Pastor: Paul D. Nolting

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Pre-Service Meditation: Psalm 121 (Pew Bible:537; Hymnal:152)

Pre-Service Prayer: Dear Lord God, our blessed, heavenly Father, we thank You for sending Your Holy Spirit to abide in the hearts of our confirmands. Be with them today as they confess their faith in You and Your word. May we all be strengthen by the truths they proclaim. May Your kingdom come to us, and Your will be done among us to Your glory and for our mutual blessing. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Hymn of Praise: 27……………...."Oh, Bless the Lord, My Soul"

Absolution of Sins: Our Savior God assures us that when we confess our sins before Him, He will cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Having confessed your sins, I, by virtue of my office as a called servant of the word, assure you that your sins have been forgiven in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.

Part I: "Bless the LORD, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name!" Psalm 103:1

P: The Psalmist David speaks of the name of the LORD and urges us to bless it. Melissa, what is the name of God?

MD: The name of God is anything or any word which identifies who God is, such as Lord, Christ, or Jesus. God’s name can also be any revelation of who He is or how He is. For instance Moses wanted to see God, but God told him that if he saw God he would die. God, therefore, took Moses up into the mountain and passed by Him proclaiming His name. He proclaimed, "The LORD, the LORD God, merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abounding in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children and the children’s children to the third and the fourth generation" (Exodus 34:6-7).

P: Melissa, why did God give us His name?

MD: He gave us His name so that we would know who He is and what He does. He also gave it so that we might understand that He has forgiven our sins and given us eternal life.

P: Melissa, what is the purpose of His name?

MD: The purpose of God’s name is to reveal to us His mercy and to open our hearts so that the Holy Spirit would work in our hearts and bring us to faith.

P: Melissa, how do we use God’s name properly?

MD: We properly use His name when we pray to Him, praise His name in worship, thank Him for our blessing, and explain His truths to others.

P: Melissa, What are some attacks against God’s name?

MD: Some attacks against His name are using His name to curse or swear; or practicing witchcraft or following false gods. Other attacks would include believing or teaching anything contrary to His word.

P: Melissa, in what ways can we bless His name?

MD: We can bless His name by doing what He commands, praising and honoring Him, or by telling others about Him. When we do these things, the Holy Spirit can use the truths we express to lead others to start believing in God themselves.

Recitation: The Ten Commandments

You shall have no other gods.

What does this mean?

We should fear, love, and trust in God above all things.

You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.

What does this mean?

We should fear and love God that we do not use His name to curse, swear, practice witchcraft, lie, or deceive; but we should call upon His name in every trouble, pray, praise, and give thanks.

Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy.

What does this mean?

We should fear and love God that we do not despise His Word and the preaching of it; but we should regard God’s Word as holy and gladly hear and learn it.

You shall honor your father and your mother that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.

What does this mean?

We should fear and love God that we do not despise nor anger our parents or superiors; but we should honor, serve, and obey them, and give them love and respect.

You shall not murder.

What does this mean?

We should fear and love God that we do not hurt nor harm our neighbor’s body; but we should help and be a friend to him in every bodily need.

You shall not commit adultery.

What does this mean?

We should fear and love God that we live a pure and decent life in words and actions, and that husband and wife love and honor one another.

You shall not steal.

What does this mean?

We should fear and love God that we do not take our neighbor’s money or possessions, nor get them in a dishonest way; but we should help him to improve and protect his property and way of making a living.

You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

What does this mean?

We should fear and love God that we do not tell lies about our neighbor, betray him, or say anything that might ruin his good name and reputation; but we should defend him, speak well of him, and explain all his words and actions in the best possible way.

You shall not covet your neighbor’s house.

What does this mean?

We should fear and love God that we do not sinfully desire to get our neighbor’s inheritance or house by a trick or in a way that appears to be right; but we should do everything we can to help him keep what is his.

You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, nor his workers, nor his animals, nor anything that is your neighbor’s.

What does this mean?

