Example of Lectio Concordia

Waiting for Salvation

First Sunday of Advent (between November 27 and December 3)

• Collect: Knowing that you alone, O God, are my rock and salvation, may I be content to wait in hope for the consummation of salvation through Jesus Christ who lives with you and the Holy Spirit, one God now and forever. Amen.

• Psalm 62

• Readings:

Monday - 1 Thessalonians 5:1–11

Tuesday - Luke 12:35–40

Wednesday - Daniel 7:13–14

Thursday - Revelation 22:16–21

Friday - Romans 8:18–25

Saturday - 1 Thessalonians 4:13–5:2

Sunday - YEAR A: Isaiah 2:1–5; Psalm 122; Romans 13:(8–

10) 11–14; Matthew 24:36–44

YEAR B: Isaiah 64:1–9; Psalm 80:1–7;

1 Corinthians 1:3–9; Mark 13:24–37

YEAR C: Jeremiah 33:14–16; Psalm 25:1–10;

1 Thessalonians 3:9–13; Luke 21:25–36

• Additional Readings

• Prayers

• Reflection

• Hymn: “The Church’s One Foundation”

• Benediction: May the Holy Spirit remind you of the Father’s steadfast love throughout the day so that you are confident of Christ’s return at the end of the age. Amen.

Memory Verse: Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed. (Romans 13:11)

Additional Readings

¶ ...and in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, begotten of the Father before all worlds, God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father. All things were made by him. For us and for our salvation, he came down from heaven. By the Holy Spirit he became incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and was made man. He was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, suffered death, and was buried. On the third day rose again according to the Scriptures. He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of the Father. He will return with glory to judge the quick and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end. (NC)

¶ We also teach that on the last day Christ will return for judgment, and will raise all the dead. He will give the godly and elect eternal life and everlasting joys, but will condemn he ungodly and the devils to be tormented without end. We reject the Anabaptists, who believe that there will be an end to the punishments of the condemned and devil. They reject also those who are spreading certain Jewish opinions, that before the resurrection of the dead occurs, the godly will take possession of the kingdom of the world, the ungodly being everywhere suppressed. (AC, The Return of Christ for Judgment)

¶ Our adversaries accept the 17th Article without exception, in which we confess that at the consummation of the world Christ will appear and raise all the dead, and will give to the godly eternal life and eternal joys, but will condemn the ungodly to unending punishment with the devil. (AAC, Christ’s Return for Judgment)

¶ I believe in the Holy Spirit, one 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? –Answer: 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 the true faith, even as 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 my sins and those of all believers. On the last day he will raise me and all the dead, and will give everlasting life to me and to all believers in Christ. This is most certainly true. (SC, Third Article)

¶ Meanwhile, while sanctification has begun and is growing daily, we await that day when our flesh will be put to death and buried with all its uncleanness, and will come forth gloriously, arising to entire and perfect holiness in a new, eternal life. Because we are presently only half pure and holy, the Holy Spirit has reason to continue his work in us through the Word, daily dispensing forgiveness until we attain to that life where there will be no more forgiveness, but only perfectly pure and holy people, full of godliness and righteousness, fully freed from sin, death, and all evil, in a new, immortal, and glorified body. (LC, Third Article)

“The Church’s One Foundation,” Samuel Stone

The church’s one foundation is Jesus Christ, her Lord; she is His new creation, by water and the word. From heav’n He came and sought her to be His holy bride; with His own blood He bought her, and for her life He died.

Elect from every nation, yet one o’er all the earth, her charter of salvation: one Lord, one faith, one birth. One holy name she blesses, partakes one holy food, and to one hope she presses, with every grace endued.

Though with a scornful wonder, men see her sore oppressed, by schisms rent asunder, by heresies distressed, yet saints their watch are keeping, their cry goes up, “How long?” and soon the night of weeping shall be the morn of song!

The church shall never perish! Her dear Lord to defend, to guide, sustain, and cherish, is with her to the end; though there be those that hate her, and false sons in her pale, against the foe or traitor she ever shall prevail.

‘Mid toil and tribulation, and tumult of her war, she waits the consummation of peace forevermore; till with the vision glorious her longing eyes are blest, and the great church victorious shall be the church at rest.

Yet she on earth hath union with God the Three in One, and mystic sweet communion with those whose rest is won; O happy ones and holy! Lord give us grace that we, like them, the meek and lowly, on high may dwell with Thee.