Let us pray that the light of Christ may shine
upon the Church, the world, and all people according to their need.

A brief silence

Thank you, Father, for granting such faith to Peter that he could
boldly confess your Son as the Christ. Thank you for promising that the gates
of hell cannot withstand the gracious battering-ram of your faith-filled
Church. Thank you for the forgiveness of sin that the Church pronounces in
Jesus’ name and at his command.

Lord, in your
mercy, please hear our prayer.

Lord, cause your Church to boldly confess Jesus as your Son, the Savior
and Messiah of the world. Teach it to
properly discern sin – and to faithfully preach repentance from it. Strengthen
it to generously forgive the repentant sinner, and to be pastoral in
withholding forgiveness from the persistently unrepentant. Use the Church to be
the means by which Jesus draws new disciples to himself and shapes them into
his likeness.

Lord, in your
mercy, please hear our prayer.

Make disciples of everyone in
this congregation. Give us willing and trust-filled hearts. Help us to use our
spiritual gifts to glorify you and build up our community of faith. Make us
bold to tell others, “This is the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

Lord, in your
mercy, please hear our prayer.

Bless the Church wherever it is persecuted on account of Jesus. By its
patient witness, turn its enemies from hatred to repentance. For missionaries
throughout the world, for our seminaries, church colleges, and schools, and for
all who seek to proclaim the Gospel in word and deed, we also lift our hands,
hearts and voices in fervent supplication.

Lord, in your
mercy, please hear our prayer.

This weekend, we celebrate the confession of St.
Peter, and commemorate the life of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Thank you
for this double witness. Teach us to value one another not based on race,
creed, or gender, but because you have created all people in your image, and
have given your Son as the sacrifice for all our sin. By your Holy Spirit, make
the content of our character reflect your will, so that we treat each other
with respect, justice, and charity.

Lord, in your
mercy, please hear our prayer.

Enlighten the minds and purify the hearts of those who
take counsel for the nations. Turn them away from the false gods of power,
prestige, and ideology; and teach them your ways. Heal the divisions that beset
our country. Bestow your favor upon it, so that it may always be a beacon of
righteousness, justice and freedom for all.

Lord, in your
mercy, please hear our prayer.

Stoop down, O Lord, and hear the cry of all who are
afflicted by any kind of suffering or sorrow – especially: {List}. Lift them
out of their desolation; make their footing sure; and put a new song into their
mouths. Restore them to all who love them, that together we may proclaim your
faithfulness and deliverance.

Lord, in your
mercy, please hear our prayer.

Most gracious Father, we thank you for your faithful
servants who have died to us but whose lives are safely in your hand. Sustain
us with that same strong and merciful hand. Equip us with every spiritual gift
we need to trust and follow Jesus; and to bear the light of his forgiveness and
goodness to everyone around us. And, sustained in fellowship with Christ Jesus,
may we be found guiltless on that day when he is revealed to the world; and
made fit to dwell with him in the glory he shares with you and the Holy Spirit
forever.

Lord, in your
mercy, please hear our prayer.

All these things, and whatever else you see that
we need, grant to us, dear Father, for the sake of your Son, our Savior Jesus
Christ. Amen.

Let us pray that the light of Christ may shine
upon the Church, the world, and all people according to their need.

A brief silence

Thank you, Father, for Jesus. Thank you for making him our doorway into
your heart. Thank you for making him your dear Lamb, the sacrifice for our sin.
Thank you for making him the light of the world, and of our lives.

Lord, in your
mercy, please hear our prayer.

Lord, cause your Church to always preach as John the Baptist did,
constantly pointing to Jesus and proclaiming, “Behold the Lamb of God who takes
away the sin of the world.” Prune
away every program or teaching that does not serve that end. Use the Church to
be the means by which Jesus draws new disciples to himself, and shapes them
into his likeness.

Lord, in your
mercy, please hear our prayer.

Make disciples of everyone in
this congregation. Give us willing and trust-filled hearts. Help us to use our
spiritual gifts to glorify you and build up our community of faith. Make us
bold to tell others, “We have found him of whom the Scriptures speak; come and
see that this is the Son of God who takes away the sins of the world!”