We should fear and love God that we do not sinfully desire to use tricks or force, or do anything that might cause our neighbor to lose his wife, workers, or animals; but we should urge them to stay and do their duty.

He says, "I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, but showing mercy to thousands of those who love Me and keep My commandments."

What does this mean?

God threatens to punish all who do not obey these commandments. Therefore, we should fear His anger and not do anything against what He commands. God also promises grace and every blessing to those who obey these commandments. Therefore, we should love and trust Him and willingly do what He commands.

Part II: "Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, Who satisfies your mouth with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s." Psalm 103:2-5

P: Kyle, the Psalmist David speaks of the LORD forgiving us and redeeming us. We know from the Bible that Jesus Christ accomplished our redemption. Who is Jesus Christ?

KR: Jesus Christ was conceived by the Holy Ghost and born of the Virgin Mary. He was true man just like we are, but also true God. He had to be true God and true man, because if he was not He would not have been able to save us. Christ had to be true man because he had to suffer and die, but He also had to be true God so His death would save us and he could arise again. He had to have power to raise us from the dead to live eternally with Him in paradise.

P: Kyle, what example can you provide us, demonstrating that Jesus Christ was both true God and true man?

KR: In John 11 when Jesus came to Lazarus’ grave, He wept because he lost a close friend. He showed He was a true man. He showed He was true God when He raised Lazarus from the dead.

P: Kyle, what are the works of Christ?

KR: Christ lived a perfect life to save us, as it says in Romans 5:19, "For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous." He also died on the cross to take away our sins, as it says in 1 John 2:2, "He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only, but also for the whole world."

P: Kyle, what is the work that Jesus Christ is doing now?

KR: He works as a prophet through everyone in our life who gives us His word. He works as a priest by praying to His Father on our behalf. He works as a king by sitting at the right hand of God watching over us and protecting us with His almighty power. He also is preparing a place for us with Him in heaven.

Church Choir: "Jesus, the One and Only"

P: Rebekah, why should we forgive one another?

RB: We should forgive one another because God forgives our trespasses. St. Paul tells us in Ephesians 4:32, "Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another even as God in Christ forgave you."

P: Rebekah, the apostle Peter once came to Jesus with a question regarding forgiving others. What did he ask Jesus?

RB: He asked Jesus how many times he should forgive his brother and suggested seven times.

P: Rebekah, what was Jesus’ reply?

RB: Jesus said, "I do not say to you up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven" (Matthew 18:22).

P: Rebekah, can you think of a parable Jesus once used to teach His disciples about the importance of forgiving others?

RB: Yes, Jesus told the parable of the "Unmerciful Servant." In the parable Jesus said the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. One servant was brought to him who owed ten thousand talents (which is a huge amount of money), but the servant could not pay. The king was moved with compassion and forgave the debt. The servant then went out and found a fellow servant who owed him a hundred denarii (which is a small amount of money). The fellow servant could not pay, but the servant would not have compassion. He threw him into debtors’ prison. When the king found out, he said to the servant, "You wicked servant. I had compassion on you. You should have forgiven the debt." The master then sent him to the torturers until he could pay the debt. Jesus then concluded the parable by saying, "So my heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses" (Matthew 18:35).

P: Rebekah, what does God want us to do when others sin against us?

RB: God wants us freely to forgive, just like He has forgiven us. His love should move us to be both loving and forgiving.

P: Rebekah, how does Jesus tell us to deal with fellow Christian who has sinned against us?

RB: He tells us in Matthew 18:15-17, "If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained a brother. But if he will not hear you, take with you one or two more, that ‘by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.’ And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector."

Recitation: The Apostolic Creed – The congregation will recite the three articles, after each of which the Confirmands will recite Luther’s explanation.

I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth.

What does this mean?

I believe that God has created me and all creatures. He has given me my body and life, eyes, ears, and all my bodily members, my mind, and all my senses and still keeps them for me.

God also preserves me by richly and daily providing clothing and shoes, food and drink, house and home, spouse and children, land, animals, and all my property and all I need to support this body and life. He protects me from all danger. He guards and defends me from every evil.

