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The Lutheran Herald Confessing Christ before men, for the sake of man's salvation

05/31/2026

Lesson from the Book of Concord for the Feast of the Holy Trinity.

ARTICLE I.

Our Churches, with common consent, do teach, that the decree of the Council of Nicaea concerning the Unity of the Divine Essence and concerning the Three Persons, is true and to be believed without any doubting; that is to say, there is one Divine Essence which is called and which is God: eternal, without body, without parts, of infinite power, wisdom and goodness, the Maker and Preserver of all things, visible and invisible; and yet that there are three Persons, of the same essence and power, who also are co-eternal, the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost. And the term “person” they use as the fathers have used it, to signify, not a part or quality in another, but that which subsists of itself.

They condemn all heresies which have sprung up against this article, as the Manichaeans who assumed two principles [gods], one Good, the other Evil; also the Valentinians, Arians, Eunomians, Mohammedans, and all such. They condemn also the Samosatenes, old and new, who contending that there is but one Person, sophistically and impiously argue that the Word and the Holy Ghost are not distinct Persons, but that “Word” signifies a spoken word, and “Spirit” [Ghost] signifies motion created in things.

—The Augsburg Confession

The selections from the Book of Concord for the Sundays of the Church Year are from H. E. Jacobs’ translation of the Book of Concord, and are taken from the table of suggested lessons for Sundays and Festivals of the Church. (The table of appropriate lessons was originally found in Pipping’s Christliches Concordienbuch [Leipzig, 1734].)

05/31/2026

Gospel and Collect for the Feast of the Holy Trinity: May 31st, 2026.

The Gospel—St. John 3:1-15 (NKJV)

3:1 There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2 This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.”

3 Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

4 Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?”

5 Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

9 Nicodemus answered and said to Him, “How can these things be?”

10 Jesus answered and said to him, “Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not know these things? 11 Most assuredly, I say to you, We speak what We know and testify what We have seen, and you do not receive Our witness. 12 If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things? 13 No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven. 14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.”

Collect

Almighty and Everlasting God, Who hast given unto us, Thy servants, grace, by the confession of a true faith, to acknowledge the glory of the eternal Trinity, and in the power of the Divine Majesty to worship the Unity: We beseech Thee, that Thou wouldst keep us steadfast in this faith, and evermore defend us from all adversities; Who livest and reignest, One God, world without end. Amen.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

05/30/2026

Scripture and Devotion for the Ember Saturday within the Octave of the Feast of Pentecost. Saturday, May 30th, 2026.

Scripture: Joel 2:28-32 (NKJV)

2:28 “And it shall come to pass afterward that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions.

29 “And also on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days.

30 “And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth: Blood and fire and pillars of smoke.

31 “The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the coming of the great and awesome day of the Lord.

32 “And it shall come to pass that whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be deliverance, as the Lord has said, among the remnant whom the Lord calls.”

Devotion

After promising physical restoration in the previous verses, the Lord declares an even greater wonder: the pouring out of His Holy Spirit upon all flesh. The Spirit comes upon sons and daughters, old and young, free and slave alike. This is not earned by status or merit, but given freely by the gracious God who restores what locusts have devoured.

The apostle Peter, filled with that same Spirit on Pentecost, declares: “This is what was uttered by the prophet Joel” (Acts 2:16). The last days have begun. The crucified and risen Jesus, exalted at the Father’s right hand, has poured out this promised gift. Wonders in heaven and signs on earth point to the great and awesome day of the Lord, yet the comfort remains: “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

This promise is ours in Holy Baptism. There the Spirit is poured out upon us—regardless of age, gender, or station—creating faith, forgiving sins, and uniting us to Christ. The same Spirit who fell on Cornelius and the Gentiles now rests upon us, enabling us to confess Jesus as Lord and to live as His people. When darkness seems to cover the earth or judgment looms, cling to this: the Lord has poured out His Spirit for you. Call upon His name. He saves. He is in your midst.

Collect: O Lord, we beseech Thee, deign to pour forth into our minds the Holy Ghost, by Whose wisdom we were created, and by Whose providence we are guided; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the same Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Collect for the Feast of Pentecost (Whitsunday)
O God, Who didst teach the hearts of Thy faithful people, by sending to them the light of Thy Holy Spirit: Grant us by the same Spirit to have a right judgment in all things, and evermore to rejoice in His holy comfort; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

05/29/2026

Scripture and Devotion for the Ember Friday within the Octave of the Feast of Pentecost. Friday, May 29th, 2026.

Scripture: Joel 2:23-27 (NKJV)

2:23 Be glad then, you children of Zion, and rejoice in the Lord your God; For He has given you the former rain faithfully, and He will cause the rain to come down for you—the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month.

24 The threshing floors shall be full of wheat, and the vats shall overflow with new wine and oil.

25 “So I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten, the crawling locust, the consuming locust, and the chewing locust, My great army which I sent among you.

