Zion Lutheran Church (LCMS)

A Guide for Daily Prayer and Meditation: April 7–14, 2024

Pray and confess out loud as much as you are able or based on your family size and ages. (Alternative orders in LSB pp295-8)

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The sign of the cross + may be made by all in remembrance of their baptism.

In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.

Hymn of the Month for April:  LSB 470 O Sons and Daughters of the King

One or more verses from the hymn of the month are sung, or another hymn may be chosen.

Verse of the Week: Romans 6:9; John 20:29b

We know that Christ being raised from the dead will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. Alleluia. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed. 

Daily Lectionary

The Fifth Commandment:  You shall not murder.

What does this mean?

We should fear and love God so that we do not hurt or harm our neighbor in his body, but help and support him in every physical need.

(Go to bottom of next page for related Bible verses and/or excerpts from Large Catechism.)

The Apostles’ Creed is confessed † Lord’s Prayer † Prayers for Others and Ourselves (see LSB 305-318 for prayers)

Prayers requested for: Dan Drinkman, Ben, Lois Eichinger, Joann Fox, Mark (Joann Fox’s son), Louis Gettler, Arlene Hakes, Elijah Jones, Marlys Jones, Pastor Jones, Ruth Meyer (Tim Meyer’s mother), Lacie Miles (Chrystal’s sister-in-law), Bernard Nazer (Mary Gettler’s brother), Haley Nienow (Carol Radl’s niece), Mike Osborn (Mary Gettler’s son), Arlene Potts, Michael Potts, Carol and Mark Radl, Alexis Radle, Ellis Schweisthal, Sarah Schweisthal, Kara Simmons (Pastor and Susan Thomas’ goddaughter), Marlys St. George (Pastor Jones’ great aunt), Pastor Szedlak, Ben Thomas, the family of Richard Taylor 

Collect for the Second Sunday of Easter

Almighty God, grant that we who have celebrated the Lord’s resurrection may by Your grace confess in our life and conversation that Jesus is Lord and God; through the same Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Prayer based on The Fifth Commandment

Lord God, by Your Law You guard and defend every human life from violence and destruction. Give us wisdom never to hurt or harm our neighbors in their bodily life and give us hearts of mercy to help and support them in every physical need; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Let us bless the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Excerpts from the Large Catechism on the Fifth Commandment

- God and government are not included in this commandment. Nor is the power to kill taken away, which God and government have. To punish evil doers, God has delegated His authority to the government, not parents…. Therefore, what is forbidden in this commandment is forbidden to the individual in his relationship with anyone else, but not to the government. (379:181)

- We must not kill, neither with hand, heart, mouth, signs, gestures, help, nor counsel. Therefore, this commandment forbids everyone to be angry, except those (as we said) who are in the place of God, that is, parents and the government. For it is proper for God and for everyone who is in a divine estate to be angry, to rebuke, and to punish because of those very persons who transgress this and the other commandments. (379:182)

 - The commandment has this goal, that no one would offend his neighbor because of any evil deed, even though he has fully deserved it. For where murder is forbidden, all cause from which murder may spring is also forbidden. For many people, although they do not kill, curse and utter a wish that would stop a person from running far if it were to strike him on the neck. Now, this urge dwells in everyone by nature. It is common practice that no one is willing to suffer at the hands of another person. (379-380: 186-187)

- A person who does evil to his neighbor is not the only one guilty under this commandment. It also applies to anyone who can do his neighbor good, prevent or resist evil, defend, and save his neighbor so that no bodily harm or hurt happen to him—yet does not do this. If, therefore, you send away someone who is naked when you could clothe him, you have caused him to freeze to death. If you see someone suffer hunger and do not give him food, you have caused him to starve. So also, if you see anyone innocently sentenced to death or in similar distress, and do not save him, although you know ways and means to do so, you have killed him. It will not work for you to make the excuse that you did not provide any help, counsel, or aid to harm him. For you have withheld your love from him and have deprived him of the benefit by which his life would have been saved. (380:189-190)

In Small Catechism: see Table of Duties: Of Civil Government, Of Citizens, and To Everyone 

Bible verses for meditation on the Fifth Commandment

- Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed, or God made man in his own image. Genesis 9:6

- For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. Psalm 139:13-14