Daily Readings for July 24-30, 2011

NEXT WEEKS LESSONS: THE SIXTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY

“Unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:17–26). God demands nothing less than perfection and holiness from you in regard to His commandments (Exodus 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 (Romans 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 bondage.” Therefore, “reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Collect: Lord of all power and might, the Author and Giver of all good things, graft into our hearts the love of Your name, increase in us true religion, nourish us with all goodness, and of Your great mercy keep us in the same; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Old Testament: Exodus 20:1–17
Epistle: Romans 6:(1–2) 3–11
Holy Gospel: Matthew 5:(17–19) 20–26

Readings for the Week of Fourth Sunday after Trinity July 17-23, 2011

July 24 Jesus Weeps over Jerusalem—Luke 19:41-48; 1 Samuel 28:3-25; 1 Corinthians 6:1-20
July 25 Paul’s Third Missionary Journey—Acts 18:23—19:10; 1 Samuel 31:1-13; 1 Corinthians 7:1-24
July 26 The Miracles Worked by Paul—Acts 19:11-20; 2 Samuel 1:1-27; 1 Corinthians 7:25-40
July 27 The Riot at Ephesus—Acts 19:21-41; 2 Samuel 5:1-25; 1 Corinthians 8:1-13
July 28 Eutychus Falls from a Window at Troas—Acts 20:1-16; 2 Samuel 6:1-19; 1 Corinthians 9:1-23
July 29 Paul’s Farewell to the Ephesian Elders—Acts 20:17-38; 2 Samuel 7:1-17; 1 Corinthians 9:24–10:22
July 30 Sunday’s readings Exodus 20:1–17; Romans 6:1–11; Matthew 5:17–26