Pr. DFD
"The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and give his life a ransom for many.” - Mathew 20:28
Wednesday, April 22, 2026
Thursday prior to Easter 4 Good Shepherd Sunday
Tuesday, April 21, 2026
Wednesday prior to Easter 4 “Good Shepherd Sunday”
Acts 2:42-47 –The sheep witness to the Shepherd. In our first lesson, we have the issue of leadership in the 1st Century Church. What are the qualifications for church leadership? The early church faced the problem of choosing seven leaders. The apostles gave the people three criteria for their selection: good reputation, good common sense, and spirituality.
The early church was a blessed church. She had the favor of God and man. It was a growing church – new members were received daily. What was the formula for the church See verse 42.
O Lord, Keep
Your family the Church continually in the true faith that relying on the hope
of Your heavenly grace that we may ever be delivered by Your mighty power; 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 the Church copyright © 2006 Lutheran Service Book Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis
Image for Easter 4 Series A copyright © www.agnusday.org
Earth Day
22 April each year is
traditionally recognized as Earth Day in which we are encouraged to be good
stewards of the resources the LORD has given to us. The charge given to Adam
and Eve was to be caretakers of the planet and all of its natural
resources.
As Christians Earth Day
should reminds us that the LORD has created this vast universe for us to thrive
and enjoy of the first article of the Apostles' Creed teaches. I believe
in God the Father Almighty, maker of heave and and earth.
What does this mean? 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
The first article of the
Apostles' Creed declares that Christians believe, teach and confess that the
one, true God is none other than the One who has made the heavens and the
earth, and everything in them. But more than that, He is our Father who provides
and cares for us as a father cares for his beloved children.
We believe that He has
made us and has given us all the good things we have in this life. This He has
done purely out of the love He has for us as our Father. He not only gives us
life, He also defends us, guards us, and protects us during this life, so that
we will join Him in heaven for all eternity. There is nothing in us that makes
us worthy of the good things God gives us. It is all from His love as a father.
How glorious it is to know that the same God who created heaven and earth also
created each one us and cares for us personally.
A prayer for agriculture: Almighty
God, You bless 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, and grant us seasonable weather that we may gather the fruits
of the earth and proclaim your goodness with thanksgiving; through Jesus Christ
our LORD.
Sources: Luther's Small Catechism and Collect for Agriculture Lutheran Service Book copyright 2006 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis
Monday, April 20, 2026
Tuesday prior to Easter 4 “Good Shepherd Sunday”
–
Psalm 23:4-6 The Psalm
portion for this coming week is the much-loved Shepherd Psalm. The benefits of
have Jesus as our Shepherd-King is that both goodness and love will literally
pursue us. We are given the hope and promise of life with God eternally. We
will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Our future has been guaranteed.
Because the Shepherd-King Jesus lives forever, we have the hope and guarantee
of dwelling with Christ throughout the years of our life.
Notice how highly David magnifies the Lord. He
recalls how gracious God has been. Consider what the Lord has bestowed on him
(v. 5): "Thou preparest a table
before me;”
David says in essence: “Lord, You have provided me with everything pertaining both to life and
godliness.” All things needed for both the body as well as the soul are
given by the Shepherd’s caring hand. His
benefits are not only for this life they spread well into eternity. Such a bountiful benefactor is God to all His
people; and because these blessings come from God David is called upon to utter
thanks for His great goodness. David
acknowledges two realities:
That he had food conveniently given to him; a table
spread, a cup filled, meat for his hunger, drink for his thirst. What is it
that Christ has given to you? Luther explains in the explanation to the 1st
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 preserves
them; also, clothing and shoes, meat and drink, house and home, wife and
children, fields, cattle, and all my goods; that He richly and daily provides
me with all that I need to support this body and life, that He protects me from
all danger, and guards and preserves me
from all evil; and all this out of pure, fatherly, divine goodness and mercy,
without any merit or worthiness in me; for all which I owe it to Him to thank,
praise, serve, and obey Him. This is most certainly true.”
David acknowledges that the Shepherd had this table
carefully and readily provided for him. His table was not spread with any thing
that came haphazardly; rather God prepared everything for him. The Shepherd
provided for all of his needs and prepared it before him.
Under the heading “daily bread” Luther lists just some of the gifts and blessings the Good Shepherd provides for us each and every day:
What is meant
by daily bread? —Everything that
belongs to the support and wants of the body, such as meat, drink, clothing,
shoes, house, home, field, cattle, money, goods, a pious spouse, pious
children, pious servants, pious and faithful rulers, good government, good
weather, peace, health, discipline, honor, good friends, faithful neighbors,
and the like.”