God does all this because He is my good and gracious Father in heaven,

not because of anything I have done to earn or deserve it.

For all of this it is my duty to thank, praise, serve, and obey Him.

This is most certainly true.

I believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; He descended into hell; the third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven and sitteth on the right hand of God, the Father Almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the quick and the dead.

What does this mean?

I believe that Jesus Christ, true God, begotten of the Father from eternity, and also true man, born of the Virgin Mary, is my Lord.

He has redeemed me, a lost and condemned person, purchased and won me from all sin, from death, and from the power of the devil, not with gold or silver, but with His holy, precious blood and His innocent suffering and death.

He did this that I should be His very own, live under Him in His kingdom, and serve Him in eternal righteousness, innocence, and joy; just as He is risen from death, lives and reigns in eternity.

This is most certainly true.

I believe in the Holy Ghost; the Holy Christian Church, the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen.

What does this mean?

I believe that I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to Him.

But the Holy Spirit has called me by the Gospel, enlightened me with His gifts, sanctified, and kept me in true faith.

In the same way He calls, gathers, enlightens, and sanctifies the whole Christian Church on earth and keeps it with Jesus Christ in the one true faith.

In this Christian Church He daily and richly forgives all sins to me and all believers.

On the Last Day He will raise me and all the dead and give to me and all believers in Christ eternal life.

This is most certainly true.

Hymn: 370………………… "My Hope is Built on Nothing Less"

Sermonette: Psalm 103:6

"Bless the LORD, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name! Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits" (Psalm 103:1-2). The Psalmist David would not have reminded himself to "bless the LORD," and to remember "all His benefits," if he had not at times forgotten to do so. In the same way, it is good for us to read these words, for it is so easy for all of us to forget about the LORD and His benefits in our work-a-day world. We can get so busy with all of the mundane things we have to do, that our lives can become cluttered to the point that we fail to make our spiritual lives a priority—and we become the poorer for it!

My dear friends, it is important to remember the truths our confirmands reviewed for us when they recited Luther’s explanations to the three articles of the Apostolic Creed. God, our heavenly Father, created us, giving us our bodies and our souls. He still preserves us, providing everything we need for this body and life. Our blessed Savior redeemed us, not with gold or silver, but with His holy, precious blood and His innocent suffering and death, so that we might be His own and live under Him in His kingdom. The Holy Spirit called us to faith by His gospel. He enlightens us with His gifts and seeks to preserve us through His precious word. Day by day as we keep these truths before our eyes, we will grow closer to Him, for if we keep these truths in mind we will regularly "bless His holy name!"

The world, however, would have us forget our Savior blessed name. The world denies His existence, or if it grants His existence, it relegates His importance down to the level of non-essential. It places obstacles in the path of God’s believing children—ridiculing them and subjecting them at times to even greater persecutions of body, mind, and spirit.

David certainly understood this, for he had suffered at the hands of unbelieving Saul early in his life, and later in his life he was driven from his home and forced to live on the run by one of his own sons. It was especially important and comforting for David to remember his LORD during those difficult times—to remember that "the LORD executes righteousness and justice for all the oppressed." It was the certain knowledge that kept David from killing King Saul upon two occasions when it appeared that the LORD had placed him in his hands. David thought Saul was the LORD’s anointed, and that the LORD Himself would judge Saul in an appropriate way and at the appropriate time.

Even so when the world closes in around us and we are tempted to lash out that those who do us harm, may we remember to rest matters in our LORD’s hands. May we recognize that if and when the LORD permits evil to enter our lives, He has a reason and it will result in no good at all for us to take matters into our own hands and sin in anger. No, the LORD will hear our prayers and will respond in His own time and in His own way to help us, His oppressed believers.

