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January 18, 2026
See TodayThe Confession of St. Peter
Three-Year Lectionary · Series A
- First Reading
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Acts 4:8–13 (read in ESV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
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- Psalm
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Psalm 118:19–29 (read in ESV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
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- Epistle
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2 Peter 1:1–15 (read in ESV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
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- Gospel
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Mark 8:27–35 (36–9:1) (read in ESV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
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The Confession of St. Peter
Three-Year Lectionary · Series A
About this service
Losing Ourselves in the Confession of the One Name of Salvation
St. Peter speaks for all disciples when he confesses, “You are the Christ” (Mark 8:29). This confession is the bedrock of the Church, which Christ Himself builds (Matt. 16:18), for “this Jesus,” the stone rejected by earthly builders, “has become the cornerstone” (Acts 4:11). This was a scandal even to Peter. The Christ must suffer, be rejected, be killed, “and after three days rise again” (Mark 8:31), for through this work of salvation received by faith, God’s “precious and very great promises” are granted, “so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature” (2 Peter 1:4). Wherever Jesus is the Christ, His disciples deny themselves, take up their crosses and follow Him (Mark 8:34). They have been cleansed from their former sins and increase in faith, virtue, knowledge, self-control, steadfastness, godliness, brotherly affection and love, effective and fruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Peter 1:5–9). All who trust in Jesus, the Christ of Peter’s confession, will save their life, though for His sake they lose it (Mark 8:35). “For there is no other name … by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).
Source: LCMS Worship, Lectionary Summaries — Three-Year Lectionary Series A (opens in a new tab). Used by permission. These pages may be reproduced for congregational use only. Commercial reproduction, or reproduction for sale of this work or any portion of this work, without the written permission of the copyright holder, is prohibited. © The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Scripture quoted in the summary is from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Introit, Gradual and Verse
Reviewed Introit, Gradual and Verse citations have not yet been published in the Toolbox for this service.
Prayers of the Church
Prayers of the Church for January 18, 2026 — Responsive Form
Let us pray for the whole Church of God in Christ Jesus and for all people according to their needs.
Heavenly Father, receive our praise this day for St. Peter and his confession that Jesus is the Christ. We rejoice that Your Son builds His Church upon this rock and that the gates of hell cannot prevail against it. Keep us in this faith all our days. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Lord God, You placed the wood of the cross on the back of Your only begotten Son, that as the promised offspring of Abraham He might possess the gates of hell. Bless, we pray, His Church and all those called to preach and teach within her. Give them certainty that hell cannot prevail against them, and so embolden them in faith to trample every power of the enemy underfoot. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Almighty God, as You call and gather us into Your family, so bless the households of this congregation. Bless husbands and wives, fathers and mothers as they go about their work of strengthening marriage and raising children. Let their love abound more and more, with knowledge and discernment, and fill their homes with the righteousness that comes through Christ Jesus. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Shine Your light upon us, O Lord, that we may do what is good and right and live as faithful citizens in our nation. Bless Donald, our president; _____________, our governor; and all those elected and appointed to make, administer and judge our laws. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Lord of glory, You are the Great Physician of body and soul. Give rest, healing and relief to all who are sick or in any need [especially _____________]. Be with all expectant mothers and their children [especially _____________]. Invite them and us to cast all anxiety on You, and so live in the certainty of Your steadfast love. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Loving Father, until Your Son returns in glory, He gives us His body and blood to sustain us. Grant that all who receive this gift today may receive it in faith, trusting that it is given for the forgiveness of their sins and life everlasting. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
O Lord, grant us the grace to take up our crosses and follow wherever You lead. Give us courage in the face of challenge and adversity and compassion and harmony in our lives together. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
All these things and whatever else You know that we need, grant us, Father, for the sake of Him who died and rose again and now lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God forever. Amen.
Source: LCMS Worship, Prayers of the Church — Series A 2025–2026 (opens in a new tab). Prepared by LCMS Worship for congregational use. Used by permission. © The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod.
Prayers of the Church for January 18, 2026 — Ektene Form
In peace, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For boldness of faith, that our heavenly Father would receive our thanks and praise this day for St. Peter and for his confession that Jesus is the Christ; and that He would strengthen this same faith within us as well, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For the Church of God, guarded by the Lord who bore the wood of the cross, that her ministers and people may be certain that the gates of hell cannot prevail against us; and for the strengthening of our faith, that we may trample every power of the enemy underfoot, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For families, that our Father who gathers us into His household would bless the households of this congregation; and that He would bless all within them so that their love may abound with knowledge, discernment and the righteousness of Christ, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For our president, our governor, and all elected and appointed leaders, that the light of the Lord may shine upon our nation, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For all who are sick or in any need, [especially _____________,] that the Great Physician of body and soul would give them rest, healing and relief; for all expectant mothers and their children [especially _____________]; and for us all, that casting every anxiety on Him, we would live in the certainty of His steadfast love, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For all who receive the Supper today, that they may faithfully receive it for the forgiveness of sins and be sustained until Christ returns in glory, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For grace to take up the cross and follow the Lord wherever He leads; for courage in the face of challenge and adversity; and for compassion and harmony in our life together, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
All these things and whatever else You know that we need, grant us, Father, for the sake of Him who died and rose again and now lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God forever. Amen.
Source: LCMS Worship, Prayers of the Church — Series A 2025–2026 (opens in a new tab). Prepared by LCMS Worship for congregational use. Used by permission. © The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod.
Hymn of the Day
LSB 512 At the Name of Jesus
The LCMS Hymn of the Day list appoints this hymn as the Hymn of the Day for The Confession of St. Peter (One-Year and Series A).
Source: LCMS Worship, Hymn of the Day — Arranged by Church Year, p. 170 (opens in a new tab). Appointment identity only. Lutheran Service Book text and LCMS study content are not reproduced.
Suggested hymns
- Entrance LSB 912 Christ Is Our Cornerstone
- Distribution LSB 575 My Hope Is Built on Nothing Less
- Distribution LSB 587 I Know My Faith Is Founded
- Closing LSB 644 The Church’s One Foundation
Source: LCMS Worship, Hymn Suggestions — Three-Year Lectionary Series A 2025–26 (opens in a new tab). Hymn numbers and titles only; hymn texts are not reproduced. Reproduction for individual, church or school use does not require permission. © The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod.