1. Protecting Your Ministry
Guest Ron Shultz, Chief Administration Officer of the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod, talks about a new document “Protecting Your Ministry,” which is a set of legal advisory documents to protect congregations from lawsuits. Learn more about legal protection and download the document at lcms.org/resources/legal-issues.
2. Meditation on the Day’s Psalm
Rev. Jonathan Fisk gives a meditation on the Psalm of the Day, Psalm 85:1-4, 7-8, 10-13.
Psalm 85:1-4, 7-8, 10-13
Revive Us Again
To the choirmaster. A Psalm of the Sons of Korah.
85 Lord, you were favorable to your land;
you restored the fortunes of Jacob.
2 You forgave the iniquity of your people;
you covered all their sin. Selah
3 You withdrew all your wrath;
you turned from your hot anger.
4 Restore us again, O God of our salvation,
and put away your indignation toward us!
7 Show us your steadfast love, O Lord,
and grant us your salvation.
8 Let me hear what God the Lord will speak,
for he will speak peace to his people, to his saints;
but let them not turn back to folly.
10 Steadfast love and faithfulness meet;
righteousness and peace kiss each other.
11 Faithfulness springs up from the ground,
and righteousness looks down from the sky.
12 Yes, the Lord will give what is good,
and our land will yield its increase.
13 Righteousness will go before him
and make his footsteps a way.
English Standard Version (ESV)The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
3. Listener Question: Circumcision
Rev. Jonathan Fisk answers a listener question regarding circumcision in light of the Old Covenant vs. the New Covenant.
4. Daily Lectionary
Rev. Thomas Chryst from Messiah Lutheran Church in Keller, Texas, studies Romans 2:17-29.
5. Morning Prayer Sermonette
Today’s sermonette is given by Rev. Thomas Chryst from Messiah Lutheran Church in Keller, Texas.
Romans 2:17-29
17 But if you call yourself a Jew and rely on the law and boast in God 18 and know his will and approve what is excellent, because you are instructed from the law; 19 and if you are sure that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness, 20 an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of children, having in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth— 21 you then who teach others, do you not teach yourself? While you preach against stealing, do you steal? 22 You who say that one must not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? 23 You who boast in the law dishonor God by breaking the law. 24 For, as it is written, “The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.”
25 For circumcision indeed is of value if you obey the law, but if you break the law, your circumcision becomes uncircumcision. 26 So, if a man who is uncircumcised keeps the precepts of the law, will not his uncircumcision be regarded[a] as circumcision? 27 Then he who is physically[b]uncircumcised but keeps the law will condemn you who have the written code[c] and circumcision but break the law. 28 For no one is a Jew who is merely one outwardly, nor is circumcision outward and physical. 29 But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from man but from God.
Footnotes:
- Romans 2:26 Or counted
- Romans 2:27 Or is by nature
- Romans 2:27 Or the letter
English Standard Version (ESV)The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