One question many ask during times of uncertainty
is simply, “how will we get thought this?”
We get through all this together. The Lord does provide but He does it
through means – He does it through you. As you watch out for those in your
circle; especially those closest to you family, neighbors, friends. May you
continue to be the hands, the feet, the fingers and toes of Jesus and He
provides through your acts of mercy and charity.
Lord God, You
have called Your servants to ventures of which we cannot always see the ending,
by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown. Gove us faith to go out with
good courage, not knowing where we go but only that Your hand is leading us and
Your love supporting us; through Jesus Christ, Your Son our Lord, who lives and
reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen
_______________________
Image of the Lost Sheep copyright © Ed Riojas,
Higher Things
Image for Easter 4 series A copyright © www.agnusday.org
Collect from Lutheran Service Book copyright © 2006
Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis
Sunday, April 19, 2026
Monday prior to Easter 4 “Good Shepherd Sunday”
Though he has risen in glory and is soon to ascend to
the Father, Christ continues with us as a shepherd on earth, a shepherd who
knows, cares, leads, and protects his sheep. Though risen in glory and absent
in the body, Jesus continues as an abiding presence to care for his people. He
is the good shepherd who died for his sheep to rescue them from the wolves. His
resurrection confirms his victory and he continues to live as the shepherd of
our souls.
– Psalm 23:1-3 The Antiphon for
this coming Sunday’s Introit is taken
from Vs.1, “The Lord’s my shepherd I
shall not want.” The term “Shepherd”
is a widely used metaphor used for Kings. David as King acknowledges that the
Lord is his Shepherd-King. Jesus as the shepherd of His people is expressed
most plainly in our Gospel lesson for this coming week. John 10:1-10
By these words David
illustrates God's care of his people; and to this our Savior refers to Himself
when He says, “I am the shepherd of the
sheep; the good shepherd,” (John. 10:11). He is the shepherd of Israel, and
of the whole church in general: “Oh, give
ear, Shepherd of Israel, Thou who dost lead Joseph like a flock; Thou who art
enthroned {above} the cherubim, shine forth!” (NAS Psalm 80:1), He is the
shepherd of every particular believer; even the meanest is not below His
awareness, “Like a shepherd He will tend
His flock, in His arm He will gather the lambs, and carry {them} in His bosom;
He will gently lead the nursing {ewes.}” (NAS Isaiah. 40:11).
We are sheep who have
gone astray. Lost in the rebellion of sin we have become wayward sheep. Isaiah
the prophet explains in Isaiah 53:6 “All
of us like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; but
the LORD has caused the iniquity of us all to fall on Him.”
As the Good Shepherd
Jesus rescues the sheep. He takes them into His fold, and then takes care of
them, protects them, and provides for them, with more care and devotion than
any shepherd can. He makes it his business to keep the flock. Thus, we pray in Luther’s Morning and Evening
prayers: “into Thy hands I commend myself
{placing} my body and soul and all things {into Your care...}”
Sheep cannot do one
thing to provide for themselves. They need a shepherd who will provide for
them. Of themselves, they can do nothing. They are lost, confused and would
soon be destroyed without Him. Thus the Good Shepherd will provide for all that
we need to support our body and life; both physical but especially spiritual
necessities.
When the Christian
considers that God is his shepherd, he can boldly say, “I shall not want!” We
need not fear. We don’t have to worry about starving; God upon finding us
supplies all our needs. We have Him as our feeder.
More is implied than is
expressed in this little phrase. Not only can David say: “I shall not want”, but also, "I shall be supplied with whatever I need. If I have not everything I
desire, I may conclude it is either not fit for me or not good for me currently
or I shall have it in due time."
David, a king of his own
right acknowledges that the Lord is his Shepherd-King. Jesus, who suffered and
died on Calvary’s cross, has become our good shepherd. We walk with Him as we
observe His Passion. We need not worry about being in want. To the contrary, we
will enjoy goodness and mercy each day of our lives. As we begin the discipline
of Lent walk with the Good Shepherd. -He guides and directs your path.
A Prayer for Agriculture as another planting season is upon us: 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. May we see by this noble
vocation that by Your aid we are helping to feed the world and cause all who
give thanks over their food to treat those who produce it with honor and
respect.
