memory Work and Readings for Exaudi (May 24)

Daily Readings
Sunday:
Numbers 14:1-25
Luke 18:18-34

Monday:
Numbers 14:26-45
Luke 18:35—19:10

Tuesday:
Numbers 16:1-22
Luke 19:11-28

Wednesday:
Numbers 16:23-40
Luke 19:29-48

Thursday:
Numbers 16:41—17:13
Luke 20:1-18

Friday:
Numbers 20:1-21
Luke 20:19-44

Saturday:
Numbers 20:22—21:9
Luke 20:45—21:19



Bible Verse for Memorizing
The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. (Psalm 118:22)



Small Catechism for Memorizing: Baptism
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.

Saturday, May 16, 2009

Memory Work and Readings for Rogate (5-17-09

Daily Readings
Sunday:
Numbers 3:1-16, 39-48
Luke 14:25—15:10

Monday:
Numbers 8:5-26
Luke 15:11-32

Tuesday:
Numbers 9:1-23
Luke 16:1-18

Wednesday:
Numbers 10:11-36
Luke 16:19-31

Thursday:
Numbers 11:1-23, 31-35
Luke 17:1-19

Friday:
Numbers 11:24-29; 12:1-16
Luke 17:20-37

Saturday:
Numbers 13:1-3, 17-33
Luke 18:1-17



Bible Verse for Memorizing
When [Christ] ascended on high, He led captivity captive, and gave gifts to men. (Ephesians 4.8)



Small Catechism for Memorizing: Baptism
How can water do such great things? Certainly not just water, but the word of God in and with the water does these things, along with the faith which trusts this word of God in the water. For without God’s word the water is plain water and no Baptism. But with the word of God it is a Baptism, that is, a life-giving water, rich in grace, and a washing of the new birth in the Holy Spirit, as St. Paul says in Titus, chapter three: “He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by His grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. This is a trustworthy saying.” (Titus 3:5-8)

Thursday, May 7, 2009

Daily Readings:
Sunday:
Leviticus 20:1-16, 22-27
Luke 11:37-54

Monday:
Leviticus 21:1-24
Luke 12:1-12

Tuesday:
Leviticus 23:1-22
Luke 12:13-34

Wednesday:
Leviticus 23:23-44
Luke 12:35-53

Thursday:
Leviticus 24:1-23
Luke 12:54—13:17

Friday:
Leviticus 26:1-20
Luke 13:18-35

Saturday:
Leviticus 26:21-33, 39-44
Luke 14:1-24


Bible Verse for Memorizing
Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath! Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil. (Psalm 37:8)


Small Catechism for Memorizing: Baptism
How can water do such great things? Certainly not just water, but the word of God in and with the water does these things, along with the faith which trusts this word of God in the water. For without God’s word the water is plain water and no Baptism. But with the word of God it is a Baptism, that is, a life-giving water, rich in grace, and a washing of the new birth in the Holy Spirit.

Tuesday, May 5, 2009

Myths about Holy Communion: Worthiness

Originally published in Tidings, Immanuel's parish newsletter.

Myths about Holy Communion: Worthiness

Note: This month's "From the Pastor" article continues an occasional series, "Myths about ...". The series will address common misconceptions about Holy Scripture, church doctrine, the liturgy, the Missouri Synod, etc. If you have an idea for the series, or any other topic you would like to see addressed, send your questions to askthepastor@immanuelalexandria.org and you may see a response in a future issue of Tidings!

On Holy Thursday, I began my sermon with a quotation from the great Swedish Bishop, Bo Giertz: “There are no worthy guests at the Lord’s table. None has deserved to come.” That quotation generated a few questions about how it squares with what the Small Catechism says on worthiness:

Who receives this Sacrament worthily?
Fasting and bodily preparation are certainly fine outward training. But that person is truly worthy and well prepared who has faith in these words: "Given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins." But anyone who does not believe these words or doubts them is unworthy and unprepared, for the words "for you" require all hearts to believe.

On the surface, it appears there is a contradiction. The Giertz quotation says there are no worthy communicants; the Small Catechism says the worthy communicant is the one who has faith in the words of Jesus. But there is no contradiction. Both are making the same point: worthiness is not in ourselves, but in Christ. The late Donald Deffner, a seminary professor in the Missouri Synod, put it this way: "To be 'worthy and well prepared' doesn't mean attaining a certain level of goodness, but rather examining oneself and seeing one's utter need for Christ."

To say that none of us deserves to come to the Lord's Table is true. We are sinners through and through. We are beggars, poor, miserable, worthless. No one has the right to approach. Not the pastor, or church president, or head elder, or most-generous giver, or the member with the most seniority. It's not our church, but the Lord's Church. And so we approach as invited guests, not worthy to come on our own, but finding all our worthiness in Christ.

This means we approach as penitents. Our approach is with faith in the words, "Given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins." And so we go the altar as sinners looking for forgiveness. I like to put it this way: Worthiness consists of seeing our unworthiness.

When we see our own unworthiness, and thus how much we need the righteousness and life that Christ is and gives in the Sacrament, we will have a deep hunger and thirst for the Sacrament. It becomes the center of our life, and we learn to pray that great Eucharistic Prayer: "To Thee [O Christ] will we live, to Thee will we die, and Thine shall we be forever."

Your unworthy shepherd,
+Pastor Esget

Saturday, May 2, 2009

Memory Work and Readings for Jubilate (5-3-09)

Daily Readings
Sunday:
Leviticus 8:1-13, 30-36
Luke 9:1-17

Monday:
Leviticus 9:1-24
Luke 9:18-36

Tuesday:
Leviticus 10:1-20
Luke 9:37-62

Wednesday:
Leviticus 16:1-24
Luke 10:1-22

Thursday:
Leviticus 17:1-16
Luke 10:23-42

Friday:
Leviticus 18:1-7, 20—19:8
Luke 11:1-13

Saturday:
Leviticus 19:9-18, 26-37
Luke 11:14-36



Bible Verse for Memorizing
Jesus said, “If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me.” (Luke 9:23)



Small Catechism for Memorizing: Baptism
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.” (Mark16:16)