Lord, in your
mercy, please hear our prayer.

Bless the Church wherever it is persecuted on account of Jesus. By its
patient witness, turn its enemies from hatred to repentance. For missionaries
throughout the world, for our seminaries, church colleges, and schools, and for
all who seek to proclaim the Gospel in word and deed, we also lift our hands,
hearts and voices in fervent supplication.

Lord, in your
mercy, please hear our prayer.

This weekend, we celebrate the confession of St.
Peter, and commemorate the life of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Thank you
for this double witness. Teach us to value one another not based on race,
creed, or gender, but because you have created all people in your image, and
have given your Son as the sacrifice for all our sin. By your Holy Spirit, make
the content of our character reflect your will, so that we treat each other
with respect, justice, and charity.

Lord, in your
mercy, please hear our prayer.

Enlighten the minds and purify the hearts of those who
take counsel for the nations. Turn them away from the false gods of power,
prestige, and ideology; and teach them your ways. Heal the divisions that beset
our country. Bestow your favor upon it, so that it may always be a beacon of
righteousness, justice and freedom for all.

Lord, in your
mercy, please hear our prayer.

Stoop down, O Lord, and hear the cry of all who are
afflicted by any kind of suffering or sorrow – especially: {List}. Lift them
out of their desolation; make their footing sure; and put a new song into their
mouths. Restore them to all who love them, that together we may proclaim your
faithfulness and deliverance.

Lord, in your
mercy, please hear our prayer.

Most gracious Father, we thank you for your faithful
servants who have died to us but whose lives are safely in your hand. Sustain
us with that same strong and merciful hand. Equip us with every spiritual gift
we need to trust and follow Jesus; and to bear the light of his forgiveness and
goodness to everyone around us. And, sustained in fellowship with Christ Jesus,
may we be found guiltless on that day when he is revealed to the world; and
made fit to dwell with him in the glory he shares with you and the Holy Spirit
forever.

Lord, in your
mercy, please hear our prayer.

All these things, and whatever else you see that
we need, grant to us, dear Father, for the sake of your Son, our Savior Jesus
Christ. Amen.

Let us pray that the light of Christ may shine
upon the Church, the world, and all people according to their need.

A brief silence

Holy God, holy and mighty, holy and immortal, we adore you! Blessed
Father, Glorious Son, most Holy Spirit, you reveal your heart to us in the
Baptism of Jesus. By the Spirit’s power, unite us to Christ so completely that
we may hear the Father say to each of us, “You are my beloved son, my beloved daughter;
in you I am well pleased.”

Lord, in your
mercy, please hear our prayer.

Fill the Church throughout the world with your Spirit; bind it to your
Son; and give it your Word of truth. Make it lovely with your goodness, radiant
with your truth, and fruitful in its humble discipleship to your Son. Use it to
lead many people to the waters of Baptism, there to be transformed into your
beloved children.

Lord, in your
mercy, please hear our prayer.

Be enthroned, O Lord, not only
high in your heaven but also in the midst of this congregation. Overwhelm us
with your majesty and mercy. Fill our worship with the beauty of holiness.
Strengthen us to do your will. Conform us to the heart and mind of Jesus. Bestow
on us the blessing of peace.

Lord, in your
mercy, please hear our prayer.

Do not quench the spirit or break the hearts of your persecuted servants, O
Lord; nor let them grow discouraged or faint when they suffer on account Christ.
Give them such patience and gentleness that their tormentors turn to you and
repent. For missionaries throughout the world; for all who wonder if they are
called to be pastors; for all our seminarians, professors, pastors, bishops,
and other ministers, we also lift our hearts and voices in fervent
supplication.

Lord, in your
mercy, please hear our prayer.

Bless everyone who is baptized this day; and
everyone remembering and giving thanks for their Baptism. Thank you for adopting us as
your children – brothers and sisters of your dear Son! – and for filling us
with the same Spirit that descended upon him. Make us radiant with his holiness
and lovely with his compassion; and grant that we may glorify you in all we say
and do.

