Hey Everyone! I didn’t have a chance to do a video this time. However, here are some thoughts and resources to help you prepare for worship this weekend.

This weekend the Agape Ringers will be playing Beach Spring Stomp (arranged by J. Behnke) right before the salutation and collect of the day. There are two hymns in LSB which use the tune you’ll hear on Sunday morning. The first is Lord, Whose Love through Humble Service (LSB 848) and the other is Praise the One Who Breaks the Darkness (LSB 849). Take a look at those hymns along with the scriptures that inspire them. Here’s a recording from Concordia Publishing House of hymn 849.

 

When you’re listening on Sunday morning, take the opportunity to meditate on verse 3 of hymn 849 which fits well with the style of the piece being played by the Bell Choir.

Let us praise the Word Incarnate,
Christ, who suffered in our place.
Jesus died and rose victorious
That we may know God by grace.
Let us sing for joy and gladness,
Seeing what our God has done;
Let us praise the true Redeemer,
Praise the One who makes us one.

Take some time to reflect on this weekend’s readings: Acts 17:16-31, 1 Peter 3:13-22, John 14:15-21.

Here’s a Summary of the themes for the day.

The Lord Jesus Comforts Us with the Preaching of His Resurrection

“The God who … gives to all mankind life and breath and everything” (Acts 17:24–25) wants all people to seek Him that they might “feel their way toward him and find him” (Acts 17:27). But in our sinful ignorance, we humans turn instead to idols “formed by the art and imagination of man” (Acts 17:29). Therefore, God appointed the Man of Righteousness, Jesus Christ, and “has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead” (Acts 17:31). Because He lives, we also live (John 14:19) in His forgiveness, and thus we love Him and keep His commandments (John 14:15). While the risen Lord prepares us for His ascension, He will not leave us “as orphans” (John 14:18), but He gives “another Helper,” the Holy Spirit, to be with us forever (John 14:16) through the preaching of “Jesus and the resurrection” (Acts 17:18). Because He “suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous” (1 Peter 3:18), we “honor Christ the Lord as holy” and are always “prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks” for the reason for our hope (1 Peter 3:15). Our Baptism “now saves” us “as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 3:21).

Here’s IssuesEtc’s… deeper discussion.

Have a great day and God bless!

If you want to chat about any of this or other stuff that’s going on in life, just let me know!

Published by pastordemski