Pr. DFD

Tuesday, May 26, 2026

Wednesday prior to Trinity

Genesis 1:1—2:4a - The opening chapter of the Bible matter-of-factly recounts the creation of the earth, the universe, and all that is in them in seven days by God. Which person of the Trinity was responsible for the creation? All three persons! The first three verses alone proclaim this fact: The Spirit is said to be hovering over the face of the waters, while God (the Father) speaks—speaks His Word, who is the Son, as St John tells us in the opening verses of his Gospel. On the sixth day, there is further testament to the working of the Trinity, when God says, Let Us make man in Our own image, after Our likeness. The singular God here speaks in the plural. Not just the Father, but the Son and the Holy Spirit as well, were involved in the work of creation, just as all three are involved in the work of salvation.

God could not save what he did not make. To prove His love for you Jesus became human to redeem the human world. Jesus who as a full human; has the capacity to feel the hurts of friends. He shares the sorrow of Martha. He weeps with Mary over Lazarus’ death. He expresses His love for his friends. Jesus did not really need to cry. He knew what he was going to do in the raising of Lazarus. Yet, human as He was, He was caught up in the situation. He identified with His friends.

When we are ill, Christ’s healing reveals His glory. When we are dead, Christ’s raising us, like Lazarus, all for the glory of God. In the resurrection, the glory of God’s power is manifest. This offers hope to the afflicted, for they are assured of the Lord’s help.

The creative power of God is found in his vast creation. Luther sums it all in his explanation to the First Article of the Apostles’ Creed. “I believe that God has made me and all creatures; that He has given me my body and soul, eyes, ears, and all my members, my reason and all my senses, and still takes care of them. He also gives me clothing and shoes, food and drink, house and home, wife and children, land, animals, and all I have. He richly and daily provides me with all that I need to support this body and life. He defends me against all danger and guards and protects me from all evil. All this He does only out of fatherly, divine goodness and mercy, without any merit or worthiness in me. For all this it is my duty to thank and praise, serve and obey Him.”

Collect for the Feast of the Holy Trinity: Almighty and everlasting God, You have given us grace to acknowledge the glory of the eternal Trinity by the confession of a true faith and to worship the Unity in the power of the Divine Majesty. Keep us steadfast in this faith and defend us from all adversities; for You, O Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, live and reign, one God, now and forever.

Monday, May 25, 2026

Tuesday prior to Trinity

Psalm 8—This psalm of David nicely ties together the three appointed readings for Trinity Sunday. The first two verses tell how the entire creation proclaims the majesty, glory, and strength of the Lord, the Creator of all things, as testified to in the Old Testament reading. The rest of the psalm speaks of Christ, the second Adam, our Savior, of whose redemption Peter preaches in the Epistle reading, (Acts 2: 14a, 22–36) and who commissions His Church to make disciples by baptizing and teaching about Him in the Gospel reading.

The psalm begins by crying out the name of the one and only true God, and then confesses Him to be our ruler. The name of Yahweh is rightly described. Yahweh alone is always has been and always will be the one who exists and, by extension, is always present to act on behalf of humankind for our salvation. God’s majesty is tangibly revealed on earth in the wonderful detail and design of creation and extends beyond our view into the heavens.

The characteristic beauty of creation is meant to draw our attention to its Designer. Everything around us that we appreciate through our senses is a gift of God to be enjoyed. That also includes the food we eat, art, architecture, literature, technology, and medicine – things designed by humans by God-granted creativity. It’s meant to be enjoyed for the pleasure it brings us. But creation is also a reminder to all people at all times and all places that God is the architect of its grandeur. He is the recipient of praise and worship.

“Oh LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens. When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him?” (Psalm 8:1; 3-4)

It should be obvious that however creative humans can be, we are incapable of anything as wondrous and complex and awe-inspiring as God’s created order. And yet incredibly, God has granted us responsibility for tending to earth. Our farmers are stewards of our natural resources. By His help you feed the world.

“Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor. You have given him dominion over the works of your hands; you have put all things under his feet, all sheep and oxen, and also the beasts of the field, the birds of the heavens, and the fish of the sea, whatever passes along the paths of the seas.” (Psalm 8:5-8)

We are made care-takers of this world, to watch over all the plants, animals, and seas. The name of Jesus will be exalted in all the earth because all the earth bears his trademark.

