Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church - Olive Branch, MS

Introit: Ps. 55:1, 4-5, 16; antiphon: Ps. 55:16a, 17b, 18a, 22a
Gradual: Ps. 17:8, 2
Old Testament: Jer. 8:4-12
      or Jer. 7:1-11
Psalm 92 (antiphon: v. 4)
Epistle: Rom. 9:30-10:4
      or 1 Cor. 12:1-11
ProperVerse: Ps. 88:1
Gospel: Luke 19:41-48

Jesus Weeps for Jerusalem
Our Lord wept over Jerusalem for the destruction that would soon come upon her. For she did not recognize the time of God's visitation in Christ, who had come to bring her peace (Luke 19:41-48). Through His prophets God had consistently called His people to turn from their deceit and false worship. "But My people do not know the judgments of the Lord" (Jer. 8:4-12). They sought to establish their own righteousness rather than receive Christ's righteousness through faith (Rom. 9:30-10:4). So it was that God was in His temple to cleanse it, a precursor to the once-for-all cleansing from sin which He would accomplish in the temple of His own body on the cross. God grant us to know the things that make for our peace-His visitation in the Word and Sacraments-that by the Holy Spirit we may penitently confess "Jesus is Lord" (1 Cor. 12:1-11).

Isaiah Part 1

Final Session on the Service of the Word

Introit: Ps. 54:1-3, 7; antiphon: Ps. 54:4-5
Gradual: Ps. 8:1
Old Testament: 2 Sam. 22:26-34
Psalm 51:1-12 (antiphon: v. 18)
Epistle: 1 Cor. 10:6-13
ProperVerse: Ps. 112:1
Gospel: Luke 16:1-9 (10-13)

The Steward's Shrewdness Sanctified
"The master commended the dishonest manager for his shrewdness" (Luke 16:1-9). The steward's shrewdness is praiseworthy for two reasons. First, he knew the master would be merciful. He trusted that the master would honor the debts he forgave in the master's name. In the same way, though we have squandered our heavenly Father's possessions in selfishness and sin, Jesus is the Steward who has canceled our debt, knowing that His forgiveness will be honored by the Father because of the holy cross. Secondly, the steward was shrewd in using oil and wheat to provide for his earthly welfare. So also do these earthly elements aid us when pressed into heavenly use in the anointing of baptism and the wheat of the Lord's Supper. Those who have the Sacraments will have an eternal home when their earthly home fails. These provide us aid in times of temptation (1 Cor. 10:6-13). For the Lord is our strength and a shield to all who trust in Him (2 Sam. 22:26-34).

Prophets of Judah - Obadiah 

Beware of False Prophets
"Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves" (Matt. 7:15). Deceit has its strength in masquerading as the truth. False prophets speak a vision of their own heart, not from the mouth of the Lord (Jer. 23:16-29). They deny the judgment of the Lord, speaking peace to the unrepentant, when in truth there is condemnation and wrath. "You will recognize them by their fruits" (Matt. 7:20). The "fruits" of a true prophet are not outward righteousness or success but faithfulness in proclaiming the Word of the Lord. This is the will of the Father in heaven, that pastors take heed to the flock, the Father's adopted ones (Rom. 8:12-17), warning them against the wolves and their lies, and shepherding the Church of God which He purchased with His own blood (Acts 20:27-38). For indeed, the cross is that good tree bearing good fruit-namely, the body and blood of Christ, given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins.

Authority from the Lord - Rev. Neil Vanderbush

Jesus Restores Paradise and Feeds Us Freely
In the Garden of Eden, our first parents received food freely from the gracious hand of God, apart from any burdensome work (Gen 2:7-17). But after the fall, food would be received only through toil and labor. The curse declared, "By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground . . ." (Gen. 3:19). In other words, "The wages of sin is death" (Rom. 6:23). But into this wilderness world came Jesus the Messiah to restore creation. Having compassion on the weary multitudes, He renewed the bounty of Eden on the third day, freely granting an abundance of bread to the 4,000 (Mark 8:1-9). So also our Lord Jesus, having endured the burden of our sin, was raised on the third day to bring us back to Paradise. He now miraculously turns the bread of death into the Bread of Life in the Sacrament, giving you His very body and blood for your forgiveness. For "the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Rom. 6:23).

Rev. Neil Vanderbush - Sound of Freedom - Orphans and Widows 

Lord’s Prayer pt 2