Mount Calvary Lutheran Church Devotions for the Whole Family
A Guide for Daily Meditation and Prayer for the Whole Congregation
For the Ninth Sunday after Trinity
August 6, 2023 through August 13, 2023
***What the Bible Says About WISDOM —This week’s parable might shock us. A man who was wasting his employer’s goods made his own position better by wasting more of his employer’s goods. How can Jesus praise a man who acted in such a way? What this parable shows us is the seriousness with which the man in the parable took his situation, a seriousness which Christians do not often possess. He knew he had no way of escape, and that he was going to be out on his own. Often Christians live with the illusion that all of this is not terribly important, and that everything will come out ok in the end. They forget to see that their salvation is a matter of dead consequence, and that they must reckon with God in everything. Wisdom is in looking in realities as they are. We cannot be friends of God and of the world. It will not benefit us to save some things and forfeit our salvation. He who does this is a fool. We are called instead to dare to trust in God, and to be willing to do all rather than to be unfaithful to God. This is true realism, which itself, is seen as foolishness in the eyes of the world but is commended by God. –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: Jesus Commends Shrewdness
Invocation
In the name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Apostles Creed
Psalm of the Week — Psalm 51:1-12
Verse of the Week —Psalm 110:1, “The Lord says to my Lord, ‘Sit at My right hand, till I make Your enemies Your footstool.’”
The Catechism of the Week: Table of Duties – To Children
Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and your mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise—”that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.” (Eph. 6:1-3)
Daily Bible Readings (Optional 2nd Reading)
Monday Ezekiel 16 Psalm 58-59
Tuesday Ezekiel 17 Psalm 60-62
Wednesday Ezekiel 18 Psalm 63-65
Thursday Ezekiel 19 Psalm 66-67
Friday Ezekiel 20 Psalm 68
Saturday Look ahead to Sunday’s Readings (Hymns: 981, 644, 618 & 658 & 639, 646)
Jeremiah 7:1-11; Psalm 92; 1 Corinthians 12:2-11; Luke 19:41-48
Prayers for the Week
Collect for Trinity 9
Let Your merciful ears, O Lord, be open to the prayers of Your humble servants; and that they may obtain their petitions, make them to ask such things as shall please You; 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:
