His Time - Protecting Your Ministry Legally, Psalm 85, Listener Question: Circumcision, "God's Judgment and the Law"

1. Protecting Your Ministry

Guest Ron Shultz, Chief Administration Officer of the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod, talks about a new document “Protecting Your Ministry,” which is a set of legal advisory documents to protect congregations from lawsuits. Learn more about legal protection and download the document at lcms.org/resources/legal-issues.

2. Meditation on the Day’s Psalm

Rev. Jonathan Fisk gives a meditation on the Psalm of the Day, Psalm 85:1-4, 7-8, 10-13.

Psalm 85:1-4, 7-8, 10-13

Revive Us Again

To the choirmaster. A Psalm of the Sons of Korah.

85 Lord, you were favorable to your land;
    you restored the fortunes of Jacob.
²You forgave the iniquity of your people;
    you covered all their sin. Selah
³You withdrew all your wrath;
    you turned from your hot anger.

⁴Restore us again, O God of our salvation,
and put away your indignation toward us!
⁷Show us your steadfast love, O Lord,
and grant us your salvation.

⁸Let me hear what God the Lord will speak,
for he will speak peace to his people, to his saints;
but let them not turn back to folly.

¹⁰Steadfast love and faithfulness meet;
    righteousness and peace kiss each other.
¹¹Faithfulness springs up from the ground,
    and righteousness looks down from the sky.
¹²Yes, the Lord will give what is good,
    and our land will yield its increase.
¹³Righteousness will go before him
    and make his footsteps a way.

3. Listener Question: Circumcision

Rev. Jonathan Fisk answers a listener question regarding circumcision in light of the Old Covenant vs. the New Covenant.

4. Daily Lectionary

Rev. Thomas Chryst from Messiah Lutheran Church in Keller, Texas, studies Romans 2:17-29.

5. Morning Prayer Sermonette

Today’s sermonette is given by Rev. Thomas Chryst from Messiah Lutheran Church in Keller, Texas.

"The Bible is cradle wherein Christ is laid." - Martin Luther — “The Bible is cradle wherein Christ is laid.” – Martin Luther

Romans 2:17-29

¹⁷But if you call yourself a Jew and rely on the law and boast in God ¹⁸and know his will and approve what is excellent, because you are instructed from the law; ¹⁹and if you are sure that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness, ²⁰an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of children, having in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth— ²¹you then who teach others, do you not teach yourself? While you preach against stealing, do you steal? ²²You who say that one must not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? ²³You who boast in the law dishonor God by breaking the law. ²⁴For, as it is written, “The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.”

²⁵For circumcision indeed is of value if you obey the law, but if you break the law, your circumcision becomes uncircumcision. ²⁶So, if a man who is uncircumcised keeps the precepts of the law, will not his uncircumcision be regarded^[a] as circumcision? ²⁷Then he who is physically^[b]uncircumcised but keeps the law will condemn you who have the written code^[c] and circumcision but break the law. ²⁸For no one is a Jew who is merely one outwardly, nor is circumcision outward and physical. ²⁹But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from man but from God.