Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church - Olive Branch, MS

Introit: Ps. 28:1-2, 7; antiphon: Ps. 28:8-9
Gradual: Ps. 90:13, 1, 2b
Old Testament: Ex. 20:1-17
Psalm 19 (antiphon: v. 8)
Epistle: Rom. 6:(1-2) 3-11
ProperVerse: Ps. 31:1
Gospel: Matt. 5:(17-19) 20-26

Our Only Hope Is in Christ's Righteousness 
"Unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven" (Matt 5:20). God demands nothing less than perfection and holiness from you in regard to His commandments (Ex. 20:1-17). Your only hope, then, is not in your own goodness but in the goodness of Christ, who did not come to destroy the Law and the Prophets, but to fulfill them for you. In Christ, your righteousness does indeed exceed that of the scribes and Pharisees. For you have been baptized into Christ's death and your sinful nature crucified. Therefore, he who has died has been freed from sin (Rom. 6:1-11). You are now raised with Christ to walk in newness of life and to share in His resurrection on the Last Day. Christ has brought you through the baptismal sea "out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery" (Ex. 20:2). Therefore, "consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus" (Rom. 6:11).

Joel pt 2

 

Worship, Divine Service, Word, Part 2

 

Prayer Part 1

Introit: Ps. 27:1a, 11-12, 14; Ps. 27:7, 9
Gradual: Ps. 84:9, 8
Old Testament: 1 Kings 19:11-21
Psalm 16 (antiphon, v. 11)
Epistle: 1 Cor. 1:18-25
      or 1 Peter 3:8-15
ProperVerse: Ps. 21:1
Gospel: Luke 5:1-11

Jesus Makes Fishers of Men
The Lord called fishermen to be fishers of men (Luke 5:1-11). The net they would use is the message of the cross, which is foolishness and a stumbling block to the world (1 Cor. 1:18-25). The power of God to save is not in spectacular signs like wind and fire and earthquakes (1 Kings 19:11-21), nor is it to be found in human intelligence and wisdom. The power of God to save comes in the still, small voice of the preaching of Christ crucified. In worldly darkness the disciples could catch nothing. But in the light of Christ, whose Word was attached to the water, the boats were filled with fish. So it is that in Baptism you have been drawn in to the ship of the Church. Though the nets are breaking and some who hear the Word do not believe, pastors continue to cast the net of the Gospel and the Sacraments, that Christians may abide in the boat of the Church and that we may be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks a reason for the hope that is in us (1 Peter 3:8-15).

Joel 1-2

Concerning the End Times

Old Testament: Isaiah 11:1-5
Psalm 138 (antiphon: v. 8a)
Epistle: Romans 12:9-16
Gospel:Luke 1:39-45 (46-56)

The Visitation
Today Zechariah's house is prepared to sing: the Lord God of Israel has visited His people (Luke 1:68). For the Scriptures are being fulfilled: there shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit (Isa. 11:1). What could raise a King from a dead line? Only the Lord Himself! This is no son of man's will, but the Seed of the woman (Gen. 3:15). The Word of the Lord has done this, and so all are blessed in Him. The greeting of blessed Mary causes John to leap in Elizabeth's womb (Luke 1:41). Both are delighted at what the Word has wrought: "blessed is she who believed there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken by the Lord" (Luke 1:45). Likewise we too rejoice with those who rejoice (Rom. 12:12-15), for our joyful hope is the Lord who has visited us to redeem us-not just a town in Judah but our entire fallen world. The Holy Spirit discloses where salvation is to be found: in the Most Blessed Fruit of Mary's blessed womb. And the whole Church rejoices, saying, "my Beloved Bridegroom, behold, He comes!" (Song of Sol. 2:8)

Final Kings of Judah pt 2 - 2 Chronicles 36

Service of the Word