Confident.Faith

Readings Psalm 82 Psalm 136 1 Samuel 2:18–36 Acts 15:22–41 Apology of the Augsburg Confession III, IV:1–11

Readings Psalm 20 Psalm 131 1 Samuel 1:21—2:17 Galatians 6:1–18 Apology of the Augsburg Confession II:35–51

Readings Psalm 92 1 Samuel 1:1–20 Galatians 5:1–26 Apology of the Augsburg Confession II:23–34

Readings Psalm 21 Judges 16:4–30 Galatians 4:12–31 Apology of the Augsburg Confession II:5–22

Readings Psalm 33 Psalm 27 Judges 15:1—16:3 Galatians 3:23—4:11 Apology of the Augsburg Confession I, II:1–4

Readings Psalm 119:1–8 Psalm 1 Judges 14:1–20 Galatians 3:1–22 Apology of the Augsburg Confession, Introduction:1–19

Readings Psalm 71 Judges 13:1–25 Galatians 2:1–21 Augsburg Confession Conclusion

Readings Psalm 118 Psalm 108 Judges 7:1–23 Galatians 1:1–24 Augsburg Confession XXVIII:61–78

Readings Psalm 5 Judges 6:25–40 Acts 15:6–21 Augsburg Confession XXVIII:43–60

Readings Psalm 125 Psalm 7 Judges 6:1–24 Acts 14:19—15:5 Augsburg Confession XXVIII:30–42

Readings Psalm 138 Psalm 86 Judges 4:1–24 Acts 14:1–18 Augsburg Confession XXVIII:19–29

Readings Psalm 16 Psalm 139 Judges 3:7–31 Acts 13:42–52 Augsburg Confession XXVIII:1–18

Readings Psalm 2 Psalm 78 Judges 2:6–23 Acts 13:13–41 Augsburg Confession XXVII:44–62

Readings Psalm 100 Psalm 5 Joshua 24:1–31 Acts 13:1–12 Augsburg Confession XXVII Commemoration Today we commemorate Isaiah. Isaiah, son of Amoz, numbers amongst the greatest of the Old Testament prophets, and is quoted more than any other in the New Testament. A contemporary of Amos, Hosea, and Micah, Isaiah prophesied to the people of Judah between about 740 and 700 BC. No Old Testament prophet more clearly prophesied about the coming of the Messiah and His Kingdom. In the words of John, Isaiah ‘saw Jesus’ glory and spoke of Him’.

Readings Psalm 68 Psalm 149 Joshua 23:1–16 Acts 12:1–25 Augsburg Confession XXVII

Readings Psalm 50 Psalm 113 Joshua 10:1–25 Acts 11:19–30 Augsburg Confession XXVI

Readings Psalm 84 Psalm 45 Joshua 8:1–28 Acts 11:1–18 Augsburg Confession XXVI

Readings Psalm 51 Psalm 60 Joshua 7:1–26 Acts 10:34–48 Augsburg Confession XXV

Readings Psalm 47 Psalm 75 Joshua 6:6–27 Acts 10:18–33 Augsburg Confession XXIV

Readings Psalm 114 Psalm 144 Joshua 5:1—6:5 Acts 10:1–17 Augsburg Confession XXIV

Readings Psalm 103 Joshua 4:1–24 Acts 9:23–43 Augsburg Confession XXIII Festival Today we celebrate the Festival of St. Peter and St. Paul, Apostles. Early Christian tradition holds that Ss. Peter and Paul were martyred on the same day in Rome under the persecution of Nero. In addition to their joint commemoration on June 29th (a festival the Church has observed since the third century or so), Ss. Peter and Paul are also commemorated separately in the calendar — St. Peter on the 18th of January for his confession of Christ and St. Paul on the 25th of January for his conversion. Both Peter and Paul are held up in Scripture as examples of men who, although flawed, became staunch defenders of and evangelists for the faith.

Readings Psalm 89 Psalm 97 Joshua 3:1–17 Acts 9:1–22 Augsburg Confession XXII

Readings Psalm 51 Joshua 2:1–24 Acts 8:26–40 Augsburg Confession XXI Commemoration Today we commemorate Cyril of Alexandria, Pastor and Confessor. Cyril became Archbishop of Alexandria in AD 412. A true defender of the faith and orthodoxy, Cyril produced a number of writings dealing with various theological matters. Cyril’s Christology had a significant impact on later theologians. Additionally, Cyril defended the truth that it is proper to call Mary the “Mother of God” or Theotokos, the ‘God-bearer’.

Readings Psalm 31 Joshua 1:1–18 Acts 8:1–25 Augsburg Confession XX:19–40 Commemoration Today we commemorate Jeremiah. Prophet to the southern kingdom of Judah, Jeremiah predicted, witnessed, and lived through the Babylonian siege and destruction of Jerusalem. Through a lifetime of prophetic work, Jeremiah communicated God’s anger toward His rebellious people and often suffered at the hands of his countrymen. Although his death is unrecorded, it is believed that Jeremiah died in Egypt, after having been forcibly transported there.

