Zion Lutheran Church (LCMS)

A Guide for Daily Prayer and Meditation: October 13-20, 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 October LSB 596 All Christians Who Have Been Baptized

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

Verse of the Week: Galatians 6:2

Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

Daily Lectionary

Confession:  The Office of the Keys

What is the Office of the Keys?

The Office of the Keys is that special authority which Christ has given to His church on earth to forgive the sins of repentant sinners, but to withhold forgiveness from the unrepentant as long as they do not repent.

Where is this written?

This is what St. John the Evangelist writes in chapter twenty:  The lord Jesus breathed on His disciples and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.  If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven, if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”

What do you believe according to these words?

I believe that when the called ministers of Christ deal with us by His divine command, in particular when they exclude openly unrepentant sinners from the Christian congregation and absolve those who repent of their sins and want to do better, this is just as valid and certain, even in heaven, as if Christ our dear Lord dealt with us Himself.

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), Kathy Peterson, Arlene Potts, Michael Potts, Mark Radl, Jesse Schweisthal, Sarah Schweisthal, Kara Simmons (Pastor & Susan Thomas’ goddaughter) Leah Sparks (Marty Swearingen’s sister), Marlys St. George (Pastor Jones’ great aunt), Pastor Szedlak, Jeff Thomas

Collect for the Twenty-first Sunday After Pentecost

Lord Jesus Christ, whose grace always precedes and follows us, help us to forsake all trust in earthly gain and to find in You our heavenly treasure; for You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Prayer based on the Office of the Keys[1]

Heavenly Father, You delivered Your Son for our offenses and raised Him for our justification. Grant that we may also trust in the word of forgiveness which You have given Your pastors to proclaim, that clinging to Your good and gracious promises, we might be brought to eternal life; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Let us bless the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Bible Verses for Meditation on Confession:  The Office of the Keys

-Catechism—Table of Duties:  To Bishops, Pastors, and Preachers

-Catechism—Table of Duties:  What the Hearers Owe Their Pastors

-Jesus spoke to the apostles, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.  Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20

- “Peace to you!  As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, “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.”  John 20:21-23

- Jesus said to the apostles, “Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven.  For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.”  Matthew 18:18 (29-20)

- Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” Matthew 9:37-38

- And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ… Ephesians 4:11-12

- How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” Romans 10:14-15

- 1 Corinthians 4:1-2, 2 Corinthians 5:17-21,1 Timothy 4:14-16, 2 Timothy 4:1-5, Acts 20:28, 1 Peter 5:2-4

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