1. Lutheran Church Extension Fund
Rich Robertson, President & CEO of the Lutheran Church Extension Fund, talks about the organization and how it is beneficial for Lutherans churches and congregation members to be involved with it. He also talks about LCEF’s support of the Concordia International School in Hanoi, China.
2. Witness Wednesday
With Rev. Mark Wood, Director of Witness and Outreach in the LCMS Office of National Mission.
3. Daily Lectionary
Rev. Peter Lange from Bethany Lutheran Church in Eldon, Missouri, studies 1 Corinthians 9:24-10:22.
4. Morning Prayer Sermonette
Today’s sermonette is by Rev. Peter Lange from Bethany Lutheran Church in Eldon, Missouri.
1 Corinthians 9:24-10:22
24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. 25 Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. 26 So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. 27 But I discipline my body and keep it under control,[a] lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.
Warning Against Idolatry
10 For I do not want you to be unaware, brothers,[b] that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea, 2 and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, 3 and all ate the same spiritual food, 4 and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ.5 Nevertheless, with most of them God was not pleased, for they were overthrown[c] in the wilderness.
6 Now these things took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as they did. 7 Do not be idolaters as some of them were; as it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play.”8 We must not indulge in sexual immorality as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in a single day. 9 We must not put Christ[d] to the test, as some of them did and were destroyed by serpents, 10 nor grumble, as some of them did and were destroyed by the Destroyer.11 Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come. 12 Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. 13 No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man.God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.
14 Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. 15 I speak as to sensible people; judge for yourselves what I say. 16 The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? 17 Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread. 18 Consider the people of Israel:[e] are not those who eat the sacrifices participants in the altar? 19 What do I imply then? That food offered to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything? 20 No, I imply that what pagans sacrifice they offer to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be participants with demons. 21 You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons. 22 Shall we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than he?
Footnotes:
- 1 Corinthians 9:27 Greek I pummel my body and make it a slave
- 1 Corinthians 10:1 Or brothers and sisters
- 1 Corinthians 10:5 Or were laid low
- 1 Corinthians 10:9 Some manuscripts the Lord
- 1 Corinthians 10:18 Greek Consider Israel according to the flesh
English Standard Version (ESV)The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
