Sunday October 18, 2020
Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost
As the Lord speaks to us in His Word, He calls the righteous to live by faith and always gives reason why His people can do so through His continual presence, power, and providence. The Readings today urge us, in various ways, to live by faith in our confession and conviction. In Isaiah, He with great conviction reminds through the prophet, “I am the Lord, and there is no other, besides Me there is no God.” In the Epistle, Paul assures the Thessalonians, “He has chosen you, because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction.” Finally, in today’s Gospel, Christ urges us to live by faith and as stewards of all He has provided, to “render . . . to God the things that are God’s.” Moved by His Spirit out of gratefulness for the salvation earned for us by Christ Jesus, we then give God our willing obedience, dedicated service, and the glory due His name as we in confession and conviction live by faith in and through Him.
Old Testament Reading:
Psalm:
Epistle:
Gospel:
READINGS
Isaiah 45:1–7 The Lord uses Cyrus as an instrument of deliverance.
Psalm 96:1–9
1 Thessalonians 1:1–10
The Thessalonians’ faith and example
Matthew 22:15–22 Jesus tested by the Pharisees about paying taxes to Caesar
PRAYER OF THE DAY
Pastor: Let us pray. O God, the protector of all who trust in You, have mercy on us that with You as our ruler and guide we may so pass through things temporal that we lose not the things eternal; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
People: Amen.