Lord, in your
mercy, please hear our prayer.

Put your Spirit upon the leaders of this and every
nation, that they may faithfully bring forth and establish justice throughout
the world. Give them the wisdom and the will to rightly protect and provide for
their people, especially those who are like “bruised reeds and faintly burning
wicks.” Make them prefer mercy over might; righteousness over renown; and
integrity over influence.

Lord, in your
mercy, please hear our prayer.

Take the hand and keep in your care all who take up arms in defense of
liberty and justice for all. Give them a spirit of wisdom and understanding,
counsel and might, so that all they do is in accordance with your will. Bring
them safely home, and speed the day when your presence and your peace makes deeds
of war unnecessary.

Lord, in your
mercy, please hear our prayer.

We beseech you on behalf of everyone afflicted by pain,
sorrow, loneliness, or despair, and especially on behalf of those who have
asked for our prayers, including: {List}. Bring them out of the dungeon of
suffering and the prison of darkness, and lead them into the brightness of your
presence and the company of all who love them.

Lord, in your
mercy, please hear our prayer.

Holy God, holy and mighty, holy and immortal: we praise
and adore you for the powerful mercy you have shown to your servants who have
died to us but are alive eternally to you. Grant that we, who have passed
through the waters of Baptism, may walk the bent and broken pathways of this
mortal life, refreshed by your Spirit, and conformed to your Son. And, by that
same powerful mercy, bring us through the floodwaters of death into your
presence, where with all your redeemed children we may worship and adore you in
the beauty of your holiness forever.

Lord, in your
mercy, please hear our prayer.

All these things, and whatever else you see that
we need, grant to us, dear Father, for the sake of your Son, our Savior Jesus
Christ. Amen.

Let us pray that the light of Christ may shine
upon the Church, the world, and all people according to their need.

A brief silence

Heavenly
Father, thank you for the Light of the World, your dear Son Jesus! Thank you
that in him, you reveal your mercy and loving-kindness to all people. Thank you
that in him, you reveal yourself as Lord and God of every kindred, nation, and
tribe, until the world ends and Christ is all in all.

Lord, in your
mercy, please hear our prayer.

Make your Church a faithful steward of the
mysteries of Christ. Raise up faithful pastors and teachers of your Word and
holy Sacraments. May the Church’s worship, fellowship, and acts of charity be
as frankincense, gold, and myrrh offered to her infant Redeemer.

Lord, in your
mercy, please hear our prayer.

Make this congregation a place
where even sinners, strangers, and Gentiles encounter the living Christ. Shape
us into “magi” who eagerly seek, study, and worship Jesus. And send us home “by a different way” – as his
disciples and his sisters and brothers.

Lord, in your
mercy, please hear our prayer.

As you guarded the magi from Herod’s malice, we pray that
you would protect and bless your Church wherever it suffers from the malice of
persecutors or the scorn of its despisers.

Lord, in your
mercy, please hear our prayer.

We pray on behalf of scholars and teachers;
scientists and philosophers; and especially seminary professors and students. Increase their numbers and
their zeal for seeking your truth! Give them grace to adore you, the source of
truth and wisdom. And give them generous hearts, to freely share their wisdom, knowledge, curiosity, and faith.

Lord, in your
mercy, please hear our prayer.

Put your Spirit upon the leaders of this and every
nation, that they may faithfully bring forth and establish justice throughout
the world. Give them the wisdom and the will to rightly protect and provide for
their people, especially those who are like “bruised reeds and faintly burning
wicks.” Make them prefer mercy over might; righteousness over renown; and
integrity over influence.

Lord, in your
mercy, please hear our prayer.

We lift before you the men and women in the armed
forces, and those are police, first responders, and others charged with
protecting life and liberty. Grant them such integrity and courage that those
whose lives are most in danger may call on them with confidence. Bring them
safely home to their loved ones; and heal those who are wounded in body, mind
or soul.  

Lord, in your
mercy, please hear our prayer.

