Wednesday of Invocabit

Our Savior Lutheran at Prayer

Mark 4:1-20

Again he began to teach beside the sea. And a very large crowd gathered about him, so that he got into a boat and sat in it on the sea, and the whole crowd was beside the sea on the land. 2 And he was teaching them many things in parables, and in his teaching he said to them: 3 “Listen! Behold, a sower went out to sow. 4 And as he sowed, some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured it. 5 Other seed fell on rocky ground, where it did not have much soil, and immediately it sprang up, since it had no depth of soil. 6 And when the sun rose, it was scorched, and since it had no root, it withered away. 7 Other seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no grain. 8 And other seeds fell into good soil and produced grain, growing up and increasing and yielding thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold.” 9 And he said, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” The Purpose of the Parables 10 And when he was alone, those around him with the twelve asked him about the parables. 11 And he said to them, “To you has been given the secret of the kingdom of God, but for those outside everything is in parables, 12 so that “ ‘they may indeed see but not perceive, and may indeed hear but not understand, lest they should turn and be forgiven.’ ” 13 And he said to them, “Do you not understand this parable? How then will you understand all the parables? 14 The sower sows the word. 15 And these are the ones along the path, where the word is sown: when they hear, Satan immediately comes and takes away the word that is sown in them. 16 And these are the ones sown on rocky ground: the ones who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with joy. 17 And they have no root in themselves, but endure for a while; then, when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately they fall away. 18 And others are the ones sown among thorns. They are those who hear the word, 19 but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. 20 But those that were sown on the good soil are the ones who hear the word and accept it and bear fruit, thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold.”

In the name of the Father and the +Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen. He who has ears to hear, let him hear. The seed is the Word of God. It is cast generously by our God in the soil of our heart. But we should be aware that the devil is ready to snatch away the Word from us. The world would have you believe that the devil isn’t that dangerous, that he doesn’t exist, that he is just trying to help, or some other lie to take you off his scent. The devil is real and he is dangerous. His goal is to snatch the Word of God out of your heart so that you do not believe. But we should be aware that all the enemies of God do not want this Word of God to succeed and therefore mount every attack of tribulation and persecution against you. But we should be aware that the world is using its pleasures and sinful sights to allure your sinful nature into the trap that is away from the Word so that you make for yourself other gods and depend on your emotions and feelings and pleasures instead. But most especially we should be aware that we have an active and powerful God that hears our prayers, that knows our tribulations, that has been tempted in every way like us, that has come down to deliver us, and has promised to always be with us. The enemies of God are real and they are attacking you. Your salvation is secure in this Jesus Christ—who traveled to the cross, suffered its scorn, received the punishment for your sin, destroyed the devil and death and the reign of sin, then rose again to live forever with you. He promises to hear your prayer, to be with you in Word preached and Sacraments given, and to return to gather you to himself and take you to heaven. He who has ears to hear, let him hear. In the name of +Jesus. Amen.

Pastor Steven Cholak, School Chaplain and Assistant Pastor, Our Savior Lutheran Church and School

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You may utilize the Order of Daily Prayer for Individuals and Families (pages 295-298) in Lutheran Service Book for your family prayers.

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The Collect of the Week:

O Lord, mercifully hear our prayer and stretch forth the right hand of Your majesty to defend us from those who rise up against us; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Prayer for others:

For the pre-born, the weak, the sick, those in hospital, and those who cannot care for themselves;

For the shut-in and those recovering from surgery at home;

For those struggling with sin and those who are sick;

For those attacked by false teaching;

For our pastors (Pastor White, Pastor Krieg, and Pastor Cholak);

For pastors and congregations throughout the world as they begin the Lenten season;

For the teachers and administration at Our Savior Lutheran School;

For those who are students in college and university;

For the Christian training of the young, especially those who homeschool.

Tuesday of Invocabit (Lent 1)

Our Savior Lutheran at Prayer

February 28, AD 2023

Mark 3:20-30

And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem were saying, “He is possessed by Beelzebul,” and “by the prince of demons he casts out the demons.” 23 And he called them to him and said to them in parables, “How can Satan cast out Satan? 24 If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. 25 And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. 26 And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand, but is coming to an end. 27 But no one can enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man. Then indeed he may plunder his house. 28 “Truly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the children of man, and whatever blasphemies they utter, 29 but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin”— 30 for they were saying, “He has an unclean spirit.”