26 You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, and praise the name of the Lord your God, who has dealt wondrously with you; And My people shall never be put to shame.

27 Then you shall know that I am tin the midst of Israel: I am the Lord your God and there is no other. My people shall never be put to shame."

Devotion

After devastating judgment by locusts—God’s own “great army”—the prophet brings Gospel. The people had nothing left. Their fields were stripped bare, their future devoured. Yet the Lord does not leave them in despair. He promises vindication through rain, restoration of wasted years, overflowing threshing floors, vats bursting with wine and oil, and satisfaction that leads to praise.

This is not reward for their faithfulness, but unmerited mercy. The same God who sent the plague now restores what was lost—freely, wondrously. Twice He declares, “My people shall never again be put to shame,” and seals it with the greatest comfort: “Then you shall know that I am in the midst of Israel: I am the Lord your God And there is no other. My people shall never be put to shame.”

We hear Christ here. The locust years picture our own devastation by sin, the old Adam’s ruin. Yet in Baptism, the exalted Lord pours out His Spirit like abundant rain. He restores the years the devil has stolen, feeds us with His body and blood, and clothes us with righteousness so that we are never put to shame. Guilt and condemnation are swallowed up in His forgiveness through Holy Absolution.

Dear Christian, rejoice today. The Lord is in your midst—in Word and Sacrament, truly present. He has dealt wondrously with you. Eat, be satisfied, and praise His name. No shame remains for those who trust in Him.

Collect: O merciful God, we beseech Thee that Thy Church, which was gathered together by the Holy Ghost, may nowise be troubled by hostile attack; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the same Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Collect for the Feast of Pentecost (Whitsunday)
O God, Who didst teach the hearts of Thy faithful people, by sending to them the light of Thy Holy Spirit: Grant us by the same Spirit to have a right judgment in all things, and evermore to rejoice in His holy comfort; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

05/28/2026

Scripture and Devotion for the Thursday within the Octave of the Feast of Pentecost. Thursday, May 28th, 2026.

Scripture: Acts 10:34-48 (NKJV)

10:34 Then Peter opened his mouth and said: “In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. 35 But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him. 36 The word which God sent to the children of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ—He is Lord of all—37 that word you know, which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, and began from Galilee after the baptism which John preached: 38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him. 39 And we are witnesses of all things which He did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem, whom they killed by hanging on a tree. 40 Him God raised up on the third day, and showed Him openly, 41 not to all the people, but to witnesses chosen before by God, even to us who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead. 42 And He commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that it is He who was ordained by God to be Judge of the living and the dead. 43 To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins.”

44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word. 45 And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. 46 For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God.

Then Peter answered, 47 Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” 48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then they asked him to stay a few days.

Devotion

Cornelius, a Gentile centurion, feared God and prayed continually. Yet his devotion could not save him. What he needed was not more sincerity, but the forgiveness of sins through Jesus Christ. God sent Peter—not to commend human goodness, but to preach the objective Gospel: “To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins.” While Peter was still speaking, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the Word. The circumcised believers were amazed that the gift of the Spirit was poured out even on Gentiles. Tongues and praise confirmed what God had already declared: the same salvation given to Israel now belongs to all nations without distinction.

This text powerfully confesses that salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. Baptism is no Jewish ceremony for insiders; it is God’s universal means of grace. It gives the circumcision done without hands.

The same impartial Gospel reaches us today. No race, nation, or moral record qualifies us. Christ died and rose for all. In Baptism the Holy Spirit creates faith, forgives every sin, and makes us heirs of the promise through faith bestowed. Rejoice, then, that God shows no partiality. The crucified and risen Lord is your Lord through faith. The Spirit is your Spirit. The forgiveness is yours—freely, fully, forever by grace.

Collect: O God, Who didst teach the hearts of Thy faithful people, by sending to them the light of Thy Holy Spirit: Grant us by the same Spirit to have a right judgment in all things, and evermore to rejoice in His holy comfort; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

05/27/2026

Scripture and Devotion for the Ember Wednesday within the Octave of the Feast of Pentecost. Wednesday, May 27th, 2026.

Scripture: St. John 6:44-52 (NKJV)

6:44 No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day. 45 It is written in the prophets, ‘And they shall all be taught by God.’ Therefore everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to Me. 46 Not that anyone has seen the Father, except He who is from God; He has seen the Father. 47 Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me has everlasting life. 48 I am the bread of life. 49 Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and are dead. 50 This is the bread which comes down from heaven, that one may eat of it and not die. 51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world.”

52 The Jews therefore quarreled among themselves, saying, “How can this Man give us His flesh to eat?”

Devotion

Jesus speaks hard, yet comforting truth in verse 44. Our fallen will cannot choose Him; the Father must draw us. This drawing is not coercion, but powerful grace—through the Word that creates faith where there was none.

