1. Engaging your neighbors – at the laundromat
Rev. David Murillo, Pastor of St. Paul Lutheran Church in San Antonio, Texas, speaks about his recent article “Laundry Love” in the Texas District News. The article centers around engaging the community at the laundromat to share Jesus’s love with our neighbors. The non-profit organization “Laundry Love” provides assistance to low-income populations to help them not only have clean clothes but also use their resources for things like food or gas. Learn more about Laundry Love at laundrylove.org. Read Rev. Murillo’s article at txlcms.org/laundry-love.
2. Witness Wednesday
With Rev. Mark Wood, Director of Witness and Outreach in the LCMS Office of National Mission.
3. Daily Lectionary
Rev. Michael Merker from Jordan Lutheran Church in Apex, North Carolina, studies Matthew 8:18-34.
4. Morning Prayer Sermonette
Today’s sermonette is given by Rev. Michael Merker from Jordan Lutheran Church in Apex, North Carolina.
Matthew 8:18-34
The Cost of Following Jesus
18 Now when Jesus saw a crowd around him, he gave orders to go over to the other side. 19 And a scribe came up and said to him, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.” 20 And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” 21 Another of the disciples said to him, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” 22 And Jesus said to him, “Follow me, and leave the dead to bury their own dead.”
Jesus Calms a Storm
23 And when he got into the boat, his disciples followed him. 24 And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but he was asleep. 25 And they went and woke him, saying, “Save us, Lord; we are perishing.” 26 And he said to them,“Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?” Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. 27 And the men marveled, saying, “What sort of man is this, that even winds and sea obey him?”
Jesus Heals Two Men with Demons
28 And when he came to the other side, to the country of the Gadarenes,[a] two demon-possessed[b] men met him, coming out of the tombs, so fierce that no one could pass that way. 29 And behold, they cried out, “What have you to do with us, O Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the time?” 30 Now a herd of many pigs was feeding at some distance from them. 31 And the demons begged him, saying, “If you cast us out, send us away into the herd of pigs.” 32 And he said to them, “Go.” So they came out and went into the pigs, and behold, the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea and drowned in the waters. 33 The herdsmen fled, and going into the city they told everything, especially what had happened to the demon-possessed men.34 And behold, all the city came out to meet Jesus, and when they saw him, they begged him to leave their region.
Footnotes:
- Matthew 8:28 Some manuscripts Gergesenes; some Gerasenes
- Matthew 8:28 Greek daimonizomai (demonized); also verse 33; elsewhere rendered oppressed by demons
English Standard Version (ESV)The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
