SHEPHERD OF THE VALLEY LUTHERAN CHURCH
READINGS, PRAYERS and DEVOTION
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 25
Psalm 122:1 I was glad when they said to me, Let us go to the house of the Lord!
NEWS: We are back in God’s house today! Bible study starts at 9 AM and Pastor Joel will continue to lead.us in a study of the Lord’s prayer. This includes sections from Luther’s Small and Large Catechisms. Our worship service starts at 10 and the title of Pastor Joel’s sermon is, “A Matter of Faith.” It is based on our Gospel reading for the day, Luke 16:19-31 Our other readings are Amos 6:1-7 and 1 Timothy 6:6-19 After we’ve shared the Lord’s Supper and our service is complete, please join us outside for our fellowship time, where coffee and goodies are served. Then, our fellowship time continues at Jersey Mikes, River Road where it intersects with College.
We pray all can join us for part of their Sunday but for those unable to worship in person, we stream our service live. The link is here: www.facebook.com/shepherdofthevalleyoceanside Click on that, then click on the More dropdown arrow, then click Live. If you have a moment, please “Like” us and leave a brief comment about your online worship experience. Thank you! Also serving the Lord and our congregation today are:
Fellowship: Daria Roth
Flowers: Bruce Woodward
Techies: Ian Andrews, Chris Roth
Reader: Margaret Paton
Acolyte: Josephine Neemia
Greeter: Margaret Paton
Ushers: Rick Adams, Keith Neblett
PRAYERS: Today we especially pray for Charlotte Neblett. She asks prayers for her children, her friends and her health.
COLLECT OF THE DAY: Almighty God, You exalted Your Son to the place of all honor and authority. Enlighten our minds by Your Holy Spirit that, confessing Jesus as Lord, we may be led into all truth; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
READINGS: Psalm 51:5-13; Psalm 12; Malachi 1:1-14; Matthew 3:1-17
DIGGING DEEPER: Ezekiel 18:1-4, 25-32; Psalm 25:1-10; Philippians 2:1-18; Matthew 21:23-32
GRADUAL: He will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name.
DEVOTION:
Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries
“Christ, the Lord of Hosts, Unshaken”
“Michael fought the heav’nly battle, godly angels by his side; Warred against the ancient serpent, foiled the beast, so full of pride, Cast him earthbound with his angels; now he prowls, unsatisfied.
“Long on earth the battle rages, since the serpent’s first deceit. Twisted God’s command to Adam, made forbidden fruit look sweet. Then the curse of God was spoken: “You’ll lie crushed beneath His feet!”
“Now war arose in heaven” (Revelation 12:7a). That is not something we really want to hear. Wars are earthly events and heaven is supposed to be a place of lasting peace. This unearthly conflict that took place outside of time was a response to historical events that took place within our earthly timeline.
Satan, the ancient serpent of Eden, sought to destroy the work of God. Making “forbidden fruit look sweet,” the devil tempted Adam and Eve, who turned from God’s Word and followed their own desires. Death and eternal separation from God awaited them and all of their descendants, but in that dark hour of sin, God spoke His Word of hope. The woman’s Offspring would do battle with the serpent. Bruised in the strife, the promised Offspring would triumph. The serpent’s end was already determined: “You’ll lie crushed beneath His feet!”
At the right time, the Son of God, the woman’s Offspring, came into this world to do battle with Eden’s accusing serpent. Through His death on the cross and His triumphant resurrection, Jesus defeated the evil foe who sought to deceive and accuse us. Jesus took our sin and guilt onto Himself. He endured the sentence of death that we deserved for our sins. At the cross, in the deadly conflict foretold in Eden, Jesus and the evil foe engaged in bruising battle, but only the Savior arose in victory, crushing death and Satan beneath His nail-scarred feet!
The risen Lord was exalted to reign in glory. Jesus’ triumph was mirrored in heaven’s war as Michael and his angel army banished Satan from the courts of heaven. The victory was announced: “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God” (Revelation 12:10b). Satan, the accuser, has been thrown down. Although the evil foe now prowls the earth, still raging against the people of God, “we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous” (1 John 2:1b). We have a Defender in heaven, Jesus, in whom we have forgiveness for our sins. In Him we have the promise of eternal life and peace in His presence, where there will be no more war.
WE PRAY: Lord Jesus, my Advocate, through faith in Your name I have forgiveness, life, and peace! Amen.
This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Carol Geisler. It is based on the hymn “Christ, the Lord of Hosts, Unshaken,” which is number 521 in the Lutheran Service Book.
Reflection Questions:
1. When has God stepped into your life with a word of hope when times were desperate?
2. How is Satan able to make “forbidden fruit look sweet” in our lives?
3. Wars are easy to recognize in the world. Do you notice any “wars” going on in your own life? How has God helped you in overcoming them?
Today’s Bible Readings: Isaiah 37-38 Romans 5
Alleluia. All authority in heaven and on earth haS BEEN GIVEN TO ME. Alleluia.
Luther’s Morning Prayer
In the morning, as soon as you get out of bed, you are to make the Sign of the Cross and say:
“God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit watch over me. Amen.”
Then, kneeling or standing, say the Apostles’ Creed and the Lord’s Prayer. In addition recite this prayer as well:
“I give thanks to you, my heavenly Father through Jesus Christ your dear son, that you have protected me this night from all harm and danger, and I ask you that you would also protect me today from sin and all evil, so that my life and actions may please you completely. For into your hands I commend myself: my body, my soul, and all that is mine. Let your holy angel be with me, so that the wicked foe may have no power over me. Amen.”
After singing a hymn or whatever else may serve your devotion, you can go about you day joyfully!
Luther’s Evening Prayer
In the evening, when you go to bed, you are to make the Sign of the Cross and say:
“God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit watch over me. Amen.”
Then, kneeling or standing, say the Apostles’ Creed and the Lord’s Prayer. In addition recite this prayer as well:
“I give thanks to you, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ your dear Son, that you have graciously protected me today, and I ask you to forgive me all my sins, where I have done wrong, and graciously to protect me tonight. For into your hands I commend myself: my body, my soul, and all that is mine. Let your holy angel be with me, so that the wicked foe may have no power over me. Amen.”
Now you can go to bed quickly and cheerfully.
OTHER RESOURCES:
Our church website is: https://www.svlchurch.org/
Below is our Facebook page:
www.facebook.com/shepherdofthevalleyoceanside
Here is the website for Lutherans for Life: https://lutheransforlife.org/
Here is the website for Lutheran Hour Ministries: https://www.lhm.org/
Lutheran Public Radio is listener supported and has two channels, one for sacred music and the other for talk, including news, current issues, politics and spiritual matters from a Lutheran perspective. Hosted by Pastor Todd Wilken, Issues, Etc. airs live Monday thru Friday from 1 to 3 pm Pacific, with the “Best Of” running at other hours: https://lutheranpublicradio.org/
KFUO is the listener supported radio station owned and operated by the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod. Based in St. Louis, their format consists of teaching, preaching, ministry and sacred music: https://www.kfuo.org/
A very blessed Lord’s Day and Sunday to everyone! For any needs or prayer requests, please contact us.
Pastor Joel at pastor@svlchurch.org