Why can we be so confident of this truth? We can we so very confident because in the weighty matter of our eternal salvation the LORD executed righteousness and justice for an entire world oppressed by sin and Satan. He sent Jesus to be made sin for us, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him (cf. 2 Corinthians 5:21). If our God has declared us righteous for Jesus’ sake in accordance with His eternal plan of redemption with the intent that we should spend eternity in His presence, will He not then also rise up to defend us here in this world as we confront the opposition of those who oppose His saving name?

My dear friends, let us walk through our lives day by day with confidence—remembering to bless our LORD and to thank Him for His many benefits—knowing that He will always be there to execute righteousness and justice on our behalf! Amen.

Hymn: 473…………………….. "The Church’s One Foundation"

Part III: "He made known His ways to Moses, His acts to the children of Israel. The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in mercy. He will not always strive with us, nor will He keep His anger forever. He has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor punished us according to our iniquities. For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward those who fear Him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us." Psalm 103:7-12

P: Juliana, what is baptism?

JS: Baptism is a sacrament in which water is used in connection with God’s Word to bring us God’s blessing of forgiveness.

P: Who instituted the sacrament of baptism?

JS: Christ instituted baptism when He told His disciples to baptize all nations in the name of the Triune God.

P: Juliana, What does the word "baptize" mean?

JS: The word "baptize" means to apply water in a ceremonial manner. It can be applied in any way—pouring, sprinkling, immersing, or washing. The important thing is that it is applied in connection with God’s word.

P: What does it mean to be baptized "in the name of" the Triune God?

JS: Through baptism the Holy Spirit gives us faith and makes us members of His family. St. Paul says in Galatians 3:26-27, "For you are all the (children) of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ."

P: Who is to be baptized?

JS: Christ wants all people to be baptized, for He tells us to baptize "all nations in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost" (Matthew 28:19).

P: What do we do before we baptize adults?

JS: We instruct them in God’s word, so they learn about Jesus and know what baptism means. Philip baptized the Ethiopian man after he explained the Bible to him.

P: Why do we baptize infants, when some other churches do not?

JS: We baptize infants because Jesus wants us to. They are part of all nations. St. Peter tells us in Acts 2:39, "The promise is to you and your children." We also baptize infants because they are sinners and need forgiveness. Jesus said in John 3:5, "Unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God." Finally, we baptize infants because they too can believe and receive blessings from God.

P: Juliana, who may perform a baptism?

JS: Christ gave the command to baptize to His disciples. Any believer in Christ can therefore baptize. Christian congregations, however ask their pastors to perform baptism, so that everything is done in a decent and orderly way.

P: Juliana, what spiritual blessings does God give us in baptism?

JS: God offers forgiveness of sins in baptism. He also delivers from death and the devil through baptism. Finally, He gives us eternal life in baptism. Jesus says in Mark 16:16, "He who believes and is baptized will be saved."

P: Who receives these blessings from God in baptism?

JS: Those who believe receive the benefits of baptism. The Holy Spirit uses baptism as a means of grace to create and strengthen faith.

P: Juliana, where does baptism get its power?

JS: Baptism receives its power and ability to create and strengthen faith from the word and promise of God connected to it.

Recitation: The Sacrament of Baptism

Baptism is not just plain water. It is water used by God’s command and connected with God’s Word.

What is that Word of God?

Christ our Lord says in the last chapter of Matthew, "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit" (Matthew 28:19).

Baptism works the forgiveness of sins, delivers from death and the devil, and gives eternal salvation to all who believe, as the words and promises of God declare.

What are these words and promises of God?

Christ our Lord says in the last chapter of Mark, "He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned" (Mark l6:l6).

The water doesn’t actually do anything by itself. The power is in God’s Word, which is in and with the water, and in faith which trusts this Word of God in the water.

Without the Word of God it is just plain water, and there is no baptism. But with the Word of God it really is a baptism; that is, a gracious water of life and washing of rebirth through the Holy Spirit.

Just as Saint Paul says in the third chapter of Titus:

"According to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. This is a faithful saying . . ." (Titus 3:5-8).

It means that the old Adam in us should be drowned by daily contrition and repentance and die with all sins and evil desires. It also means that a new man should daily appear and arise, who lives eternally before God in righteousness and purity.

