. . . Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.”
—2 Timothy 4:2 (ESV)
Almighty and everlasting God, You sent Your Son, our Savior Jesus Christ, to take upon Himself our flesh and to suffer death upon the cross. Mercifully grant that we may follow the example of His great humility and patience and be made partakers of His resurrection; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Midweek Lent 5 Death to Resurrection: The Wilderness to the Promised Land Joshua 3:1–6 Philippians 3:122–1 Matthew 3:13; 4:1–2 There are many sub-motifs of the “Death and Resurrection” motif in Scripture. One which plays an important role is the “Return from Exile.” Exile is being removed from the presence of God, or being removed from…
Almighty God, by Your great goodness mercifully look upon Your people that we may be governed and preserved evermore in body and soul; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Midweek Lent 4 Tree to Tree: The Tree of Life to the Cross Genesis 2:15–17; 3:22–24 1 Peter 2:21–25 John 3:14–15 The hymn “The Tree of Life” by Stephen Starke (Lutheran Service Book 561) is an excellent overview of this motif. While Adam and Eve are cut off from this life-giving tree because of their…
Almighty God, our heavenly Father, Your mercies are new every morning; and though we deserve only punishment, You receive us as Your children and provide for all our needs of body and soul. Grant that we may heartily acknowledge Your merciful goodness, give thanks for all Your benefits, and serve You in willing obedience; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Midweek Lent 3 Out of Egypt: Through the Water OT: Exod 14:13–31 NT: Hebrews 3:12–4:3 The “Water” motif is perhaps one of the most well-known and most attested in Scripture. In the beginning, life was brought forth from the waters, but after the fall the waters also began to bring death. We first see this…
O God, whose glory it is always to have mercy, be gracious to all who have gone astray from Your ways and bring them again with penitent hearts and steadfast faith to embrace and hold fast the unchangeable truth of Your Word; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Midweek Lent 2 Mountain to Mountain: Moriah to Zion OT: Genesis 22:1–14 NT: Hebrews 11:17–19 Mountains are significant places in Scripture. The Hebrew people had a cosmology that saw heaven being up, hell being down, and the earth being in between. God Himself encourages this way of thinking as He continued to make Himself available…
O God, You see that of ourselves we have no strength. By Your mighty power defend us from all adversities that may happen to the body and from all evil thoughts that may assault and hurt the soul; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Midweek Lent 1 Garden to Garden: Eden to Heaven OT: Genesis 3:22-24 NT: Revelation 22:1-5 From the beginning, in Scripture, gardens have been places of peace, perfection, and the provision of the Lord. Gardens are where one walks in the presence of God, seeking His face. The Garden of Eden is the first garden—the first…