Living on Help

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The Grateful, Injured, Dog

Author

Keywords

Scripture

2 Samuel 9:1–13, Exodus 2:1–10 , Proverbs 19:17, Luke 10:25–37 , Matthew 18:21–35, Psalm 103:2–4

There’s a story (probably apocryphal) about a small dog that had been hit by a car and left injured by the side of the road. A passing nurse noticed the wounded animal, saw it was still alive, and sto...

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Heroic Sacrifice

Author

Eunice McGarrahan

Keywords

Scripture

Genesis 22:1-14, Exodus 32:30-35 , Isaiah 53:3-7 , John 15:12-14 , 1 Peter 2:21-24, Psalm 22:1-5

You may remember that in January of 1982, Air Florida Flight 90 crashed into the icy Potomac River right after takeoff. While 74 passengers and crew perished, several were saved by the actions of a he...

liturgy

Living Jesus' Compassion and Love

Author

Laura B. Murray

Keywords

Scripture

Exodus 3:4, Jonah 1:3, Romans 7:15-25 , Hebrews 4:14-16, Psalm 32:5

Gracious God, we desire to follow when your call. We long to live according to the ways of Jesus, yet we find ourselves stumbling. Forgive us for the times we have failed to follow your example of com...

liturgy

Heavenly Father, You have commanded us to love

Author

Trinity Lutheran Church, Lisle, Illinois

Keywords

Scripture

Psalm 51:10-12, Colossians 3:12-13, Philippians 2:3-4, 1 Peter 3:8, Romans 12:2, Galatians 5:22-23, Matthew 22:37-39

Pastor: Heavenly Father, You have commanded us to love You above all things and our neighbors as ourselves. By Your Holy Spirit, mold and shape us into the image of Your Son, for we desire to look, ...

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As Good as it Gets

Author

The Pastor's Workshop

Keywords

Scripture

Genesis 32:22–32 , 1 Kings 19:1–18, Ecclesiastes 1:1–11, Luke 19:1–10 , John 5:1–9 , Psalm 42:1–11

Have you ever seen As Good As It Gets, the late-nineties film starring Jack Nicholson? In it, Nicholson plays a cranky, misanthropic writer in New York City, snapping at anyone who crosses his p...

liturgy

Gracious God, we come before you today scared

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Gracious God, We come before you today scared. Scared for our health, scared for our jobs, scared for our loved ones. Help us Lord, not to dwell in our fears, but rather to turn to you, trusting that...

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Following Always Includes a Coming Down

Author

Adele Ahlberg Calhoun

Keywords

Scripture

Mark 9:35, Matthew 23:11, Matthew 23:11, Matthew 10:24, Luke 16:13

Following always involves a coming down, a humbling of oneself and a serving of others. Jonathan Edwards, the Puritan theologian, captured this condescension of God in his sermon "The Excellency ...

liturgy

Jesus, we receive your blessings and

Author

Lisa Ann Moss Degrenia

Scripture

Psalm 51:10, Ephesians 4:23-24, 2 Samuel 12:1-14, John 7:37-38, Philippians 2:5-8, Matthew 5:3-4, Psalm 51:10

Jesus, we receive your blessings and pray for the Holy Spirit to make them real in our lives. Renew a right spirit within us, a poor spirit, a spirit that knows our deep need of your grace and deliver...

lectionary

12th Sunday after Pentecost

Author

Austin D. Hill

Keywords

Scripture

Jeremiah 2:4-13, Jeremiah 2:null, Jeremiah 1:, John 4:14

Preaching Commentary Ancient Lens What can we learn from the historical context? Passage Context - Divided Kingdom, Common Struggles The prophet, Jeremiah, conducted the bulk of his ministry in...