The Jews grumbled, just as many still do: “How can this Man give us His flesh to eat?” Their offense is our own natural offense. We want a manageable Jesus, a teacher of morals, not the One who says, “I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world.” This is no metaphor. Jesus gives us His true body and blood in the Sacrament of the Altar for the forgiveness of sins. The same flesh given on the cross is now given to us under bread and wine, so that whoever eats this bread with faith will live forever.

We do not come by our own reason or strength. The Father draws us to the Son through the Word purely preached and the Sacraments rightly administered. There the Spirit creates faith that receives this astonishing gift: Christ for us, Christ in us, Christ raising us on the last day.

Collect: O Lord, may the Comforter, Who proceedeth from Thee, enlighten our minds, we beseech Thee, and guide us into all truth, even as Thy Son hath promised; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the same Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Collect for the Feast of Pentecost (Whitsunday)
O God, Who didst teach the hearts of Thy faithful people, by sending to them the light of Thy Holy Spirit: Grant us by the same Spirit to have a right judgment in all things, and evermore to rejoice in His holy comfort; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

05/26/2026

Scripture and Devotion for the Tuesday within the Octave of the Feast of Pentecost. Tuesday, May 26th, 2026.

Scripture: St. John 3:16-21 (NKJV)

3:16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

18 “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. 21 But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.”

Devotion

The words of verse 16 are the Gospel in ‘miniature’. God does not love a worthy world—He loves a perishing, rebellious one. In love He gives His only Son into death on the cross, not to condemn, but to save. The Father’s verdict upon sinners is reversed in the Son’s atoning sacrifice. Whoever believes in Him—trusts in Him alone—possesses eternal life.

Yet the text does not stop with comfort. “…but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” Unbelief is not neutral; it is rejection of the only remedy. Men love darkness rather than light because their deeds are evil. The natural heart flees the light that exposes sin.

But the light has come. Jesus is the Light of the world. Those who do what is true come to the light, not to boast in their works, but so that it may be clearly seen that their deeds have been carried out by God’s power. This means faith alone receives the gift, yet true faith is never alone—it comes by God’s grace, works in His love, and lives in the light of Christ.

Collect: O God, Who didst teach the hearts of Thy faithful people, by sending to them the light of Thy Holy Spirit: Grant us by the same Spirit to have a right judgment in all things, and evermore to rejoice in His holy comfort; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

05/25/2026

Scripture and Devotion for the Monday of Whitsun-Week. Monday, May 25th, 2026.

Scripture: Acts 2:33-41 (NKJV)

2:33 Therefore being exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured out this which you now see and hear.

34 “For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he says himself:

‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand,

35 "Till I make Your enemies Your footstool.”’

36 “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.”

37 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?”

38 Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.”

40 And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation.” 41 Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them.

Devotion

Peter’s Pentecost sermon speaks with Law and Gospel. The very Jesus nailed to the cross is now risen, ascended, and seated at God’s right hand. From that throne He pours out the Holy Spirit in visible power. The crowd is cut to the heart: “Brothers, what shall we do?”

Peter’s answer is powerful grace: “Then Peter said to them, ‘Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.’” This is no empty ritual. Baptism is God’s mighty act, uniting us with Christ’s death and resurrection, washing away sin, and bestowing the Holy Spirit. Repentance is the “turning” the Spirit works in us, turning away from self and toward the crucified and risen Lord.

That same promise still stands. In the waters of Baptism, the exalted Christ gives Himself to sinners today. He calls us out of our crooked generation into His Church, where forgiveness, life, and salvation are freely given.

Collect: O God, who didst give Thy Holy Spirit to Thine Apostles: Grant unto Thy people the performance of their petitions, so that on us to whom Thou hast given faith Thou mayest also bestow peace; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.

Collect for the Feast of Pentecost (Whitsunday)
O God, Who didst teach the hearts of Thy faithful people, by sending to them the light of Thy Holy Spirit: Grant us by the same Spirit to have a right judgment in all things, and evermore to rejoice in His holy comfort; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

05/24/2026

Lesson from the Book of Concord for the Feast of Pentecost.

THE THIRD ARTICLE.

Of Sanctification.

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 is meant by this Article?

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 Ghost has called me through the gospel, enlightened me by His gifts, and sanctified and preserved me in the true faith; in like manner as He calls, gathers, enlightens, and sanctifies the whole Christian Church on earth, and preserves it in union with Jesus Christ in the true faith; in which Christian Church He daily forgives abundantly all my sins, and the sins of all believers, and will raise up me and all the dead at the last day, and will grant everlasting life to me and to all who believe in Christ. This is most certainly true.

—The Small Catechism, Part II

The selections from the Book of Concord for the Sundays of the Church Year are from H. E. Jacobs’ translation of the Book of Concord, and are taken from the table of suggested lessons for Sundays and Festivals of the Church. (The table of appropriate lessons was originally found in Pipping’s Christliches Concordienbuch [Leipzig, 1734].)

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