Saturday, April 14, 2012

Daily Bible Readings April 15-22, 2012

LUTHERAN HOUR April 15
"What Is Precious, Holds" Lutheran Hour Speaker: Rev. Gregory Seltz
Take hold of life, confidently, joyfully, and lightly, knowing that God's grip on you is sure and certain. (1 John 1: 1-3)
WLUJ               Springfield, IL      89.7 FM                      Sunday 3:00 pm
WLLM              Lincoln, IL           1370 AM    Sunday 7:00 am & 7:00 pm
WSMI               Litchfield             1540 AM                    Sunday 9:30 pm

Daily Lectionary
April 15                                                  Exodus 20:1–24; Luke 4:1–15
April 16                                       Exodus 22:20—23:13; Luke 4:16–30
April 17                                              Exodus 23:14–33; Luke 4:31–44
April 18                                                  Exodus 24:1–18; Luke 5:1–16
April 19                                                Exodus 25:1–22; Luke 5:17–39
April 20                                                  Exodus 31:1–18; Luke 6:1–19
April 21                      Looking forward to The Third Sunday of Easter:
                               Ezekiel 34:11–16; 1 Peter 2:21–25; John 10:11–16

NEXT WEEKS LESSONS: Misericordias Domini
—The Third Sunday of Easter
Old Testament: Ezekiel 34:11–16 [God is our Shepherd]
Epistle: 1 Peter 2:21–25 [Life through God’s Word]
Holy Gospel: John 10:11–16 [The Good Shepherd]
The Good Shepherd Cares for His Sheep
Our Lord Jesus is the Good Shepherd (John 10:11–16). He is not like the hireling, who cares nothing for the sheep and only for himself, who flees when he sees the wolf coming. Rather, Jesus is the Good Shepherd who seeks out His scattered sheep to deliver them (Ezek. 34:11–16). He gathers them and feeds them in rich pasture. He binds up the broken and strengthens the sick. He lays down His life for wandering and wayward sheep. On the cross, Christ bore in His body the attacks of the predators of sin and death and the devil for you that you might be saved. He now lives to restore your soul in the still waters of baptism, to lead you in the paths of righteousness by the voice of His Gospel, to prepare the table of His holy supper before you, that you may dwell in the house of the Lord forever (Psalm 23). “For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls” (1 Peter 2:25).

Greeting
P:   Christ is risen.
C:  He is risen indeed! Alleluia!

TODAY’S THEME: JESUS ORDAINS HIS APOSTLES
It is in Jesus’ first resurrection appearance in the upper room that He ordained His disciples “apostles” saying, “Peace to You! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” As Jesus spoke these words He said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.” The promise of the Holy Spirit is given to every minister of the Gospel in so far as he is faithful to the Word of Christ. Wherever Jesus’ Word is preached, there is the Spirit of God “working faith when and where He pleases,” forgiving the sins of repentant sinners and withholding forgiveness from the unrepentant. The purpose of the Apostolic Word is defined by John in his Gospel: “these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name” (vs.31).


CALENDAR
Saturday         April 14           5:30 pm                         Worship Service
Sunday           April 15           9:00 am                                  Bible Class
                                             10:00 am                         Worship Service
Wednesday     April 18           7:30 pm                                              AA
Saturday         April 21           5:30 pm                         Worship Service

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