Bring the light of Christ to everyone who dwells in the
shadows of suffering, sin or sorrow, especially those we lift before you now,
including: {list}. Give competence, compassion, and patience to everyone
charged with their care; and grant health and hope according to your merciful
wisdom.

Lord, in your
mercy, please hear our prayer.

We thank you for the lives of all your faithful servants
who through word and example have been stewards of your Gospel. Give to us
wisdom and devotion, so that we seek your will throughout our earthly life; and
give us the strength and the means to do it. And, in your good time, lead us
“by another way” to the eternal home and inheritance you have prepared for all
who are redeemed by your beloved Son. For there, we will adore your glorious
wisdom and delight in your merciful love in the power of your Holy Spirit
forever.

Lord, in your
mercy, please hear our prayer.

All these things, and whatever else you see that
we need, grant to us, dear Father, for the sake of your Son, our Savior Jesus
Christ. Amen.

“Now concerning the things about which you wrote, it is good for a man not to touch a woman.  But because of immoralities, each man is to have his own wife, and each woman is to have her own husband” (1 Corinthians 7:1-2).

This is not a law, although some
make it so.  It is a principle of looking
at your behavior and what motivates you to sin. 
The real issue is in seeing things from God’s perspective and then
allowing that insight to govern how you behave. 
What immoralities do you struggle with? 
Are you on guard to make sure what you struggle with does not rule what
you do or how you do it?

Lord, You know where I have issues in my life and you allow them to
remain for a purpose.  Guide me to have
eyes that see and a willing spirit that will work, as You lead, to understand
how there are things in my life that govern how and why I behave the way I
do.  Lead me, O Lord, in the way of life
that I might continue on the path of becoming like Jesus.  Guide me in the way I should go.

Lord Jesus, You know all that is
needed.  You came to fulfil the law and
we need add no others.  Guide me away
from legalism and into a life of faith. 
Lead me to live according to Your Word and no other.  Help me see even amidst these words of
Scripture the truths You have revealed once for all.  Guide me, Lord Jesus, in the salvation You
have prepared that I might walk in Your salvation.  Amen.

“Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who
is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own?  For you have been bought with a price:
therefore glorify God in your body” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).

If you are walking with the
Lord, do you not know that the Holy Spirit is in you?  Why do you grieve the Spirit as if you are
walking on your own?  Do not be afraid,
but walk knowing that you never walk alone. 
Be guided by the Holy Spirit which is in you that you may learn how to
walk as Jesus walked.  The Lord is
Sovereign and He will be Sovereign in eternity. 
Live knowing you have been redeemed.

Holy Spirit, You have come that all who walk in Your presence would
grow in the Christ-life.  Take away those
hindrances that cause me to walk by my own power that I might walk instead by
Your leading.  Teach me what is good and
profitable and what hinders my faithful walk by Your leading.  You have created all things for a
purpose.  Teach me from Your inspired
word the purpose for all things.

Lord Jesus, You have given us the example of how to live.  Let me not see these things in a trivial way, nor dismiss them, but live seeking to be like You.  Guide me, O Lord, in the way of truth that I would now and forever abide in Your goodness, mercy and salvation.  Lead me to be faithful in small things so that I may learn how to be faithful in big things.  Lead me today, Jesus, where I need to go.  Amen.

“But the one who joins himself to the Lord is one spirit with Him.  Flee immorality. Every other sin that a man
commits is outside the body, but the immoral man sins against his own body” (1
Corinthians 6:17-18).

Sin compounds as it goes
inward.  Ultimately, sin ends up tearing
down such that the man becomes nothing. 
Sin seeks to erase the image of God which is in each person.  If this were possible, man would be
nothing.  Pride, the inward sin, destroys
and eternally kills.  Join with the Lord
and be as He would have you be.  Know
that He will make you into the image of Christ.

Lord, teach me the greater things that I would learn to abide in You
knowing that You are abiding in me. 
Guide me according to Your truth that I would walk in Your ways all the
days of my life.  Lead me, O Lord, that I
may be led by You and not by myself or any other.  Guide me according to Your Word to live into
the calling You have given me, for You are the Creator of all life.