Where is this written?

Saint Paul says in the sixth chapter of Romans, "Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life" (Romans 6:4).

Part IV: "As a father pities his children, so the LORD pities those who fear Him. For He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust. As for man, his days are like grass; as a flower of the field, so he flourishes. For the wind passes over it, and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more. But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him, and His righteousness to children’s children, to such as keep His covenant, and to those who remember His commandments to do them." Psalm 103:13-18

P: Ben, David speaks of God’s covenants. What is a covenant?

BH: A covenant is an agreement or promise.

P: Where can we find the covenants of God?

BH: We can find the covenants of God in several places in the Bible.

P: What are some of these covenants or promises?

BH: Some are the promise of a Savior, as well as the promise that Jesus will always hear and answer us.

P: Ben, what is the Bible?

BH: The Bible is the word of God. St. Peter tells us, "No prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit" (2 Peter 1:20-21). St. Paul says, "All Scripture is give by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness" (2 Timothy 3:16).

P: What does "inspiration" mean?

BH: "Inspiration" means "to breathe into," which tells us that God breathed His words into the minds of the holy writers, so that their words are truly His words. This explains why we can call the Bible the word of God, even though men wrote it.

P: Why do you believe that the Bible is the true word of God?

BH: I believe this because the Holy Spirit has led me to believe this ever since I was baptized. We can also search the Scriptures and see that all of the prophecies have been fulfilled except for the ones that will happen on the last day. Some of the prophecies that have already happened are Christ’s coming, His being born of a virgin, the fact that none of His bones were broken on the cross, and that He would arise from the dead.

P: Ben, what are some of the qualities of the Bible?

BH: The Bible says, "Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, today, and forever" (Hebrews 13:8). Just as Jesus is always the same, so His word remains the same. God will not His word to be changed. It will remain living and strong until the end of time.

P: Why should this truth be a comfort to every Christian?

BH: Life is filled with changes and is very fragile. God’s word provides a solid basis in life for everyone. It will serve us now and into eternity. Isaiah speaks of this when he says, "All flesh is grass, and all its loveliness is like the flower of the field…The grass withers, flower fades, but the word of God stands forever" (40:6,8).

Part V: "The LORD has established His throne in heaven, and His kingdom rules over all. Bless the LORD, you His angels, who excel in strength, who do His word, heeding the voice of His word. Bless the LORD, all you His hosts, You ministers of His, who do His pleasure." Psalm 103:19-21

P: Kymberly, David speaks of the LORD’s "angels." What are angels?

KS: Angels are spirit-beings that God uses to serve people. They are the number one invisible creation of God. Even though we do not know a lot about angels, we do know that there are many different types including cherubim and seraphim. However, there are not only good angels. There are also wicked angels who fell away from God, the most wicked being the devil.

P: Kymberly, what is the work of the angels?

KS: God uses Angels in many different ways. God uses angels as protectors, ministers, and messengers. God also sent some angels to destroy lives as in the tenth plague in Egypt. This is when He sent the angel of death to kill all the firstborn of the households, who did not have blood on their doorposts.

P: Kymberly, there are a lot of false ideas about angels out in the world right now. Where do we learn the truth about angels?

KS: We would know nothing about angels except that we have the word of God. The Bible reveals many things about angels that we otherwise would not know.

P: How do angels protect people?

KS: Angels protect all believers, as it is written in Psalm 91:11, "For He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways." God protects different people in different ways. One way God used angels can be found in 2 Kings 6, when Elisha was surrounded by the armies of Syria. He prayed to God for protection. God sent an army of angels to surround the Syrian army and cause them to go blind, so that Elisha could lead them right into the midst of Samaria, where the king of Israel’s army captured them.

P: How do angels minister?

KS: Angels minister to people as servants of God. God tells them what and how to do whatever it is that He wants them to do. God sent angels to minister to Jesus after He was tempted in the wilderness. The angels also came and ministered to Peter when he was in prison. They, in fact, released him from prison.

