Scripture Readings - Preparing for Worship

The Lord can bless us even more during worship, if we take time to prepare. Before each service, we will be providing for you here the Scripture readings and a few notes about upcoming worship.

Take time to read the Scriptures beforehand, and you will better be able to see how the service fits together with a basic theme in the liturgy and hymns and Scriptures and sermon. To look up select Scripture passages, go to the Bible Gateway.

University Lutheran will also have a Sonrise Service on March 23, at 7:30am, followed by a light breakfast, in addition to the regular Bible class at 9:15am and services at 10:30am and 7:00pm.  The Lord’s Supper will be offered in all services on Easter.

In the Easter season, the first reading is not from the Old Testament, but from the Book of Acts, a history of the early Christian church.  We see the impact of the resurrection of Jesus on God’s people and the building of the church (the believers).  Peter, in this reading, preaches about Jesus and all He did, and gives an eyewitness account of eating and drinking with the Risen Lord.  Forgiveness of sins and the power of the Holy Spirit come through Him, to all who hear and believe the Word.

Paul reminds us, in the Epistle, that we have been raised to a new life, too, through Jesus.  We have a future in glory, in heaven, with Him; and even now, Christ is our life.

The Gospel lesson gives us Matthew’s account of the resurrection, inspired by the Holy Spirit.  The tomb is empty, an angel announces the resurrection of Jesus, and Jesus appears to the women who had gone to the tomb.  “Do not be afraid,” we hear.  Christ has risen from the dead!