Lord Jesus, You have come to lead
the way.  In You alone is the hope of
every human.  Guide me this day in the
upward call You have given me.  Abiding
in me, walk with me each step, teaching me to walk with You each step that I
may learn what You would teach me this day. 
Help me now and always to see through the sin of this world in order to
cling to You alone.  Amen.

“Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then
take away the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? May it
never be!  Or do you not know that the
one who joins himself to a prostitute is one body with her? For He says, “The
two shall become one flesh” (1 Corinthians 6:15-16).

Through the Lord we are made
family in the body of Christ.  The Lord
intends a tight and everlasting bond.  You
choose your friends, but your family are chosen for you.  This is why the Lord teaches us to pray, “Our
Father.”  The Lord has a reason for why
He does what He does.  He has reasons for
all of His laws.  Come to the Lord and learn
from Him that You may walk in His ways and be His family.

Lord, I make things more difficult than they need to be.  I also do not live as though everything is
Yours and all things are in Your hands. 
Guide me, O Lord, in the way of truth that I may now and always live
according to Your purposes.  Teach me
Your ways, Lord, that I would walk with You now and forever in the way of truth
which You established from the beginning.

Lord Jesus, You know the
struggles I have in this life.  Lead me O
Lord in the way You know I need to go that I would now and always walk with
You.  Abide in me so that I may see in
You those things I need and follow in Your example.  Teach me to become as You lived, knowing that
what I will be shall be revealed, but that I will then be like You.  Amen.

“Food is for the stomach and the stomach is for food, but God will do
away with both of them. Yet the body is not for immorality, but for the Lord,
and the Lord is for the body.  Now God
has not only raised the Lord, but will also raise us up through His power” (1
Corinthians 6:13-14).

Get your priorities
straight.  We live in a time that accentuates
the physical pleasures, and living for what feels good.  This is not helpful; it is destructive.  When you do not have the right priorities,
you wander and stray.  The Lord comes and
asks you to follow Him, and you will need your full attention to be on
Him.  Come then and learn to not be
distracted by this world.

Lord, help me to clear my mind that I may see the many ways I am attracted
to those things which grab my attention. 
Lead me to learn to meditate and ponder on the greater things.  Guide me in Your goodness to know that in You
is all hope.  May I learn to listen as
You speak, go where you send me, and do what You would have me do.  Lead me in the way of salvation.

Lord Jesus, You alone are the
Savior.  In You alone is there hope.  You have modeled the godly life and called
for me to follow You.  Lead me in the way
I should go that I may now and always abide in Your teaching.  Grant that I would be an example of godly
living, practicing what You give me to do so that others may know that I am
Yours.  Lead me, Lord, wherever You know
I need to go.  Amen.

“Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified,
but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit
of our God. All things are lawful for me, but not all things are profitable.
All things are lawful for me, but I will not be mastered by anything” (1
Corinthians 6:11-12).

Notice what is said here.  The law no longer matters: not in the sense
of its condemnation.  All baptized and
walking in forgiveness by the cleansing blood of Jesus are among the
redeemed.  Do not live in the former way,
but into the upward call of the Lord Jesus. 
Learn to become like Him and grow in His likeness.  This is the calling for everyone who walks in
the way of truth.

Lord, I want to make laws out of everything.  I see a pattern and then want to say that
this is the way things are.  Instead,
help me to look to You knowing that You alone know all things and are shaping
the universe according to Your will. 
Lead me, O Lord, in the way of goodness that I would now and always
humbly abide in You as You abide in me, walking ever closer with You into
eternity.

Lord Jesus, You alone have paid
the price for all of my sins.  It really
doesn’t matter that I can’t fully keep the Law as long as I am walking,
abiding, and dwelling in Your forgiveness. 
Lead me today and every day according to Your goodness that I would
humbly abide with You and You with me. 
Lift me up to see more clearly that I would not fall into the traps of
the wicked one, but walk freely with You. 
Amen.