Audible Gospel

Blessed Lord, since You have caused all Holy Scriptures to be written for our learning, grant that we may so hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them that we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen!

Gracious God, our heavenly Father, Your mercy attends us all our days. Be our strength and support amid the wearisome changes of this world, and at life’s end grant us Your promised rest and the full joys of Your salvation; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen!

Almighty God, by the working of Your Holy Spirit, grant that we may gladly hear Your Word proclaimed among us and follow its directing; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen!

O God, because Your abiding presence always goes with us, keep us aware of Your daily mercies that we may live secure and content in Your eternal love; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen!

Almighty, eternal God, in the Word of Your apostles and prophets You have proclaimed to us Your saving will. Grant us faith to believe Your promises that we may receive eternal salvation; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen!

We often want to understand something before we can accept it as true. “I just don’t get it!” we might cry out. But God is bigger than anything we can ever understand. The Trinity is bigger than we can grasp. Three persons, each of them God, yet we have not three “Gods,” but one God? How does that work?! We can take comfort that God is bigger than anything we can wrap our minds around. This is the...

In John 14, Jesus says, “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.” The primary role of the Holy Spirit, then, is to teach us and remind us of all that Jesus said–perfect communication. When Peter had confessed Jesus to be the Messiah, Jesus said immediately to Peter: “the Son of Ma...

Most celebrations in our world last a few hours–or in the case of some great professional sports win, maybe a week. Here in church we have celebrated Easter for seven Sundays–a week of weeks! The Easter season concludes today with powerful words from Jesus. He is praying for His people in the world–for us! His prayer for us is at the same time comforting and challenging: “Holy Father, keep them in...

Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia! While we celebrated Easter Sunday over a month ago, the Christian Church traditionally regards every Sunday as “mini-Easters.” That is because preaching the resurrection of Jesus Christ as we do on Easter is central to our faith. In the resurrection, we celebrate Christ’s victory over sin and death. Because of His resurrection, we confidently hold fir...

Jesus Christ is the way, the truth, and the life. He has chosen believers to be His own through faith. We are indeed a “chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His own possession” (1 Peter 2:9). Even so, as we traverse our days on this sinful earth, we can expect trials and tribulations to come our way. One of God’s chosen disciples, Stephen, experienced such trials in the ult...

This day we are often reminded how Jesus is the Good Shepherd that cares for His sheep. However, in the Gospel, Jesus gives us another different and vivid picture of Himself: as a door. He says, “I am the Door of the sheep . . . If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture” (John 10:7, 9). Jesus is the only way to salvation; as His sheep, we look only to Him and...

O God, You have redeemed the world through the precious blood of Christ, which He poured out on the cross. Grant that we may learn from Jesus to see things Your way; for He lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen!

Almighty God, You are at work for us and for our salvation. Cause the action verbs of Your mercy and grace to have full effect in our lives, bringing us to the unending Kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen!

Most merciful God, as the people of Jerusalem, with palms in their hands, gathered to greet Your dearly beloved Son when He came into His Holy City, grant that we may ever hail Him as our King and, when He comes again, may go forth to meet Him with trusting and steadfast hearts and follow Him in the way that leads to eternal life; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with...

Blessed Lord Jesus Christ, at this hour You hung upon the cross, stretching out Your loving arms to embrace the world in Your death. Grant that all people of the earth may look to You and see their salvation; for Your mercy’s sake we pray. Amen!

Most merciful God, as the people of Jerusalem, with palms in their hands, gathered to greet Your dearly beloved Son when He came into His Holy City, grant that we may ever hail Him as our King and, when He comes again, may go forth to meet Him with trusting and steadfast hearts and follow Him in the way that leads to eternal life; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with...

O faithful Lord, we have rebelled against you over and over again through our thoughts, words and deeds. Yet you continue to claim us as your own because you took our place on the cross we deserved. Help us to live as your freed followers, no longer shackled by the bonds of sin, death and evil but released to share your saving message of new life with others. Allow us to lead others to you that th...

You are the Way, the Truth and the Life, O Lord, but so often we forget that and we stand in the way of your Truth. Help us to claim you as our King, not hiding your presence from others or washing our hands of our association with you. Give us the grace to announce to the world that you are truly the sinless Son of God who took on our sins that we might be saved. We who once were guilty are now m...

O God, whose glory it is always to have mercy, be gracious to all who have gone astray from Your ways and bring them again with penitent hearts and steadfast faith to embrace and hold fast the unchangeable truth of Your Word; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen!

O God, You see that of ourselves we have no strength. By Your mighty power defend us from all adversities that may happen to the body and from all evil thoughts that may assault and hurt the soul. Amen!

O Lord God, You led Your ancient people through the wilderness and brought them to the promised land. Guide the people of Your Church that following our Savior we may walk through the wilderness of this world toward the glory of the world to come; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen!

Almighty and ever-living God, you love all that you have created and you forgive the sins of those who come to you with humble and contrite hearts. Create in us clean and honest hearts, so that, as we repent of our sins, we may receive full pardon and forgiveness; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen!

O God, in the glorious transfiguration of Your beloved Son You confirmed the mysteries of the faith by the testimony of Moses and Elijah. In the voice that came from the bright cloud You wonderfully foreshowed our adoption by grace. Mercifully make us co-heirs with the King in His glory and bring us to the fullness of our inheritance in heaven; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives an...

O Lord, graciously hear the prayers of Your people that we who justly suffer the consequence of our sin may be mercifully delivered by Your goodness to the glory of Your name; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen!

O Lord, keep Your family the Church continually in the true faith that, relying on the hope of Your heavenly grace, we may ever be defended 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!