The ROAD TO REFORMATION In observation of the 500th anniversary of the Lutheran Reformation, we are presenting a brief survey of the life of Martin Luther. The series continues with major events in the life… Luther’s Struggle with Erasmus—1525—
TLH = The Lutheran Hymnal, 1941; WS = Worship Supplement 2000; LSB = Lutheran Service Book, 2006
Date Verse Reading Comments
Mar 1 TLH 29 Isaiah 45:1-13 Judah would go into exile, but God had already planned for their release and chosen the man (Cyrus) who would bring it about.
Mar 2 TLH 609/LSB 337; Matthew 25:1-13 In repentance and faith we stand ready for Jesus’ return.
Mar 3 TLH 390 1 Corinthians 1:18-31 Who would have thought the cross could save, but it did! Who would have thought lowly sinners like us could be saved, but we are!
Mar 5 TLH 395/LSB 690; Genesis 39:1-10 Joseph recognized God’s loving care for him, and he was not willing to sin against the One who so loved him (v. 9).
Mar 6 WS 745 Ruth 1:1-16 It wasn’t for family ties alone that Ruth wanted to stay with her mother-in-law. Israel’s God had also won her heart (v. 16).“BREAD OF LIFE” READINGS March 2018
DEVOTION – Maundy Thursday
It takes conviction and effort to be willing to do the up-close and dirty work
of washing a fellow sinner with God’s Word of grace.
Our annual commemoration of the night before Jesus’ crucifixion is known as “Maundy Thursday.” Though it is difficult to be certain, most church historians think that the word maundy is derived from the Latin translation of Jesus’ words, spoken that night, as found in John 13:34: “A new commandment [mandatum novum] I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.”
What could be “new” about this commandment? Jesus had often instructed His disciples to love their neighbors as themselves, and even to love their enemies. At this time, however, Jesus raised the bar considerably. Each believer is to love his fellow Christian “as I have loved you.” In other words, the depth of our love for one another is to be measured by Jesus’ own humble, self-sacrificial love shown to us.Mandatum Novum The New Commandment
The ROAD TO REFORMATION In observation of the 500th anniversary of the Lutheran Reformation, we are presenting a brief survey of the life of Martin Luther. The series continues with major events in the life… Life of Luther—1525 Marriage is Honorable Among All
TLH = The Lutheran Hymnal, 1941; WS = Worship Supplement 2000; LSB = Lutheran Service Book, 2006
Date Verse Reading Comments
Feb 1 TLH 603 Isaiah 25:1-9 The “shroud” that covers all people (death) is taken away by the Lord. He is our refuge.
Feb 2 TLH 277 Matthew 11:25-30 We are Christians because God has made it so, not by our own works or effort.
Feb 3 TLH 353/LSB 690; Romans 9:6-16 Our salvation depends on God’s great mercy.
Feb 5 TLH 379 Genesis 22:1-18 The Lord provided a substitute (a ram) so that Isaac would not be slain. Jesus is our substitute, also provided by God, so we need not face eternal death.
Feb 6 WS 746 Judges 2:11-18 God’s patience is on display here. He helped Israel in their distress even though they turned away from Him repeatedly.“BREAD OF LIFE” READINGS February 2018
Most people have heard of, if not played, the telephone game. In this party pastime a leader whispers a tricky word or phrase to the next person in line. This message is then passed along until the last individual in line reveals what he believes he has heard. Hilarity may ensue as the garbled phrases are compared to the original. Whether the mix-ups were from poor diction, inadequate listening skills, or intentional misdirection doesn’t really matter. The goal of the game has been reached—message mangled.
Isn’t our world much like the telephone game? Oral histories passed down through the ages often bear little resemblance to the events that inspired them. Some important bits of history are forgotten, overlooked, or intentionally left out of textbooks because they may not fit with the agenda of the publisher. And, let’s face it, we often aren’t totally honest when we review our own pasts either.That’s the Way I Heard It
The ROAD TO REFORMATION In observation of the 500th anniversary of the Lutheran Reformation, we are presenting a brief survey of the life of Martin Luther. The series continues with major events in the life… Unrest in Church and State 1524-1525
TLH = The Lutheran Hymnal, 1941; WS = Worship Supplement 2000; LSB = Lutheran Service Book, 2008
Date Verse Reading Comments
Jan 1 TLH 347: Genesis 1:1-31At the start of the new year, we are reminded of God’s new creation, both the one at the beginning and the one yet to come.
Jan 2 TLH 54: Joshua 3:1-17 We do not know where the new year will take us, but we know that our God will go before us.
Jan 3 TLH 657: Psalm 2:1-12 Our Lord Jesus Christ is Lord of the nations, and we take refuge in Him.
Jan 4 TLH 118: Job 1:1-22 Our happiness is not in earthly things, but in knowing that whatever trials the Lord allows are for our good.
Jan 5 TLH 375: Isaiah 1:10-20How are our hearts made clean before the Lord so that we do not give Him “meaningless offerings”? He must make them clean (v. 18).“BREAD OF LIFE” READINGS January 2018
DEVOTION – PRO-LIFE
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain. For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. (Psalm 139:6, 13-16 NIV)
Mankind is presumptuous. We are proud. We declare our wisdom as superior to all other wisdom, and if we cannot understand something, then we will do what we will do. And so it is with the issues of life. We behave as if we are the masters of our own fate and determine the outcome of all life, and as if there is no other authority or might or dominion over man in this world. The Lord’s Mysteries of Life
The ROAD TO REFORMATION In observation of the 500th anniversary of the Lutheran Reformation, we are presenting a brief survey of the life of Martin Luther. The series continues with major events in the life… Junker Jörg