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The Lord calls us to examine the wounds

The Lord calls us to examine the wounds of the Risen One and to see there the depth of his love for us. Let us therefore approach the throne of God in confidence as we pray for the people of God in Ch...

liturgy

Forgive Us, Loving Father

Author

Laura B. Murray

Keywords

Scripture

Luke 15:11-32, Psalm 16:11 , Ephesians 3:17-19, John 3:16 , Psalm 73:25-26, 1 John 3:1, Jeremiah 31:3

Loving Father, we often come to you to get the most from you. You remain incredibly generous, yet we have neglected the greatest gift you give – yourself. Forgive us for ignoring you. Help us to enjo...

liturgy

Living as God Calls Us

Author

Laura B. Murray

Keywords

Scripture

1 Samuel 3:1-10, Psalm 119:105 , James 1:22-25 , John 10:27, 2 Timothy 3:16-17, Deuteronomy 30:19-20, Proverbs 4:20-22

Father God, you come to us in the everyday. You give us your Word and your Spirit that we might hear your voice, and follow your ways. We confess that we have neglected your words to us and pretended ...

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Prayer of Adoration Loving God—Father

Author

Richard Herman

Keywords

Scripture

John 20:28

Prayer of Adoration Loving God—Father Son and Holy Spirit— we come today as thirsty people to You who are the Spring of Living Water. We come as hungry people to You who are the Bread of Heaven. We ...

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Living And Loving Like Jesus

Author

Trinity Lutheran Church, Lisle, Illinois

Keywords

Scripture

Micah 6:8, Deuteronomy 6:4-9, Matthew 28:18-20, Galatians 2:20, Psalm 19:

Pastor: We who have been given new birth into a living hope, are sent now into the world - People: to look, live and love more like Jesus. Pastor: Go in peace to serve the Lord! Pe...

scripture guide

Scripture Guide, Luke 14:1, 7-14

Author

Andrew Van Kirk

Keywords

Scripture

Luke 14:1, 7-14, Luke 18:14

Guests? Or Hosts? After picking up the first verse of the chapter in order to provide a setting for Jesus’ words, this week’s gospel reading contains two teachings. The first (v. 7-11) is addressed t...

lectionary

12th Sunday after Pentecost

Author

Andrew Van Kirk

Keywords

Scripture

Luke 14:1, 7-14, Luke 18:14

Guests? Or Hosts? After picking up the first verse of the chapter in order to provide a setting for Jesus’ words, this week’s gospel reading contains two teachings. The first (v. 7-11) is addressed t...

liturgy

We thank You, God our Father, for Your

Author

Richard Herman

Keywords

Scripture

1 Peter 1:3-4, Romans 15:13, 2 Corinthians 1:3-4, Isaiah 40:31, Galatians 6:2, Psalm 119:105

We thank You, God our Father, for Your grace, mercy and love, expressed today through Your Word and Sacrament; and we ask You to help us to pray and to know what to pray. You give us all good gifts: Y...

liturgy

Triune God–Father, Son and Holy Spirit:

Author

Richard Herman

Keywords

Scripture

Exodus 3:1-12, Mark 4:35-41, Luke 10:25-37, Matthew 25:35-36, Acts 1:8

Triune God–Father, Son and Holy Spirit: our Creator, Redeemer and Sustainer; you created, redeemed, and sustain all who call on Your name in any language, place and time. We come to you as Lord of all...

liturgy

Brothers and sisters in Christ, as we gather on this Thursday of Holy Week

Author

Trinity Lutheran Church, Lisle, Illinois

Keywords

Scripture

Psalm 124:8, Exodus 12:1-8, 11-14, Psalm 116:12-18, 1 Corinthians 11:23-26, John 13:1-15

Pastor: Brothers and sisters in Christ, as we gather on this Thursday of Holy Week, let us humbly draw near to the Lord to remember what He has done and to receive what He gives to us by His Word an...

liturgy

Embracing Sacrifice for God's Glory

Author

Laura B. Murray

Keywords

Scripture

Matthew 5:14-16, Mark 12:41-44 , 2 Timothy 1:7 , Philippians 2:3-4, 1 John 3:16-18, Acts 20:24, Luke 9:23-24

Gracious God, our decisions are often rooted in keeping comfortable. We keep quiet in order to protect ourselves. We give just enough to look good in front of others. We hold back to avoid pain. Yet y...