In the name of the Father and the +Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen. The work of the Holy Spirit is to create faith. He calls us with the Gospel and enlightens us with his gifts. He makes us holy and keeps us in the true faith. The Holy Spirit’s work is to bring you to Jesus. He is like Saint John the Baptist in that he wants to decrease or fade out of the lime light so that Jesus can shine. To blaspheme the Holy Spirit is to blaspheme the flow of faith—the route that faith comes to you. To blaspheme the Holy Spirit is to cut off the very things that we need from heaven. But the Holy Spirit has given us the Strongest Man—Jesus. He is no match for the devil, the world, our sinful nature, or any other enemy. He binds up the devil and then plunders his house—casting out demons, rebuking fevers, returning sight to the blind and hearing to the deaf, and most importantly, snatching you back from death and the grave so that he can have you to all eternity. He forgives your sins by dying on the cross and shedding his blood. These gifts, rescues from death and the devil, forgives sins, and gives eternal salvation, he brings to you via the Holy Spirit in preaching and Baptism and Absolution and the Lord’s Supper. No house divided here, only united in one Lord Jesus Christ. Thanks be to God! In the name of +Jesus. Amen.

Pastor Steven Cholak, School Chaplain and Assistant Pastor, Our Savior Lutheran Church and School

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You may utilize the Order of Daily Prayer for Individuals and Families (pages 295-298) in Lutheran Service Book for your family prayers.

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The Collect of the Week:

O Lord, mercifully hear our prayer and stretch forth the right hand of Your majesty to defend us from those who rise up against us; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Prayer for others:

For the pre-born, the weak, the sick, those in hospital, and those who cannot care for themselves;

For the shut-in and those recovering from surgery at home;

For those struggling with sin and those who are sick;

For those attacked by false teaching;

For our pastors (Pastor White, Pastor Krieg, and Pastor Cholak);

For pastors and congregations throughout the world as they begin the Lenten season;

For those who mourn;

For the Christian training of the young, especially at Our Savior Lutheran School.

Monday of Invocabit (Lent 1)

Our Savior Lutheran at Prayer

February 27, AD 2023

Mark 3: 1-6

Again he entered the synagogue, and a man was there with a withered hand. 2 And they watched Jesus, to see whether he would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse him. 3 And he said to the man with the withered hand, “Come here.” 4 And he said to them, “Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to kill?” But they were silent. 5 And he looked around at them with anger, grieved at their hardness of heart, and said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was restored. 6 The Pharisees went out and immediately held counsel with the Herodians against him, how to destroy him.

In the name of the Father and the +Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen. The Incarnate Word of God comes to the places where the Inscripturated Word is proclaimed. It was Jesus custom to go to synagogue. He knows why the Sabbath was given. God gives rest for the souls of his people there. He heals and makes alive. He does it by the proclamation of his holy Word. Jesus is the One that gives rest for souls. His burden is light. The proclamation of the Word always accomplishes what it has been sent to do. Jesus enters the synagogue and immediately he is confronted with the Pharisees. “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy—We should fear and love God so that we do not despise preaching and his Word, but hold it sacred and gladly hear and learn it.” The very purpose of the Sabbath is to do good. When the Lord God stopped creating all the things he created, he wanted his people to stop, too. He wanted them to stop so that they would receive his good Word and rest for their souls. But we turn the Lord’s day into a burden and we set up all kinds of obstacles for ourselves. Jesus comes into the midst of them and proclaims. He sets his Sacrament before us and just as he provides for our needs of this body and life, he also provides for our souls. He uses that very Word of God to call you to the Gospel. He enlightens you with his gifts and keeps you in the true faith. He puts his Holy Word into your ear and makes you holy. Thanks be to God that this Word proclaimed is the Word that endures forever. In the name of +Jesus. Amen.

Pastor Steven Cholak, School Chaplain and Assistant Pastor, Our Savior Lutheran Church and School

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You may utilize the Order of Daily Prayer for Individuals and Families (pages 295-298) in Lutheran Service Book for your family prayers.