___________________
Image of the Lost Sheep copyright © Ed Riojas, Higher Things
Image for Easter 4 copyright © www.agnusday.org
Collect for Agriculture, Lutheran Service Book copyright © 2206
Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis
Saturday, April 18, 2026
Easter 4 Series A study notes
Acts 2:42–47
1 Peter 2:19–25
John 10:1–10
The Crucified and Risen Lord Jesus Christ Is Our Good Shepherd
Although we “were straying like sheep,” the Lord Jesus Christ has willingly suffered and died for us, bearing our sins “in his body on the tree” (1 Peter 2:24–25). We are healed by His wounds (1 Peter 2:24), and in His resurrection He gathers us to Himself as our Good Shepherd, by whose righteousness we “have life and have it abundantly” (John 10:10). Now through other shepherds whom He calls and sends in His name, He guards and keeps us in the green pastures of His Church, leading us beside the quiet waters of our Baptism and spreading the feast of His Table before us. Since He has called us by the Gospel to be His own dear sheep, we also “hear his voice” and “know his voice” (John 10:3–4) in the faithful preaching of His Gospel, and we follow Him by faith. When we receive His Gospel, we have the abundant life and common unity of the entire flock under one Good Shepherd, in “the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship” and in “the breaking of bread and the prayers” (Acts 2:42).
John 10:1
Ἀμὴν ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν, ὁ μὴ εἰσερχόμενος διὰ τῆς θύρας εἰς τὴν αὐλὴν τῶν προβάτων ἀλλὰ ἀναβαίνων ἀλλαχόθεν ἐκεῖνος κλέπτης ἐστὶν καὶ λῃστής·
"Truly, truly, I say to
you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another
way, that man is a thief and a robber. - The only relationship we have with
people is through Christ.
Thief's and robbers know not the sheep
John 10:2
ὁ δὲ εἰσερχόμενος διὰ τῆς θύρας ποιμήν ἐστιν τῶν προβάτων.
But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. What every pastor should be...no def. article..."a" shepherd...
See Acts 20:28ff
John 10:3
τούτῳ ὁ θυρωρὸς ἀνοίγει, καὶ τὰ πρόβατα τῆς φωνῆς αὐτοῦ ἀκούει καὶ τὰ ἴδια πρόβατα φωνεῖ κατ’ ὄνομα καὶ ἐξάγει αὐτά.
To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.
To this one...the pastor... We are shepherds He is the chief shepherd do not add adjectives to pastors...
John 10:4
ὅταν τὰ ἴδια [c]πάντα ἐκβάλῃ, ἔμπροσθεν αὐτῶν πορεύεται, καὶ τὰ πρόβατα αὐτῷ ἀκολουθεῖ, ὅτι οἴδασιν τὴν φωνὴν αὐτοῦ·
When he has brought out all his own, he journeys goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.
We follow Jesus through suffering through donkey tracks and skid marks. We walk by faith and not through sight
John 10:5
ἀλλοτρίῳ δὲ οὐ μὴ [d]ἀκολουθήσουσιν ἀλλὰ φεύξονται ἀπ’ αὐτοῦ, ὅτι οὐκ οἴδασι τῶν ἀλλοτρίων τὴν φωνήν.
A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers."
Know. By the word spoken...
John 10:6
ταύτην τὴν παροιμίαν εἶπεν αὐτοῖς ὁ Ἰησοῦς· ἐκεῖνοι δὲ οὐκ ἔγνωσαν τίνα [e]ἦν ἃ ἐλάλει αὐτοῖς.
This figure of speech Jesus used with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them.
Not a parable but a figure of speech, spoken to the Pharisees who don't get it because they don't want to be dependent.
John 10:7
Εἶπεν οὖν πάλιν [f]αὐτοῖς ὁ Ἰησοῦς· Ἀμὴν ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν [g]ὅτι ἐγώ εἰμι ἡ θύρα τῶν προβάτων.
So Jesus again said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep.
Spoken to the Pharisees who hate him.
John 10:8
πάντες ὅσοι ἦλθον [h]πρὸ ἐμοῦ κλέπται εἰσὶν καὶ λῃσταί· ἀλλ’ οὐκ ἤκουσαν αὐτῶν τὰ πρόβατα.
All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them.
All who came before me...under priests, and false prophets - who were taking advantage of the people through theft - (see Malachi) - they were imposters -
John 10:9
ἐγώ εἰμι ἡ θύρα· δι’ ἐμοῦ ἐάν τις εἰσέλθῃ σωθήσεται καὶ εἰσελεύσεται καὶ ἐξελεύσεται καὶ νομὴν εὑρήσει.
I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture.
