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March 8, 2026
See TodayThird Sunday in Lent
One-Year Lectionary
- First Reading
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Ex. 8:16–24 or Jer. 26:1–15 (read in NKJV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
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Scripture text is in high demand right now. Cached readings remain available; other readings can be opened on Bible Gateway. Read Exodus 8:16-24 in NKJV 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 Jeremiah 26:1-15 in NKJV on Bible Gateway (new tab)
- Psalm
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Psalm 136:1–16 or Psalm 4 (read in NKJV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
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- Epistle
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Eph. 5:1–9 (read in NKJV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
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- Gospel
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Luke 11:14–28 (read in NKJV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
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Third Sunday in Lent
One-Year Lectionary
About this service
Jesus Overcomes the Strong Man
Jeremiah was charged with speaking evil when he spoke the Word of the Lord (Jer. 26:1–15). So also, Jesus is accused of doing evil when in fact He is doing good. He casts out a demon from a mute man so that he is able to speak (Luke 11:14–28). But some said Jesus did this by the power of Beelzebub, Satan. Like Pharaoh of old, their hearts were hard (Ex. 8:16–24). They did not recognize the finger of God, the power of the Holy Spirit at work in and through Jesus. Jesus is the Stronger Man who overcomes the strong man. He takes the devil’s armor of sin and death and destroys it from the inside out by the holy cross. He exorcizes and frees us by water and the Word. We were once darkness, but now we are light in Christ the Lord (Eph. 5:1–9). As children of light, our tongues are loosed to give thanks to Him who saved us.
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 — Third Sunday in Lent (Oculi)
WE beseech Thee, Almighty God, look upon the hearty desires of Thy humble servants, and stretch forth the right hand of Thy Majesty to be our defence against all our enemies; 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 March 8, 2026 — Responsive Form
Let us pray for the whole Church of God in Christ Jesus and for all people according to their needs.
Righteous and just Father, send Your Holy Spirit to abide in us, to enliven our faith, to cast out doubt and to soften our hearts to the Word of Your Son. Teach us repentance through the plagues and trials of this world, that at the Last Day we may be found in You. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Lord of the Church, preserve and bless Your Church on earth, and do not let us fall into the sin of pride and self-confidence. Grant boldness to Your ministers as they preach Your Word to all, especially to those in need of repentance. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Lord God, You call us to live in purity and holiness. Protect and guide Christian families to love and seek chastity and decency, learning to grow in virtue and all godly living. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
King of kings and Judge of the earth, establish our nation’s leaders and grant them wisdom for the good of those they govern, that Your Word and Church would not be persecuted in our land but protected and allowed to flourish by Your grace. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
O Lord, the strength of the weak, hear our prayers for all who are sick, anxious, lonely or oppressed in any way [especially _____________]. Overcome the devil and his demons, that he would not lead any into despair, and grant Your healing and cleansing power to rest upon their bodies and minds. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Blessed Lord, You join Your Word to the bread and wine and so invite us to eat and drink. Grant that we may hear and keep Your Word in faith, that we may worthily receive the true body and blood of our Savior and so be given Your eternal blessing. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Heavenly Father, You seek not the death but the life of all. Hear our prayers for all who have no right knowledge of You or who have wandered from Your truth. Free them from all error and, for the glory of Your name, mercifully bring them into the fellowship of Your Holy Church. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Lord God, heavenly Father, You sent Your Son, Jesus Christ, to take up our flesh, that He might overcome the devil and defend us poor sinners against the adversary. We thank You for Your merciful aid and implore You to attend us with Your grace in every temptation. Preserve us from carnal security and, by Your Spirit, keep us in Your Word and fear, that we may be delivered from the enemy and obtain eternal salvation; 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 March 8, 2026 — Ektene Form
In peace, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For hearts softened by the Word of God and by the plagues and trials of this world, that we would repent of our sins and be found faithful at the Last Day, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For the Church on earth, that her Lord would preserve and bless her; that He would keep us, her members, from falling into the sin of pride and self-confidence; and that He would grant boldness to her ministers as they preach His Word to all, especially to those in need of repentance, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For the members of every Christian family, that the Lord who calls us to live in purity and holiness would protect us and guide us; and that we would love and seek chastity and decency, learning to grow in virtue and godly living, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For our nation’s leaders, that the King of kings and Judge of the earth would establish them and grant them wisdom for the good of those they govern; and for the Christian Church in our land, that God would keep her from persecution and graciously cause His Word to flourish, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For all who are sick, anxious, lonely or oppressed in any way, [especially _____________,] that God, who is the strength of the weak, would overcome the devil’s demonic attempts to lead them into despair, and grant His healing, cleansing power to rest upon their bodies and minds, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For all who commune, that the Lord, who joins His Word to the bread and wine and invites us to eat and drink, would grant us to hear and keep His Word in faith, and so worthily receive the true body and blood of our Savior to our eternal blessing, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For those who have no right knowledge of God or who have wandered from the truth, that our Lord, who seeks not the death but the life of all, would free them from all error and bring them into the fellowship of His Holy Church to the glory of His name, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
Lord God, heavenly Father, You sent Your Son, Jesus Christ, to take up our flesh, that He might overcome the devil and defend us poor sinners against the adversary. We thank You for Your merciful aid and implore You to attend us with Your grace in every temptation. Preserve us from carnal security and, by Your Spirit, keep us in Your Word and fear, that we may be delivered from the enemy and obtain eternal salvation; 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
LSB 659 Lord of Our Life and God of Our Salvation
The LCMS Hymn of the Day list appoints this hymn as the Hymn of the Day for Third Sunday in Lent (One-Year) and Proper 7 (Series A).
Source: LCMS Worship, Hymn of the Day — Arranged by Church Year, pp. 167, 168 (opens in a new tab). Appointment identity only. Lutheran Service Book text and LCMS study content are not reproduced.
Suggested hymns
- Entrance LSB 533 Jesus Has Come and Brings Pleasure
- Distribution LSB 620 Jesus Comes Today with Healing
- Distribution LSB 731 O God, Forsake Me Not
- Distribution LSB 616 Baptismal Waters Cover Me
- Closing LSB 421 Jesus, Grant That Balm and Healing
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.