Mount Calvary Lutheran Church at Prayer
A Guide for Daily Meditation and Prayer for the Whole Congregation
For the Sixth Sunday after Trinity
July 16, 2023 through July 23, 2023
***What the Bible Says About KEEPING THE COMMANDMENTS — No one can hedge the demands of God. The law says that whoever fails in just one spot is guilty of breaking the law. Because we fail to do what is good, the good that is a part of God’s very being, we cannot stand in the presence of God. The Gospel does not mean that God lowers the demands. Jesus demanded more of the Pharisees than they had to give. No one, He said, could enter heaven without having a righteousness that was greater than they had, even though they had devoted their lives to the keeping of the commandments. And so, salvation by man is totally impossible. What man could not do in keeping the law, God did by sending His Son, condemning Him for sin in our place. He who believes in Jesus is free from condemnation. In our new life and by the power of the Spirit, the law serves to restrain and put to death the Old Man and the Sinful Flesh still in us. The Holy Spirit works within us that we might fulfill the demands of the law. We will always do this incompletely in this life, and so in this life there will be a constant battle between our flesh and the Spirit within us. –adapted from Swedish Lutheran pastor Bo Giertz’ “Preaching from the Whole Bible”
The Order of Meditation and Prayer
Pray and confess out loud as much from the order and meditation and prayer as you are able, or as your family size and ages dictate. Learn by heart the verse, catechism, and hymn of the week.
Theme: God’s Law Shows Our Sin & that we Need a Savior
Invocation
In the name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Apostles Creed
Psalm of the Week — Psalm 19
Verse of the Week —Matthew 10:32-33, “Whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.”
The Catechism of the Week: Table of Duties – To Husbands
Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers. (1 Peter 3:7) Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them. (Col. 3:19)
Daily Bible Readings (Optional 2nd Reading)
Monday Ezekiel 1 Psalm 32-33
Tuesday Ezekiel 2 Psalm 34-35
Wednesday Ezekiel 3 Psalm 36-37
Thursday Ezekiel 4 Psalm 38-39
Friday Ezekiel 5 Psalm 40-41
Saturday Look ahead to Sunday’s Readings (Hymns: 750, 732, 625 & 797, 819)
Isaiah 62:6-12; Psalm 33:1-11; Romans 6:19-23; Mark 8:1-9
Prayers for the Week
Collect for Trinity 6
Lord of all power and might, author and giver of all good things, graft into our hearts the love of Your name, increase in us true religion, nourish us with all goodness, and of Your great mercy keep us in the same; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Daily Themes for Prayer at Mount Calvary
