Zion Lutheran Church (LCMS)

A Guide for Daily Prayer and Meditation: Sept 15-22, 2024

Pray and confess out loud as much as you are able or based on your family size and ages. (Alternative orders in LSB pp295-8)

+++

The sign of the cross + may be made by all in remembrance of their baptism.

In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.

Hymn of the Month for September LSB Children of the Heavenly Father

One or more verses from the hymn of the month are sung, or another hymn may be chosen.

Verse of the Week: Mark 9:23

All things are possible for one who believes.

Daily Lectionary

The Power of Holy Baptism

How can water do such great things?

Certainly not just water, but the word of God in and with the water does these things, along with the faith which trusts this word of God in the water. For without God’s word the water is plain water and no Baptism. But with the word of God it is a Baptism, that is, a life-giving water, rich in grace, and a washing of the new birth in the Holy Spirit, as St Paul says in Titus, chapter three: He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by His grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. This is a trustworthy saying.

The Apostles’ Creed is confessed † Lord’s Prayer † Prayers for Others and Ourselves (see LSB 305-318 for prayers)

In Our Prayers: Those who are suffering:  Pastor Carlson, Dan Drinkman, Ben, Louis Gettler, Arlene Hakes, Marlys Jones, Pastor Jones, Greg Leland, Missy Lien (Thomas family friend), Lacie Miles (Chrystal’s sister-in-law), Marlene Paulson (Dianne Schroeder’s sister), Arlene Potts, Michael Potts, Mark Radl, Jesse Schweisthal, Sarah Schweisthal, Kara Simmons (Pastor & Susan Thomas’ goddaughter) Dan & Leah Sparks (Marty Swearingen’s brother-in-law and sister), Marlys St. George (Pastor Jones’ great aunt), Pastor Szedlak, Ben Thomas, Jeff Thomas

Collect for the Seventeenth Sunday After Pentecost

Lord Jesus Christ, our support and defense in every need, continue to preserve Your Church in safety, govern her by Your goodness, and bless her with Your peace; for You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Prayer based on the Power of Baptism[1]

O God our Father, You have saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal, which You have poured out on us in our Baptism into Your Son. We thank You for this life-giving water, rich in grace by Your trustworthy promise. Give us faith always to trust Your Word in the water that, justified by grace, we remain heirs or eternal life; through the same Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord. Amen.

Let us bless the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Excerpts from the Large Catechism on the Power of Baptism

- [Baptism] is not mere ordinary water, but water comprehended in God’s Word and command and sanctified by them. So it is nothing other than a divine water. Not that the water in itself is nobler than other water, but that God’s Word and command are added to it. (424:14)

- Baptism is quite a different thing from all other water. This is not because of its natural quality but because something more noble is added here. God Himself stakes His honor, His power, and His might on it. Therefore, Baptism is not only natural water, but a divine, heavenly, holy, and blessed water, and whatever other terms we can find to praise it. This is all because of the Word, which is a heavenly, holy Word, which no one can praise enough. For it has, and is able to do, all that God is and can do. (424-425:17)

- Faith must have something that it believes, that is, of which it takes hold and upon which it stands and rests. So faith clings to the water and believes that in Baptism, there is pure salvation and life. This is not through the water (as we have stated well enough), but through the fact that it is embodied in God’s Word and institution, and that God’s name abides in it. Now, if I believe this, what else is it than believing in God as the One who has given and planted His Word into this ordinance and offers to us this outward thing by which we may gain such a treasure? (426:29)

Bible Verses for Meditation on the Power of The Sacrament of Holy Baptism

- Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. John 3:5-6

- But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. Titus 3:4-7

- Ephesians 5:26-27; 2 Corinthians 5:17-21

[1] Luther’s Small Catechism with Explanation. St. Louis: Concordia, 2017.