As you take in the beauty of creation look at the good gifts around you. Even better, open the Scriptures which make abundantly clear the good news of Jesus Christ. You don’t have to take a special camping trip to experience the joy of the glory of Jesus Christ. His glory never fades. His goodness never diminishes.

“Oh LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!” (Psalm 8:9)

A Prayer for Agriculture: Almighty God, You blessed the earth to make it fruitful, bringing forth in abundance whatever is needed for the support of our lives. Prosper; we implore You, the work of farmers, especially in this planting season. Grant them seasonable weather that they may gather in the fruits of the earth and thus proclaim Your goodness.

Sunday, May 24, 2026

Monday prior to Trinity

Psalm 16:8–11—The antiphon for coming Sunday’s Introit is an ancient liturgical text: Blessed be the Holy Trinity and the undivided Unity. Let us give glory to Him because He has shown His mercy to us. The Triune God has shown His mercy to us by creating us, daily providing for all our needs, and in accomplishing our salvation by the death and resurrection of Christ Jesus. Our response, therefore, is to give glory to Him, and to set the LORD always before us, for He has made known to us the path of life.

In these verses David writes as though the Lord stands beside him and holds his hand, like a father caring for his son. The Lord is the focus of David’s service and his ally. Because the Lord lives and sustains all life David is confident that the righteous will endure despite physical death. According to Acts 2:25-28 this prophecy is connected directly to Jesus’ resurrection.

In Israelite thought, the right hand was the favored one. As such, it symbolized the place of privilege or strength. The chief court official was seated at the king’s right hand as a symbol of his power and authority. This term can describe God’s chosen servant.

Christ gives us joy and He is faithful. Verse 9 states, “Therefore my heart is glad, and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure, because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead, nor will you let your faithful one see decay.” We will have joy and peace, and we can rest when our eyes are focused on Jesus. He takes delight in us and views us as His perfect and most beautiful creation. He is faithful to us and is always with us.

When we keep our eyes focused on the Lord, He is always with us. Regardless of the battles we may be facing, He is our strength. With Him by our side, we will not be shaken. We can rest in complete assurance that He is with us in all situations.

Lord Jesus Christ, whose grace always proceeds and follows us, help us to forsake all trust in earthly gain and find in You, our heavenly treasure; for You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen

Memorial Day

Today is Memorial Day. We recall those who gave the ultimate sacrifice in defense of the freedoms we enjoy.

A Memorial Day Prayer: Heavenly Father, as our nation pauses today to remember those in the military who have given their lives for freedoms we enjoy, we pray you would have us all look to you for strength, comfort and guidance. Be with all who serve in our Armed Forces. Bless them and their families. Grant your loving protection. Let peace prevail among all the nations, O God. Especially let your mercy rest upon our land, even as we acknowledge with thanksgiving your past goodness on this country. If it is your will, preserve the lives of the men and women in uniform as they defend our citizenry. Most of all, we pray that you would turn the hearts of all – military and civilian – to your holy Word where we find the true peace for our sinful souls that surpasses all understanding. Keep us repentant of sin. Move us to know, take hold and treasure your saving grace. In the name of Jesus, our Savior and Your beloved Son, who alone gives this peace and hope for eternity, we pray. Amen. [1]

Saturday, May 23, 2026

THE HOLY TRINITY study notes

Genesis 1:1—2:4a

Acts 2:14a, 22–36

Matthew 28:16–20

The Holy Triune God Recreates Us in the Image and Likeness of Christ Jesus

The holy Triune God “created the heavens and the earth,” and “behold, it was very good” (Gen. 1:1, 31). However, after Adam and Eve fell into sin and plunged God’s good creation into decay and death, the Son of God would be “delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God” to be “crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men” (Acts 2:23). As Jesus “received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:33), He also raises up all the baptized and pours out the Spirit upon them through the preaching of His Gospel. He sends out His apostles to “make disciples of all nations” by “baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,” and “teaching them to observe all that [He has] commanded” (Matt. 28:19–20). Through such baptizing and teaching — Gospel and Sacraments — the holy Triune God recreates us in the image and likeness of His incarnate Son, Jesus the Christ, and behold, it is “very good” (Gen. 1:31).

Matthew 28:16–20

The Great Commission

Matthew 28:16

Οἱ δὲ ἕνδεκα μαθηταὶ ἐπορεύθησαν εἰς τὴν Γαλιλαίαν εἰς τὸ ὄρος οὗ ἐτάξατο αὐτοῖς ὁ Ἰησοῦς,

Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them.

