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February 22, 2026
See TodayFirst Sunday in Lent
One-Year Lectionary
- First Reading
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Gen. 3:1–21 or 1 Sam. 17:40–51 (read in ESV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
ESV Scripture text
Scripture text is in high demand right now. Cached readings remain available; other readings can be opened on Bible Gateway. Read Genesis 3:1-21 in ESV on Bible Gateway (new tab)
Scripture text is in high demand right now. Cached readings remain available; other readings can be opened on Bible Gateway. Read 1 Samuel 17:40-51 in ESV on Bible Gateway (new tab)
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- Psalm
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Psalm 32 or Psalm 118:1–13 (read in ESV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
ESV Scripture text
Scripture text is in high demand right now. Cached readings remain available; other readings can be opened on Bible Gateway. Read Psalm 32 in ESV on Bible Gateway (new tab)
Scripture text is in high demand right now. Cached readings remain available; other readings can be opened on Bible Gateway. Read Psalm 118:1-13 in ESV on Bible Gateway (new tab)
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- Epistle
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2 Cor. 6:1–10 or Heb. 4:14–16 (read in ESV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
ESV Scripture text
Scripture text is in high demand right now. Cached readings remain available; other readings can be opened on Bible Gateway. Read 2 Corinthians 6:1-10 in ESV on Bible Gateway (new tab)
Scripture text is in high demand right now. Cached readings remain available; other readings can be opened on Bible Gateway. Read Hebrews 4:14-16 in ESV on Bible Gateway (new tab)
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- Gospel
-
Matt. 4:1–11 (read in ESV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
ESV Scripture text
Scripture text is in high demand right now. Cached readings remain available; other readings can be opened on Bible Gateway. Read Matthew 4:1-11 in ESV on Bible Gateway (new tab)
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First Sunday in Lent
One-Year Lectionary
About this service
Jesus Does Battle in Our Place
In the Garden, man exalts himself to be a god in place of God (Gen. 3:1–21). He succumbs to the temptation of the devil, and eating of the forbidden fruit, he receives death. But in the sin-cursed wilderness, God humbles Himself to become man in place of man (Mt. 4:1–11). He does not eat but fasts and bears the onslaughts of the devil for us that we may be restored to life. Jesus stands as David in our place to do battle against the Goliath, Satan (1 Samuel 17:40–51). Though outwardly Jesus appears weak, yet He comes in the name of the Lord of hosts. He draws from the five smooth stones of the books of Moses and slings the Word of God. The stone sinks into the forehead, and the enemy falls. In Christ we are victorious over the devil. Let us therefore not receive the grace of God in vain (2 Cor. 6:1–10), but seeing that we have a great High Priest, let us come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain help in time of need (Heb 4:14–16).
Source: LCMS Worship, Lectionary Summaries — One-Year Lectionary (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
Source: LCMS One-Year Series Propers Chart (opens in a new tab). Citations only; no liturgical or Scripture text is reproduced.
Collect
Historical Collect — First Sunday in Lent (Invocavit)
O LORD, mercifully hear our prayer, and stretch forth the right hand of Thy Majesty to defend us from them that rise up against us; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.
Source: Evangelical Lutheran Hymn-Book (Baltimore, 1893), Introits and Collects for the Church Year (opens in a new tab). Public-domain text (published 1893), transcribed from the Internet Archive scan of the Princeton Theological Seminary Library copy.