---

The Collect of the Week:

O Lord, mercifully hear our prayer and stretch forth the right hand of Your majesty to defend us from those who rise up against us; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Prayer for others:

For the pre-born, the weak, the sick, those in hospital, and those who cannot care for themselves;

For the shut-in and those recovering from surgery at home;

For those struggling with sin and those who are sick;

For those attacked by false teaching;

For our pastors (Pastor White, Pastor Krieg, and Pastor Cholak);

For pastors and congregations throughout the world as they begin the Lenten season;

For those who mourn;

For the Christian training of the young, especially at Our Savior Lutheran School.

https://open.substack.com/pub/oslatprayer/p/monday-of-invocabit-lent-1?r=1lfpr&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web

Friday after Ash Wednesday

Our Savior Lutheran at Prayer

Lord, remember us in your kingdom and teach us to pray…
February 24, AD 2023

Mark 1:29-39

And immediately he left the synagogue and entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. 30 Now Simon’s mother-in-law lay ill with a fever, and immediately they told him about her. 31 And he came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and the fever left her, and she began to serve them. 32 That evening at sundown they brought to him all who were sick or oppressed by demons. 33 And the whole city was gathered together at the door. 34 And he healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons. And he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him. 35 And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed. 36 And Simon and those who were with him searched for him, 37 and they found him and said to him, “Everyone is looking for you.” 38 And he said to them, “Let us go on to the next towns, that I may preach there also, for that is why I came out.” 39 And he went throughout all Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and casting out demons.

In the name of the Father and the +Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen. The whole world is going out after him. He is healing the sick and casting out the demons. He is in their synagogue teaching and preaching. The people flock to him. We would have gone, too. They wanted more. They wanted to see more signs and wonders, but that is not why he comes. He comes to preach. He comes to proclaim. What is he proclaiming? He proclaims the good news of his cross. He proclaims that all the promises of salvation and the coming Messiah are fulfilled in him. He proclaims to you that the Law is fulfilled in him. They will all fall away. Crucifixion is not the sign they want to see. They’d rather see someone come down from the cross rather than go up on it. However, it is that very act, Jesus dying on the cross, that saves the world. It is Jesus paying the price for sin and rescuing from death and the devil that is the most important thing—for you! Thus, he keeps sending his Word to be preached to you. He keeps sending his Holy Spirit to call you with the Gospel of the Cross and to enlighten you with the gifts that were won there. In the name of +Jesus. Amen.

Pastor Steven Cholak, School Chaplain and Assistant Pastor, Our Savior Lutheran Church and School

You may utilize the Order of Daily Prayer for Individuals and Families (pages 295-298) in Lutheran Service Book for your family prayers.

The Collect of the Week:

Almighty and everlasting God, You despise nothing You have made and forgive the sins of all who are penitent. Create in us new and contrite hearts that lamenting our sins and acknowledging our wretchedness we may, like David before us, receive from You full pardon and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Prayer for others:

For the pre-born, the weak, the sick, those in hospital, and those who cannot care for themselves;

For the shut-in and those recovering from surgery at home;

For those struggling with sin and those who are sick;

For those undergoing surgery;

For our pastors (Pastor White, Pastor Krieg, and Pastor Cholak);

For pastors and congregations throughout the world as they begin the Lenten season;

For our Lenten journey to the cross;

For the Christian training of the young, especially at Our Savior Lutheran School.

Friday of Septuagesima

Lord, remember us in your kingdom and teach us to pray…

February 10, AD 2023

John 3:25-36

Now a discussion arose between some of John’s disciples and a Jew over purification. 26 And they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, he who was with you across the Jordan, to whom you bore witness—look, he is baptizing, and all are going to him.” 27 John answered, “A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven. 28 You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ‘I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before him.’ 29 The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is now complete. 30 He must increase, but I must decrease.” 31 He who comes from above is above all. He who is of the earth belongs to the earth and speaks in an earthly way. He who comes from heaven is above all. 32 He bears witness to what he has seen and heard, yet no one receives his testimony. 33 Whoever receives his testimony sets his seal to this, that God is true. 34 For he whom God has sent utters the words of God, for he gives the Spirit without measure. 35 The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hand. 36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.