Readings Psalm 119:41–48 Psalm 73 Proverbs 31:10–31 John 21:1–25 Augsburg Confession XX:1–18 Commemoration Today we commemorate the Presentation of the Augsburg Confession. Presented to the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V at Augsburg, Germany, on 25 June 1530, the Augsburg Confession presents the theology of the Lutheran Church and of the Reformation. At the heart of the Confession is justification by grace alone through faith alone for the sake of Christ alone — presented primarily in Article IV, often called the ‘article on which the Church stands or falls’. Through the Augsburg Confession, the Lutheran Reformers began the arduous task of removing the corruption that had crept into the Church over centuries and restoring to its rightful place the true core of Christianity: Justificatio Sola Gratia Sola Fide Solo Christo — justification by grace alone through faith alone by and through Christ alone.

Readings Psalm 85 Proverbs 30:1–33 John 20:19–31 Augsburg Confession XVII–XIX Feast Today we celebrate the Feast of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist. The birth of St. John the Baptist was announced, by an angel, to his father, Zechariah. Initially unbelieving, Zechariah was struck mute until his son was born, but then proclaimed a hymn of praise, the Benedictus — which traditionally serves as the Gospel Canticle in the Church’s Service of Morning Prayer. John’s life is known from all four of the Gospels. Preaching and baptizing in the wilderness near the Jordan River, John prepared the way for the Messiah — Christ. Upon seeing Christ, John announced to the crowds: “Behold, the Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world!” Martyred by the Herodians, whose immoral lifestyle he denounced, John is remembered for his preaching which pointed to the coming Messiah, the Lamb Who takes away the sins of the world.

Readings Psalm 139 Psalm 16 Proverbs 27:1–24 John 20:1–18 Augsburg Confession XIV–XVI

Readings Psalm 22 Proverbs 25:1–22 John 19:23–42 Augsburg Confession XII–XIII

Readings Psalm 22 Psalm 21 Proverbs 24:1–22 John 19:1–22 Augsburg Confession IX–XI

Readings Psalm 45 Proverbs 22:22—23:12 John 18:15–40 Augsburg Confession VII–VIII

Readings Psalm 31 Psalm 102 Proverbs 22:1–21 John 18:1–14 Augsburg Confession V–VI

Readings Psalm 86 Proverbs 20:1–25 John 17:1–26 Augsburg Confession III–IV

Readings Psalm 107 Proverbs 17:1–28 John 16:17–33 Augsburg Confession I–II

Readings Psalm 147 Proverbs 16:1–24 John 16:1–16 Augsburg Confession Preface:1–24

Readings Psalm 46 Numbers 35:9–30 Luke 24:28–53 the Ecumenical Creeds

Readings Psalm 97 Psalm 85 Numbers 32:1–27 Luke 24:1–27 Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration XII:39–40 Commemoration Today we commemorate Elisha. Son of Shaphat from the tribe of Issachar, Elisha was the prophet of God to the Northern Kingdom of Israel for decades. A vocal opponent of Baal worship, Elisha, unlike his predecessor and mentor, Elijah, played an active role in political affairs. In the course of his ministry, Elisha performed many miracles, confirming his status as a prophet sent by God.

Readings Psalm 138 Psalm 38 Numbers 27:12–23 Luke 23:26–56 Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration XII:28–38

Readings Psalm 1 Psalm 37 Numbers 24:1–25 Luke 23:1–25 Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration XII:1–27 Commemoration Today we commemorate the Ecumenical Council of Nicaea. Convoked in AD 325 by Roman Emperor Constantine, the Council of Nicaea ruled against the Arians, who taught that Jesus was not the eternal Son of God, but was a created being. The chief opponents of the Arians were Alexander, Bishop of Alexandria, and Athanasius, deacon to Alexander. It was at this council that an early version of the Nicene Creed was adopted — the full version being adopted in its entirety at the Council of Constantinople in AD 381.

Readings Psalm 22 Psalm 102 Numbers 23:4–28 Luke 22:47–71 Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration XI:94–96 Festival Today we celebrate the Festival of St. Barnabas, Apostle. A Levite from Cyprus, Barnabas sold some land that he owned and donated the proceeds to the early Christian community in Jerusalem. Sent to oversee the Church in Antioch, Barnabas retrieved Paul from Tarsus and accompanied him back to Antioch, and from there to Paul’s first missionary journey. Tradition holds that Barnabas was martyred in Cyprus, by being stoned.

Readings Psalm 94 Psalm 149 Numbers 22:21—23:3 Luke 22:24–46 Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration XI:87–93

Readings Psalm 128 Psalm 72 Numbers 22:1–20 Luke 22:1–23 Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration XI:76–86