Zion Lutheran Church (LCMS)

A Guide for Daily Prayer and Meditation: Nov 24-Dec 1, 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)

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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 November LSB 768 To God the Holy Spirit Let Us Pray

Hymn of the Month for December LSB 357 O Come, O Come, Emmanuel

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

Verse of the Week: Revelation 22:13

I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.

Daily Lectionary

The Third Commandment:  Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.

What does this mean?

We should fear and love God so that we do not despise preaching and His Word, but hold it sacred and gladly hear and learn it.

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, Lois Eichinger, Louis Gettler, Marlys Jones, Pastor Jones, Rick Lahner (Carter’s grandfather), Greg Leland, Missy Lien (Thomas family friend), Lacie Miles (Chrystal’s sister-in-law), Marlene Paulson (Dianne Schroeder’s sister), Kathy Peterson, Arlene Potts, Michael Potts, Mark Radl, Jesse Schweisthal, Sarah Schweisthal, Dianne Schroeder, Kara Simmons (Pastor & Susan Thomas’ goddaughter), Leah Sparks (Marty Swearingen’s  sister), Pastor Szedlak, Jeff Thomas, Cookie Ziebarth

Collect for the last Sunday of the church year.

Lord Jesus Christ, so govern our hearts and minds by Your Holy Spirit that, ever mindful of Your glorious return, we may persevere in both faith and holiness of living; for You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Prayer based on the Third Commandment[1]

We thank you, kind Father, that You give us time to hear Your Word. Grant that fearing and loving You, we may set aside our work to receive Your Son’s words which are spirit and life, and so, refreshed and renewed by the preaching of Your Gospel, we might live in the peace and quietness that come through faith alone; we ask it for the sake of Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Let us bless the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Excerpts from the Large Catechism on the Third Commandment

-God’s Word is the true “holy thing” above all holy things. Yes, it is the only one we Christians know and have…God’s Word is a treasure that sanctifies everything. By the Word even all the saints themselves were sanctified. (369:91)

- Whenever God’s Word is taught, preached, heard, read, or meditated upon, then the person, day, and work are sanctified. This is not because of the outward work, but because of the Word, which makes saints of us all. Therefore, I constantly say that all our life and work must be guided by God’s Word, if it is to be God-pleasing or holy. (369:92)

-     It is not only the people who greatly misuse and desecrate the holy day who sin against this commandment (those who neglect to hear God’s Word because of their greed or frivolity or lie in taverns and are dead drunk like swine). But even that other crowd sins. They listen to God’s Word like it was any other trifle and only come to preaching because of custom. They go away again, and at the end of the year they know as little of God’s Word as at the beginning. (369:96)

-   Even though you know God’s Word perfectly and are already a master in all things: you are daily in the devil’s kingdom. He ceases neither day nor night to sneak up on you and to kindle in your heart unbelief and wicked thoughts against these three commandments and all the commandments. Therefore, you must always have God’s Word in your heart, upon your lips, and in your ears. But where the heart is idle and the Word does not make a sound, the devil breaks in and has done the damage before we are aware. On the other hand, the Word is so effective that whenever it is seriously contemplated, heard, and used, it is bound never to be without fruit. It always awakens new understanding, pleasure, and devoutness and produces a pure heart and pure thoughts. For these words are not lazy or dead, but are creative, living words. (370:100-101)

Bible verses for meditation on the Third Commandment                                                                                     

- Deuteronomy 6:6-7, Psalm 111:10, Psalm 119:105, Isaiah 55:11, Luke 11:28, John 17:17, 2 Timothy 3:16, Psalm 26:8, Psalm 27:4, Romans 1:16

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