GeRue Blog: 2012-04-08

Saturday, April 14, 2012

Daily Bible Readings April 29-May 5, 2012

TODAY’S THEME: The people of God are pilgrims and sojourners in this world, looking ahead to a destination yet to come. (1 Peter 2:11–20) Though we are now children of God, the fullness of what we shall be has not yet been revealed. (1 John 3:1–3) We are those who wait on the Lord. “The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him.” (Lamentations 3:22–33) Jesus tells us that the wait is just a little while. “A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me, because I go to the Father.”(John 16:16–22) Though you must experience sorrow for a time, though you must live as strangers in a world that is at enmity with Christ, yet your sorrow will be turned to joy when He returns. “Those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength.” (Isaiah 40:25–31) The little while of weeping shall be replaced with an eternity of rejoicing in the presence of Christ the crucified and risen Savior. “And your joy no one will take from you.”

Daily Lectionary

April 29 Leviticus 8:1-13, 30-36; Luke 9:1-17

April 30 Leviticus 9:1-24; Luke 9:18-36

May 1 Leviticus 10:1-20; Luke 9:37-62; Leviticus 11:1-15:33

May 2 Leviticus 16:1-24; Luke 10:1-22

May 3 Leviticus 17:1-16; Luke 10:23-42

May 4 Leviticus 18:1-7, 20-19:8; Luke 11:1-13

May 5 Leviticus 19:9-18, 26-37; Luke 11:14-36

Next Weeks Lessons:

Fifth Sunday of Easter (Cantate)

Isaiah 12:1–6, James 1:16–21, John 16:5–15

Jesus Promises to Send His Holy Spirit, the Helper

Though Jesus has departed from us visibly to the right hand of the Father who sent Him, yet this is to our advantage. For Jesus—who is Lord over all creation, who intercedes for us before the Father, who is preparing a place for us in heaven—has sent the Helper, the Spirit of Truth (John 16:5–15). “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights” through Jesus Christ (James 1:17). The Holy Spirit helps us by taking what is Christ’s and declaring it to us. In the Word of truth, the Spirit works repentance and delivers to us the forgiveness of sins, the righteousness of Christ, and victory over the devil. For the ruler of this world is judged and defeated by the cross. Through the ministry of the Holy Spirit, we have been brought forth to new life in Him who is the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. Confident of our resurrection with Christ we confess, “Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid” (Isaiah 12:2).

LUTHERAN HOUR April 29 "Not All Paths"
Speaker Emeritus of The Lutheran Hour: Rev. Dr. Ken Klaus
Counterfeit dollars are without much value. They are deceptive and disappointing. The same could be said of futile, false faiths. (Acts 4:12)

WSMI           Carlinville, IL        1540 AM                         Sun 9:30 am
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

CALENDAR

Saturday April 28 5:30 pm Worship Service

Sunday April 29 9:00 am Bible Class

10:00 am Worship Service

Wednesday May 2 7:30 pm AA

Thursday May 3 9:00 am LWML

Saturday May 5 5:30 pm Worship Service

Daily Bible Readings April 22-28, 2012

LUTHERAN HOUR April 22
"Repentance Refreshment"
Lutheran Hour Speaker: Rev. Gregory Seltz
God calls us to repentance so that we might know the refreshment of His grace and forgiveness. (Acts 3:18-21)

Daily Lectionary

April 22 Exodus 32:15-35; Luke 6:39-49

April 23 Exodus 33:1-23; Luke 7:1-17

April 24 Exodus 34:1-28; Luke 7:18-35

April 25 Exodus 34:29-38:20; Luke 7:36-50

April 26 Exodus 38:21-39:8, 22-23, 27-31; Luke 8:1-21

April 27 Exodus 39:32-40:16; Luke 8:22-39

April 28 Isaiah 40:25–31; 1 Peter 2:11–20; John 16:16–22

Looking forward to Next Week

Fourth Sunday of Easter (Jubilate)

Those Who Wait on the Lord Shall Rejoice

The people of God are pilgrims and sojourners in this world, looking ahead to a destination yet to come (1 Peter 2:11–20). Though we are now children of God, the fullness of what we shall be has not yet been revealed (1 John 3:1–3). We are those who wait on the Lord. “The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him” (Lamentations 3:25). Jesus tells us that the wait is just a little while. “A little while, and you will see me no longer; and again a little while, and you will see me” (John 16:16). Though you must experience sorrow for a time, though you must live as strangers in a world that is at enmity with Christ, yet your sorrow will be turned to joy when He returns. “But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength” (Isaiah 40:31). The little while of weeping shall be replaced with an eternity of rejoicing in the presence of Christ the crucified and risen Savior. “And no one will take your joy from you” (John 16:22).

Old Testament: Isaiah 40:25–31 [On Eagle’s Wings]

Epistle: 1 Peter 2:11–20 [Living As Free Men]

Holy Gospel: John 16:16–22 [Grief Into Joy]

Greeting

P: Christ is risen.

C: He is risen indeed! Alleluia!

TODAY’S THEME: 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. (Ezekiel 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 souls 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 like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.” (1 Peter 2:21–25)

CALENDAR

Saturday April 21 5:30 pm Worship Service

Sunday April 22 MOTHER’S DAY

9:00 am Bible Class

10:00 am Worship Service

Wednesday April 25 7:30 pm AA

Saturday April 28 5:30 pm Worship Service

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