Matthew 28:17

καὶ ἰδόντες αὐτὸν προσεκύνησαν, οἱ δὲ ἐδίστασαν.

And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted.

Matthew 28:18

καὶ προσελθὼν ὁ Ἰησοῦς ἐλάλησεν αὐτοῖς λέγων· Ἐδόθη μοι πᾶσα ἐξουσία ἐν οὐρανῷ καὶ ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς·

And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.

Matthew 28:19

πορευθέντες οὖν μαθητεύσατε πάντα τὰ ἔθνη, βαπτίζοντες αὐτοὺς εἰς τὸ ὄνομα τοῦ πατρὸς καὶ τοῦ υἱοῦ καὶ τοῦ ἁγίου πνεύματος,

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in[a] the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

Matthew 28:20

διδάσκοντες αὐτοὺς τηρεῖν πάντα ὅσα ἐνετειλάμην ὑμῖν· καὶ ἰδοὺ ἐγὼ μεθ’ ὑμῶν εἰμι πάσας τὰς ἡμέρας ἕως τῆς συντελείας τοῦ αἰῶνος.

teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Image of the Trinity © Higher Things

–Romans 1:8-17 "The Righteous shall live by faith"

Today we begin a series of sermons. Based on the book of Romans. For the next sixteen weeks. The epistle lesson is taken from St Paul’s letter to the Romans. It was Luther’s careful study of this book, which lead him to understand the gospel namely that we are justified by God freely apart from works of the law.

From that discovery came the inspiration which sparked the Reformation 500 years ago. Luther grappled with an age-old dilemma. How do I get right with God? How do I know God cares? How can I know that He love me? And if He does, in fact, care for me. And love me. How do I know this?

Luther was keenly aware that all was not well. There was something broken. From the testimony of God’s Law. From the evidence of the existence of evil in this world. From the conviction of my own conscience. These all remind me daily of the fact that I am a poor, miserable sinner. Sin is real. With sin come consequences. Consequences often lead to great cost and loss. The penalty of sin is death. And death we cannot avoid. So how do you make sense of all this?

Says, Luther “I questioned this passage for a long time and labored over it. The phrase “the righteousness of God” barred the way. The phrase was customarily explained to mean that the righteousness of God is a virtue by which He is Himself righteous and condemns sinners…As often as I read this passage, I wished that God had never revealed the Gospel; for who can love a God who was anger, who judged and condemned people…This misunderstanding continued until enlightened by the Holy Spirit. I finally examined these words, “The just shall live by faith”…then the entire Scriptures became clear to me and heaven was opened to me. Now we see this brilliant light very clearly, and we are privileged to enjoy it abundantly.” [1]

With St. Paul we can say “I am not ashamed of the Gospel.”

1. It is the power of God for salvation.

a. Christ bore our sin, guilt and shame on the cross and gave us His life for us.

b. Receiving these gifts by faith, and empowered by the Spirit, we are no longer ashamed of the Gospel. Rather we cherish the Gospel. It is good news and it is life.

2. It is for everyone.

a. It is for the Jew first. Why? Paul explains. “…to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises. To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ, who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen. (Romans 9:4-5)

b. But the Gospel is for pagans also. On the first Pentecost. Gathered in Jerusalem were Jews from every tribe and nation. Peter in his epic sermon speaks of the Father’s guarantee of salvation. “For the promise is for you and for your children…” But then he adds,” and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” (Acts 2:39) The great promises of the Gospel. The power of God for salvation. His good and gracious favor has come for you.

3. It is the righteousness of God.

a. Revealed from faith to faith. Paul would remind us that our standing with God has everything to do with faith from start to finish. It begins with the faithfulness of God and is continues into faith in the heart of the believer. God is completely responsible for your salvation from front to back! You don’t one-day wake up and decide to follow Jesus – He plants the seed of faith in your heart. He then nourishes that faith by giving you His eternal Word, which is able to make you wise unto salvation. This is what St. Paul reminds us when he tells us in Ephesians 2:8-9 “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God- not by works, so that no one can boast.”

b. Faith is God’s gift. Created by the Holy Spirit who works in and through the Gospel. He brings us to repentance. And in faith we trust the Father’s promises. Repentance and faith. They work together. Both simultaneously and concurrently. They are like a chorus.

