Saturday, February 28, 2009

Memory Work and Readings for Invocabit (March 1)

Daily Readings
Sunday:
Genesis 4:1-26
Mark 2:18-28

Monday:
Genesis 6:1—7:5
Mark 3:1-19

Tuesday:
Genesis 7:11—8:12
Mark 3:20-35

Wednesday:
Genesis 8:13—9:17
Mark 4:1-20

Thursday:
Genesis 11:27—12:20
Mark 4:21-41

Friday:

Genesis 13:1-18
Mark 5:1-20

Saturday:
Genesis 15:1-21
Mark 5:21-43


Bible Verse for Memorizing
You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve. (St. Matthew 4:10)


Small Catechism for Memorizing: The Lord’s Prayer
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.

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

President Kieschnick's remarks on the 2009 March for Life

The following is an excerpt from President Kieschnick February 2009 Letter to Pastors. You may view the entire letter here.

March for Life 2009


You may have read in other media about the Jan. 22 March for Life in Washington, D.C. The day began for me with worship at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Alexandria, Va., where I was privileged to preach to the assembly of believers who had gathered from numerous states for the occasion. I also was privileged to offer the opening prayer for the pre-march program/rally on the Mall in Washington. (The text of the prayer is online at www.lcms.org?14682.) I was amazed by the number of members of Congress who subsequently appeared on stage also as part of those activities and who spoke to the crowd about life issues--unapologetically, passionately, vigorously, and often biblically.

Among the crowd, which numbered in the hundreds of thousands, were members and friends of Lutherans For Life. Many of these wonderful Christian people have gathered in previous years as well to demonstrate their support for the sanctity of life from the moment of conception. From all accounts, they turned out in record numbers this year.

After the pre-march activities, I began the march itself near the front of the parade, along with other pre-march festivity participants. After walking a half hour or so, I waited on the curb for the critical mass of Lutherans For Life marchers to pass by so I could join them. As I waited, I was struck by the variety of age groups represented in the parade. There were children and young people, high-school age and below, and no small contingent of college students—including a group from Concordia University Wisconsin in Mequon. There also were older adults, many gathered in congregational groups and led by their pastors, priests, and rabbis.

After quite some time waiting, we began to wonder when the LFL group would reach us. Making contact by cell phone, we discovered that the number of marchers was so great that even after nearly an hour had passed, our LFL group had not taken its first step toward the U.S. Supreme Court building, which marked the end of the march!

It was for me a quite memorable day that focused on a matter of great significance. For more information on the day’s events, see the online Reporter story at www.lcms.org?14703.

My dear brothers in Christ, I evangelically encourage you to write, preach, and teach about what God has to say about His precious gift of life!

Saturday, February 21, 2009

Memory Work and Readings for Quinquagesima (February 22)

Daily Readings
Sunday:
Job 17:1-26
John 7:14-31

Monday:
Job 18:1-21
John 7:32-53

Tuesday:
Job 19:1-12, 21-27
John 8:1-20

Wednesday:
Genesis 1:1-19
Mark 1:1-13

Thursday:
Genesis 1:20—2:3
Mark 1:14-28

Friday:
Genesis 2:4-25
Mark 1:29-45

Saturday:
Genesis 3:1-24
Mark 2:1-17


Bible Verse for Memorizing
Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me! (St. Luke 18:38)


Small Catechism for Memorizing: The Lord’s Prayer
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.

Saturday, February 14, 2009

Memory Work and Readings for Sexagesima (February 15)

Daily Readings
Sunday:
Job 11:1-20
John 5:19-29

Monday:
Job 13:1-6, 12-25
John 5:30-47

Tuesday:
Job 13:1-12
John 6:1-21

Wednesday:
Job 13:13-28
John 6:22-40

Thursday:
Job 14:1-22
John 6:41-59

Friday:
Job 15:1-23, 30-35
John 6:60-71

Saturday:
Job 16:1-22
John 7:1-13



Bible Verse for Memorizing
The [seed] that fell on the good ground are those who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience. (St. Luke 8:15)



Small Catechism for Memorizing:  The Lord’s Prayer
The First Petition: Hallowed be Thy name.

What does this mean? God’s name is certainly holy in itself, but we pray in this petition that it may be kept holy among us also.

How is God’s name kept holy? God’s name is kept holy when the Word of God is taught in it’s truth and purity, and we, as the children of God, also lead holy lives according to it. Help us to do this, dear Father in heaven! But anyone who teaches or lives contrary to God’s Word profanes the name of God among us. Protect us from this, heavenly Father!

Saturday, February 7, 2009

Sunday: 
Job 5:1-27
John 2:13-25

Monday: 
Job 6:1-13
John 3:1-21

Tuesday: 
Job 6:14-30
John 3:22—4:6

Wednesday: 
Job 7:1-21
John 4:7-26

Thursday: 
Job 8:1-22
John 4:27-45

Friday: 
Job 9:1-35
John 4:46-54

Saturday: 
Job 10:1-22
John 5:1-18



Bible Verse for Memorizing
Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. (1 Corinthians 9:24)


Small Catechism for Memorizing
The Lord’s Prayer
 

The Introduction: Our Father who art in heaven.

What does this mean? With these words God tenderly invites us to believe that He is our true Father and that we are His true children, so that with all boldness and confidence we may ask Him as dear children ask their dear father.