In the name of the Father and the +Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen. The best man is delighted to hear the voice of the groom. John the Baptist always confessed that he was not the Christ. He was the pointing prophet, “Look, behold, the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world.” He freely confessed to the religious establishment when they came to him in the wilderness at the Jordan, “I am not the Christ.” The same thing he does here. His work is complete as he prepared the way for the Lord. What was his goal? That all people would see the salvation of our God. Indeed, the Salvation of from our God has come. The Christ goes forth to fulfill the Father’s will. He is crucified for the sins of the world. Jesus tells us that when he is lifted up, he will draw all men to himself. He dies for all. Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life. You have been made a child of God. John’s joy is complete and soon ours will be, too. Thanks be to God for his Word among us. In the name of +Jesus. Amen.

https://open.substack.com/pub/oslatprayer/p/friday-of-septuagesima?r=1lfpr&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web

Freedom

Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage. —Galatians 5:1

Do not be entangled in a yoke of bondage. Sin is crouching at the door waiting for you. Like we said yesterday, don’t forget your enemies are the devil speaking the lies of despair and unbelief in your ear, the world enticing you with its pleasures, and your own sinful flesh. Our help must come from outside of us. You know when the Psalmist asks, “From whence cometh my help?” It comes from the mountain of God. It is an insignificant mountain to the world’s standard. But your Lord puts death to death there and undoes your enemies there. He sheds his blood and that blood is your help. That blood is your forgiveness. That blood is your righteousness. The offense of the cross is your salvation. The world will rage and spite, but dear Christian, your help has come to you and called you out of your sin to his marvelous light.

Up Through Endless Ranks of Angels

Today is Ascension Day. What a glorious day for the Church, for you. and me. The creator of the heavens and the Earth has become part of that creation to redeem you and now he sits on his throne in heaven. For the first time in all of eternity, a man sits on the heavenly throne. The God Man has elevated your station. He truly has made all things new. It has been 40 days since our celebration of the Resurrection. It has been 40 days since we celebrated the destruction of death and the devil’s reign. Now we celebrate for the Lord has ascended to his heavenly throne to reign eternally.

Death destroying, life restoring, proven equal to our need, now for us before the Father as our brother intercede; flesh that for our world was wounded, living, for the wounded plead!

Lutheran Service Book 491:2

Luther on Education

I would advise no one to send his child where the Holy Scriptures are not supreme. Every institution that does not unceasingly pursue the study of God’s word becomes corrupt….I greatly fear that the universities, unless they teach the Holy Scriptures diligently and impress them on the young students, are wide gates to hell. –To the Christian Nobility, LW 44:207

From Outside of Us

The Spirit works from the outside in to create faith and to sanctify God’s holy people. Our help has to come from outside of us. And so the Bible teaches that faith comes by hearing the Word of Christ. The Word comes to us because God sends preachers. In Romans 10, Saint Paul asks, “How will they call upon him in whom they have not believed?” and “How are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard?” Saint Paul is saying that we need to hear the Word in order to believe. We can’t strike an inner energy that puts us on the right path. We must have God come with his good gifts and Spirit or else we die. “How are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent?” God has the plan for your salvation. He has sent a preacher to you. He only has the power of the Scriptures. He has the power to forgive sins. He stands in Jesus’ stead for you.

Let’s pray that God keep sending pastors. Let’s pray that young men are encouraged by the church to seek the Office of the Ministry. And then let’s encourage the young men in our congregations to this great and noble task. Lord have mercy on your Church.

By Хомелка – Own work

We Must Have Christian Schools

You may think that it is nice that your church has a school. You may think that it is just an outreach among many different outreaches in which your church could engage. Whereas it is nice that your church has a school, it is also necessary that your church has a school. Your church can engage in other outreach, but it really must have a Christian school. The world has gone on a full attack of our children. It is one of the great enemies of the church. The world, the devil, and your sinful nature work together to destroy and lay waste the work of Christ. The United States is no safe haven for Christians. The world here hates Christ as much as it hates him everywhere else. And the world will do its due diligence indoctrinating our children in the ways contrary to the faith. But the Lord has given the work of indoctrinating to parents, not to the state. Classical Lutheran Education uses the Latin phrase, “in loco parentis.” It means literally, “in place of the parent.” Thus Christian schools walk along side the parents in full view and in full communication to bring up the church’s children in the way of the Lord. Supporting your church’s school is a wonderful thing. Lifting up the teachers and administration in your prayers is needed. Let’s see what we can do to establish and support classical Christian education at every congregation. Wouldn’t that be nice.