Occurring all together. At once. And what are these two? Repentance and faith? Repentance is simply giving up all hope of a better past. While forgiveness is no longer haunted by a troubled past.

c. It is entirely God’s work. “The one who is righteous by faith shall live.” You are declared righteous. Thus, you live by faith. If you are in Christ. God considers you. Counts you. Credits you as His good and faithful servant. You are declared righteous because of Christ’s righteousness, which has been poured out all over you. It is the life of Jesus that now becomes your credentials to be with Christ in this life and the one which is to come. It is the life of Jesus whom the Father will recognize as He greets me in glory. It is Christ’s righteousness that will be counted as your own righteousness. How Jesus lived His life is what is being counted in place of how you lived your life. How Jesus died, is what is being counted as your death. How Jesus obeyed is what is being counted in place of how you disobeyed.

The struggles with which Luther struggled five hundred years ago continue to this day. How does God regard me? How do I know God cares? How can I know that He loves me? As we review this book of Romans, we are given these words which have become the center of our faith. “The one who is righteous. By faith. Shall live!”

Words – 1,025
Passive Sentences –9%
Readability –81.2%
Reading Level -4.2

Points to consider…

Ø Why and how are these early words, “the Gospel is…” so important in understanding the book of Romans?

Ø What differences does it make when Paul states the “gospel is for the Jew first but also for the gentile”?

Ø Define “the righteousness of God” in the following terms

1. “faith in God’s work”

2. “entirely the work of God”

Ø Why is it important to understand that our standing with God has everything to do with faith from start to finish?

“The just shall live by faith” or “By faith, the just shall live.” Is there a difference in the above two statements? If so, is one more appropriate? Why?

[1] Plass, Ewald (1959). What Luther Says. CPH: St. Louis, MO. p835

Friday, May 22, 2026

Saturday prior to Pentecost

The majestic Hymn of the Day, Come, Holy Ghost, God and Lord (LSB #497), was written by Martin Luther. In addition to writing catechism hymns for each of the six chief parts of Christian doctrine, Luther wrote this one to help remember the third article of the Apostles’ Creed. The chief teaching of the Christian faith—the doctrine of salvation by faith rather than works—is clearly proclaimed throughout this great hymn. Sing it confidently and boldly. The Holy Spirit has brought you to faith, and by Word and Sacrament, He will continue to keep you in the one true faith.

This chorale is based on the work of the third Person of the Holy Trinity, the Holy Spirit, who is expressly celebrated on the Day of Pentecost. The following shows connections between each of the four statements of Luther’s meaning of the Third Article of the Apostles’ Creed and portions of each stanza of “Come, Holy Ghost, God and Lord.”

Luther writes in his Table Talk: “The hymn ‘Come Holy Ghost, God and Lord,’ was composed by the Holy Ghost himself, both words and music.” Luther crafted the version known today by polishing the original German stanza and also composing two additional stanzas to fit masterfully with the first.

Ø I believe that I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to Him; but the Holy Spirit has called me by the Gospel, enlightened me with His gifts, sanctified and kept me in the true faith.

“With all Your graces now outpoured on each believer’s mind and heart” (stanza 1)

Ø In the same way He calls, gathers, enlightens, and sanctifies the whole Christian church on earth, and keeps it with Jesus Christ in the one true faith.

“Lord, by the brightness of Your light in holy faith Your Church unite” (stanza 1)

“Let none but Christ our master be that we in living faith abide, in Him, our Lord, with all our might confide.” (stanza 2)

Ø In this Christian church He daily and richly forgives all my sins and the sins of all believers.

“From every error keep us free” (stanza 2)

Ø On the Last Day He will raise me and all the dead, and give eternal life to me and all believers in Christ.

“That bravely here we may contend, through life and death to You, our Lord, ascend.” (stanza 3)

As mentioned earlier that the best hymns also teach the Christian faith, it is worth noting that this chorale actually predates the publication of Luther’s Small Catechism (1529). Thanks be to God for this chorale’s expression of our Lutheran faith and His work through the third Person of the Holy Trinity!

O God, who gave Your Holy Spirit to the apostles, grant us that same Spirit that we may live in faith and abide in peace; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit now and forever. Amen

https://lutheranreformation.org/worship/come-holy-ghost-god-lord/