P: Kymberly, how are angels messengers of God?

KS: God uses angels often as messengers. He sent an angel called Gabriel to tell Mary she was to be the mother of Jesus and to tell Joseph that he was to take Mary as his wife. The huge message to the shepherds that Jesus had been born in Bethlehem was told by a whole multitude of messenger angels.

P: Kymberly, do angels have any other jobs?

KS: Angels also glorify God. In the Bible it speaks of angels sounding trumpets, praising God, and singing hymns to Him. They also surround God’s throne in heaven.

Part VI: "Bless the LORD, all His works, in all places of His dominion. Bless the LORD, O my soul!" Psalm 103:22

Recitation: The Lord’s Prayer – The congregation will pray the Lord’s Prayer, after the address and each petition of which the Confirmands will recite Luther’s explanations.

"Our Father, who art in heaven."

What does this mean?

With these words God tenderly encourages us to believe that He is our true Father and we are His true children, so that we may ask Him boldly and with complete confidence as dear children ask their dear father.

"Hallowed be Thy name."

What does this mean?

God’s name is certainly holy all by itself, but we pray in this petition that we also keep it holy.

How is God’s name kept holy?

God’s name is kept holy when the Word of God is taught in its truth and purity, and we as children of God also live a holy life according to it. Help us do this, dear heavenly Father.

But whoever teaches and lives contrary to the Word of God dishonors God’s name among us. Keep us from doing this, heavenly Father.

"Thy kingdom come."

What does this mean?

God’s kingdom certainly comes all by itself, even without our prayer, but we pray in this petition that it also come to us.

How does the kingdom of God come?

God’s kingdom comes when our heavenly Father gives us His Holy Spirit, so that by His grace we believe His holy Word and live a godly life here in time and hereafter in eternity.

"Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven."

What does this mean?

God’s good and gracious will is certainly done without our prayer, but we pray in this petition that it be done among us also.

How is God’s will done?

God’s will is done when He breaks and stops every evil will and plan of those who do not want us to hallow His name or let His kingdom come, such as the will of the devil, of the world, and of our own flesh. His will is also done when He gives us strength and keeps us firm in His Word and in faith for as long as we live. This is God’s good and gracious will.

"Give us this day our daily bread."

What does this mean?

God gives daily bread without our asking, even to unbelievers, but we pray in this petition that He would teach us to realize this and to receive our daily bread with thanksgiving.

What is meant by daily bread?

"Daily bread" means everything we need for our bodily well-being. It includes food, drink, clothes, shoes, house, home, land, animals, money and goods, a godly husband or wife, godly children, godly workers, godly and faithful leaders, good government, good weather, peace, health, education, honor, faithful friends, trustworthy neighbors – and things like that.

"And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us."

What does this mean?

We pray in this petition that our Father in heaven would not look on our sins or deny our prayer because of them. We are not worthy of things for which we are asking, neither have we deserved them. However, we ask that our Father would by His grace give us what we ask; even though we sin often every day and indeed deserve nothing but punishment. We, too, will from our hearts gladly forgive and do good to all those who sin against us.

"And lead us not into temptation."

What does this mean?

God indeed tempts no one; but we pray in this petition that He would guard and keep us so that the devil, the world, and our flesh do not deceive us or lead us into misbelief, hopelessness, or any other shameful or sinful acts; and, although we are tempted by them, we ask that we win in the end and keep the victory.

"But deliver us from evil."

What does this mean?

We pray in this petition that our Father in heaven would deliver us from every evil to body and soul, property and reputation, and finally, when our last hour comes, give us a joyful end and graciously take us from this valley of sorrows to Himself in heaven.

"For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen."

What does "Amen" mean?

"Amen" means that I should be certain that these petitions are really heard by the Father in heaven; for He Himself has instructed us to pray in this way and promised that He will hear us. "Amen! amen!" that is, "Yes, indeed, it shall be so!"

Closing Hymn: 767……… "Church of God, Elect and Glorious"