liturgy

Living by God's Word Daily

Author

Laura B. Murray

Keywords

Scripture

Psalm 139:7-10, 2 Timothy 3:16-17, John 14:26, Psalm 51:1-2 , Galatians 5:25, Romans 10:17, Revelation 3:20

Our gracious God, you come to us in the everyday. You give us your Word and your Spirit so that we can hear your voice and follow your ways. We confess that we have neglected your Word and the Sp...

liturgy

Let us pray to the Father who has given us the water

Author

Trinity Lutheran Church, Lisle, Illinois

Keywords

Scripture

John 4:1-42, John 4:10-14

Pastor: Let us pray to the Father who has given us the water of eternal life in His Son. Father of glory, only the gift of Your Spirit quenches the thirst of mankind. Look in mercy on all the ways Y...

scripture guide

Scripture Guide, 1 Peter 1:3-9

Author

Bradley Long

Keywords

Scripture

1 Peter 1:3-9

Context 1 Peter is traditionally attributed to the apostle Peter. It is addressed to Christian communities in diaspora, scattered across Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey), who were experiencing social m...

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Taking (A Huge) One for the Team

Keywords

Scripture

Exodus 17:10–13, Leviticus 19:18, Luke 10:25–37, Matthew 25:34–40 , Philippians 2:3–4, Psalm 103:8–13

On a beautiful April afternoon in 2008, two college softball teams faced off in a decisive playoff game beneath the Cascade Mountains. The Western Oregon Wolves battled Central Washington University, ...

lectionary

17th Sunday after Pentecost

Author

Stuart R. Strachan, Jr.

Keywords

Scripture

Luke 17:5-10, Luke 17:1-4, 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, John 15:15

Introduction Our lectionary text is inextricably linked with the five verses that precede it. For that reason, I’ll give a summary of verses 1-4. It’s possible the lectionary authors chose to separat...

lectionary

Second Sunday of Easter

Author

Bradley Long

Keywords

Scripture

1 Peter 1:3-9

Context 1 Peter is traditionally attributed to the apostle Peter. It is addressed to Christian communities in diaspora, scattered across Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey) who were experiencing social ma...

liturgy

Prayer for All Needs (Excerpted)

Author

Clement of Rome

Keywords

Scripture

Genesis 1:, Isaiah 45:7, 1 Samuel 2:6-7, 1 Peter 2:9, 2 Corinthians 4:6, Psalm 146:7-9, Isaiah 61:1, John 3:16, Colossians 1:13, Revelation 4:11, Ephesians 5:8, Acts 26:18, 2 Timothy 1:9, 2 Corinthians 3:18, Luke 1:51-52, Luke 4:18-19

*This is the earliest known prayer of the Christian Church outside of scripture May he who created everything keep the number of his chosen people, throughout the world, up to the strength he...

scripture guide

Scripture Guide, Luke 17:1-10

Author

Stuart R. Strachan, Jr.

Keywords

Scripture

Luke 14:1-10, 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, John 15:15

Introduction Sometimes verses 1-4 are separated from 5-10 in preaching. N. T. Wright points out, however, that in both sections, the need for humility binds the passages together. A teacher must prac...

liturgy

God exalted Jesus at His right hand as Leader and Savior

Author

Trinity Lutheran Church, Lisle, Illinois

Keywords

Scripture

Acts 5:31, John 20:31, Mark 9:24, John 20:19-31

Pastor: God exalted Jesus at His right hand as Leader and Savior People: to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. Pastor: In repentant faith, we come before our Lord in confessi...

scripture guide

Scripture Guide John 4:7-26

Author

Allen Thompson

Keywords

Scripture

John 4:7-26, John 6:1-15, Galatians 4:21-31, Psalm 42:7, Psalm 121:null

New Testament Mountains Like the Old Testament, the New Testament has plenty of references to mountains. There’s the Sermon on the Mount, obviously. Jesus often went onto hills or mountains to pray...

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Exodus

1 Samuel

2 Samuel

1 Kings

Psalm

Proverbs

Ecclesiastes

Isaiah

Micah

Matthew

Mark

Luke

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Romans

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