Prayer

I offer these comments about the selection of the Scripture readings and hymns to help the reader understand how I arrived at the scripture readings, hymns, and sermon texts and titles that were chosen for this part of the sermon series.

Sermons on the Sacrament of the Altar

The four passages that are the biblical basis for the Sacrament of the Altar are assigned as lectionary readings for this four-part series (Matthew 26:26-30; Mark 14:22-25; Luke 22:14-20; 1 Corinthians 11:23-34). The Sacrament of the Altar is stated to be Christ’s Last Will and Testament, reflecting the wording of the Verba in the LSB liturgies and in the text of LSB’s Catechism. See also Luther’s work “A Treatise on the New Testament, that Is, The Holy Mass” (LW 35, 75-111). Additional details about lectionary choices are included in the document with lectionary and hymn options.

When preaching on the Sacraments of Baptism and the Sacrament of the Altar, some mention needs to be made about the thread of blood and water running through the Old and New Testaments. Blood and water were the agents of cleansing from sin, consecration, and purification in the Old Testament (Leviticus 1:4-5, 8-9; 8:6, 15, 23-24; 16:3, 14-16, 23-28; Deuteronomy 21:3-9). The New Testament recounts Christ’s coming to His Church in blood and water (1 John 5:6-12). John in his Gospel emphasizes the truth that when Jesus’ side was speared on Good Friday, blood and water flowed out (John 19:31-37). Today Jesus comes to His Church and the world with the cleansing flow of blood (The Sacrament of the Altar) and water (The Sacrament of Holy Baptism), which delivers from sin and gives the blessing of eternal life (Matthew 26:26-29; Acts 2:36-39; 22:16). This blood and water thread can be included in the sermons or taught in a Bible class accompanying the sermons on Baptism and/or the Lord’s Supper.  

Sermons on the Lord’s Prayer

The Lord’s Prayer has seven petitions and an Introduction and Conclusion, so there are nine parts to this series. A sermon on prayer in general was not included, although one could be added, bringing the total in the series to ten. The Explanation section in the LCMS’s edition of the Small Catechism includes a section on prayer in general [Luther’s Small Catechism with Explanation (CPH 2006), pp. 174-180]. These readings or others more fitting with one’s congregation could be used for a sermon on prayer in general – Genesis 18:23-32; Daniel 6:10; 1 Timothy 2:1-2; 1 Thessalonians 5:17-18; Matthew 7:7-8; Matthew 26:36-44; Luke 6:12.

For all the sermons on the Lord’s Prayer, I suggest that the biblical text of the particular petition be the basis for the preaching, using the text from the Sermon on the Mount in the Gospel of Matthew. Other Gospel readings have been included in the lectionary, reflecting variations over the years. And since the Lord’s Prayer is part of the liturgy, I suggest that the catechetical reading be read/confessed either before or after the sermon.

A number of scripture readings were selected because they were included in the explanation section of Luther’s Small Catechism.

Hymns and Themes for These Series

Two of Luther’s hymns on the Sacrament of the Altar accompany the sermons on the Lord’s Supper (LSB 617 & LSB 627), as well as his hymn on the Keys (LSB 607), and Luther’s catechetical hymn on the Lord’s Prayer (LSB 766) is sung in sections corresponding to the part of the Lord’s Prayer that is the theme of the sermon.

These sermons should encourage Christians to be regular in receiving the Lord’s Supper to be forgiven of their sins, to strengthen their faith in Christ, to be further equipped for their lives of service in the Church and the world, and to look forward to receiving their spiritual inheritance in heaven. Sermons on prayer should encourage regular daily prayer, family and personal prayer time, scripture reading, devotional time, a devotional use of the Catechism, the use of devotional tools like Portals of Prayer and other such aids.

To review or download the complete list of lectionary selections, sermon title and text, and hymn recommendations, click here. To contact Dr. Boehme, send an email to Rhoda@FormingLutherans.org, and she will forward your questions or comments to him.

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Banner Image: Albrecht Dürer (1471-1528), The Last Supper wood block print; photo from The humiliation and exaltation of our Redeemer, in 32 prints, representing the original wood-blocks of Albert Dürer. London: G. Routledge & Sons, 1867.
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:The_humiliation_and_exaltation_of_our_Redeemer,_in_32_prints,_representing_the_original_wood-blocks_of_Albert_D%C3%BCrer_(IA_humiliationexalt00drer).pdf