Prayers of the Church
Prayers of the Church for February 22, 2026 — Responsive Form
Heavenly Father, You promised to overcome the devil by the Seed of the woman, Your only begotten Son, Jesus Christ. Strengthen our faith in His victory, that we may endure every temptation and at last share in His eternal salvation. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Heavenly Father, Your Son trampled the serpent underfoot and freed us from sin and death by His own death on the cross. Protect and preserve all called to preach Christ and Him crucified. Command Your angels to guard them in all their ways and bear them up for the sake of Jesus. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Heavenly Father, our first parents fell into sin, rebelled against You and despised one another. Inspire the families of Your Church to live in sacrificial love toward one another and in faith toward You, that they may receive Your temporal and eternal benediction. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Heavenly Father, since we sojourn in the wilderness of this earth, look upon our desire for peace, and by Your mighty power defend us and our nation against all our enemies. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Heavenly Father, though we deserve nothing of Your kindness, You have shown Yourself to be the strength of the weak, the healer of the sick and the hope of those who mourn. Hear us on behalf of those who are troubled in mind or body, the dying and those who grieve [especially _____________]. Sustain them through their afflictions and pain, heal them according to Your gracious will, and deliver them at the last to everlasting life in Christ. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Heavenly Father, though we are unworthy of a place at the table of our Lord, You have bid us to come and eat of His flesh and blood. Give us faith that we may come in repentance to receive this blessed food for everlasting life. Unite us in doctrine and holy living, that we may show forth this harmony in witness before the world. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Heavenly Father, give us confidence in Christ our Mediator’s ceaseless intercessions, that in every time of need we also would draw near to Your throne of grace, call to You and await Your gracious answer. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Lord God, heavenly Father, see how the adversary continually afflicts us and walks about as a roaring lion seeking to devour us. We implore You for the sake of the suffering and death of Your Son, Jesus Christ, to help us by the grace of the Holy Spirit and strengthen our hearts by Your Word, that our enemy would not prevail over us, but instead that we may abide evermore in Your grace and be preserved to life everlasting; through the same Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Source: LCMS Worship, Prayers of the Church — One-Year 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 February 22, 2026 — Ektene Form
In peace, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For strong faith in the victory of Christ, who has crushed the serpent’s head, that we may endure every temptation and finally share in His eternal salvation, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For pastors, that God would command His angels concerning them to guard them in all their ways as they proclaim the One who trampled the serpent underfoot by His death on the cross, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For the families of the Church, that we may live in sacrificial love toward one another and in faith toward God, and so receive His temporal and eternal benediction, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For peace, that as we sojourn in the wilderness of this earth, God would by His might defend us and our nation against all enemies, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For those troubled in mind or body, the dying and those who grieve, [especially _____________,] that in their afflictions and pain the Lord would sustain and heal them according to His will and deliver them at last to everlasting life, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For faith as we partake of Christ’s body and blood at His Holy Supper, that we may come in repentance to receive this blessed food for everlasting life; and for unity in doctrine and holy living, that we may show forth this harmony in witness before the world, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For confidence in the ceaseless intercessions of Christ, our Savior and Mediator, that in every time of need we would also draw near in prayer to His throne of grace, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
Lord God, heavenly Father, see how the adversary continually afflicts us and walks about as a roaring lion seeking to devour us. We implore You for the sake of the suffering and death of Your Son, Jesus Christ, to help us by the grace of the Holy Spirit and strengthen our hearts by Your Word, that our enemy would not prevail over us, but instead that we may abide evermore in Your grace and be preserved to life everlasting; through the same Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Source: LCMS Worship, Prayers of the Church — One-Year 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
Hymn of the Day — A Mighty Fortress Is Our God (LSB 656 or 657)
Lutheran Service Book 656 or 657
A Mighty Fortress Is Our God
The LCMS Hymn of the Day list appoints this hymn as the Hymn of the Day for First Sunday in Lent (One-Year), Reformation Day (One-Year and Series A, B and C) and Lent 1 (Series A, B and C). This record preserves the appointment identity only; it does not reproduce the Lutheran Service Book hymn text.
Source: LCMS Worship, Hymn of the Day — Arranged by Church Year, pp. 167, 171 (opens in a new tab). Appointment identity only. Lutheran Service Book text and LCMS study content are not reproduced.
Suggested hymns
- Entrance LSB 544 O Love, How Deep
- Distribution LSB 564 Christ Sits at God’s Right Hand
- Distribution LSB 419 Savior, When in Dust to Thee
- Distribution LSB 666 O Little Flock, Fear Not the Foe
- Closing LSB 716 I Walk in Danger All the Way
Source: LCMS Worship, Hymn Suggestions — One-Year Lectionary Series 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.