John 10:10
ὁ κλέπτης οὐκ ἔρχεται εἰ μὴ ἵνα κλέψῃ καὶ θύσῃ καὶ ἀπολέσῃ· ἐγὼ ἦλθον ἵνα ζωὴν ἔχωσιν καὶ περισσὸν ἔχωσιν.
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.
-The Greek New Testament: SBL Edition.
Copyright © 2010 by Society of Biblical Literature and Logos Bible Software
-ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright ©
2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
-Schnorr Von Carolsfeld woodcuts, ‘The
Resurrection of our Lord’© WELS permission granted for personal and
congregational use
-LCMS Lectionary notes © 2018
-Lutheran Service Book © 2006 Concordia Publishing
Friday, April 17, 2026
Saturday prior to Easter 3
Mark 16:15 – This verse is the inspiration for the hymn “With High Delight let us Unite“{LSB
#483}.Having experienced the Lord Jesus risen from the dead, we as the people
of God reach out into the world proclaiming the good news. This is the response
of Easter. The early Christians simply told others, “We are witnesses of these
things.” Likewise, we share with others the good things the Savior has done for
us.
“With High
Delight Let Us Unite” (Lutheran Service Book #483)
The delight
we experience as Christians comes from the faith given to us by the Holy
Spirit. After His resurrection Jesus meets two of his disciples on the road to
Emmaus where he opens the Scriptures to them. Here we see the work of the Holy
Spirit working through the Word of God and the Gospel story. The disciples’
response to this work: “Did not our hearts burn within us on the road, while he
opened to us the Scriptures?”
The work of the Gospel penetrated their
hearts, minds, and souls. Today our experience is just as profound as we gather
in church to hear the Gospel proclaimed and partake in the sacred meal. In this
context Christians sincerely sing with high delight let us unite in songs of
great jubilation. Our worship is a response to the faith that God has first given
us. It is a response full of sincere delight in the realities of Easter Day. As
the hymn puts it, we sing Jesus Christ, our salvation to set us free forever.
The entire
Easter drama, from Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem, to his celebrating
the first Eucharist with his disciples, to his sacrifice on the cross, his
descent into hell to proclaim His victory, to His glorious resurrection, this
is what we live to tell. Jesus, because he is God, cannot but be raised from
the dead. Jesus is ris’n and sends to all earth’s ends good news to save ev’ry
nation. This is what the delighted, faith-filled disciples do when Jesus
vanishes from their sight. They immediately go back to Jerusalem, find the
eleven disciples and say the Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!
Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in
the breaking of bread.
The story
that we sing is quite the story. The second stanza captures this beautifully,
True God, He first from death has burst forth into life, all subduing. His
enemy doth vanquished lie; His death has been death’s undoing. This story is
like no other story. God, out of His great love becomes man so He can die to
save His creation and in doing so crushes Satan. Satan no longer has dominion
over death! “And yours shall be like victory o’er death and grave,” Saith He,
who gave His life for us, life renewing. When we hear this astounding story of
love and sacrifice we cannot help but let praises ring!
This is the
wonderful thing about being a baptized Christian, we are redeemed. No matter
where we find ourselves in life we are the Lords and he will sustain us day by
day. The hymn says so shall His love give us above, from misery and death set
free, all joy and full consolation. The Lord has made us his in our Baptism, he
has done it. This is the surest foundation a person can stand on. Not only are
we redeemed, but we are loved too. This is the consolation for every Christian,
we are: redeemed, loved, comforted, and sustained; because we are the Lord’s.[2]
Collect for Easter 3 - O God, through the
humiliation of Your Son You raised up the fallen world. Grant to Your faithful
people, rescued from the peril of everlasting death, perpetual gladness and
eternal joys; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and
the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.[3]
Collect for Saturday of the week of Easter 2: God our Father, look upon us with love. You redeem us and make us your children in Christ. Give us true freedom and bring us to the inheritance yur promised. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen [4]
[1] The Risen
Christ, © Ed Riojas, Higher Things
[2]https://www.cuchicago.edu/globalassets/www-digital-team-media-files/documents-and-images/academics/centers-of-excellence/center-for-church-music/devotions/hymn-of-the-day-devotion-easter-3-may-4-2014.pdf
[3] Collect
for Easter 3, Lutheran Service Book © 2006 Concordia Publishing House. St.
Louis
[4] Collect
for Saturday of the week of Easter 2, For All the Saints, A Prayer Book For and
By the Church, Vol. III © 1995 The American Lutheran Publicity Bureau, Delhi,
NY






