Three-Year Lectionary
Study the appointed readings, prayers and resources for Series A, Series B and Series C through the Church Year.
October 25, 2026
See TodayReformation Day
Three-Year Lectionary · Series A
- First Reading
-
Rev. 14:6–7 (read in NIV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
NIV Scripture text
Select ESV to load this Scripture text.
6Then I saw another angel flying in midair, and he had the eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on the earth—to every nation, tribe, language and people. 7He said in a loud voice, “Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come. Worship him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea and the springs of water.”Select KJV to load this Scripture text.
- Psalm
-
Psalm 46 (read in NIV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
NIV Scripture text
Select ESV to load this Scripture text.
For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. According to alamoth.a A song.1God is our refuge and strength,an ever-present help in trouble.2Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give wayand the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,3though its waters roar and foamand the mountains quake with their surging.b4There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,the holy place where the Most High dwells.5God is within her, she will not fall;God will help her at break of day.6Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall;he lifts his voice, the earth melts.7The Lord Almighty is with us;the God of Jacob is our fortress.8Come and see what the Lord has done,the desolations he has brought on the earth.9He makes wars ceaseto the ends of the earth.He breaks the bow and shatters the spear;he burns the shieldsc with fire.10He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;I will be exalted among the nations,I will be exalted in the earth.”11The Lord Almighty is with us;the God of Jacob is our fortress.Select KJV to load this Scripture text.
- Epistle
-
Rom. 3:19–28 (read in NIV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
NIV Scripture text
Select ESV to load this Scripture text.
19Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God. 20Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin.21But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. 22This righteousness is given through faith ina Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, 23for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. 25God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement,b through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— 26he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.27Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. Because of what law? The law that requires works? No, because of the law that requires faith. 28For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law.Select KJV to load this Scripture text.
- Gospel
-
Matt. 11:12–19 or John 8:31–36 (read in NIV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
NIV Scripture text
Select ESV to load this Scripture text.
Matt. 11:12–19
12From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been subjected to violence,a and violent people have been raiding it. 13For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John. 14And if you are willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who was to come. 15Whoever has ears, let them hear.16 “To what can I compare this generation? They are like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling out to others:17 “ ‘We played the pipe for you,and you did not dance;we sang a dirge,and you did not mourn.’18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ 19The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’ But wisdom is proved right by her deeds.”John 8:31–36
31To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”33They answered him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?”34Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. 35Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. 36So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.Select KJV to load this Scripture text.
Reformation Day
Three-Year Lectionary · Series A
About this service
The Son of God Has Set Us Free from Sin and Death by His Grace
“Wisdom is justified by her deeds” (Matt. 11:19), and the true wisdom of God, Christ Jesus, the incarnate Son, justifies us by His deeds. He prepares His way by the preaching of repentance, but He has suffered the violence of the Law and voluntarily handed Himself over to violent men, in order that we may eat and drink with Him in His Kingdom and “remain in the house forever” (John 8:35). He is “a friend of tax collectors and sinners” (Matt. 11:18–19), and He has rescued us by His grace from the slavery of sin and death. By the proclamation of His eternal Gospel “to those who dwell on earth, to every nation and tribe and language and people” (Rev. 14:6), “the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law” (Rom. 3:21), “that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus” (Rom. 3:26). And by the hearing of that Gospel of Christ Jesus, “whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith” (Rom. 3:25), “you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:31–32).
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 October 31, 2023 — Responsive Form
Let us pray for the whole Church of God in Christ Jesus and for all people according to their needs.
Mighty Fortress, Rock of refuge, sustain Your Church. Deliver her from error and preserve in her the proclamation of Your Gospel, that it would resound to every nation, tribe, people and language and that all may fear and give You glory. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Mighty Fortress, Rock of refuge, bless all ministers of Your Word. Help them rightly to preach Your Law so that all are held accountable to You without excuse and joyfully proclaim Your Gospel, that all would know Jesus Christ as their Savior. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Mighty Fortress, Rock of refuge, look with compassion on all who are blind to the bondage of their sin. Open their eyes by the words of Jesus, and grant them the true freedom of sonship and a permanent place in Your household. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Mighty Fortress, Rock of refuge, make us truly Your disciples. Keep us in Your Word, free us from all errors, and make our homes and families peaceful. Preserve all fathers and encourage them for their godly task, that children would be brought up in the fear and instruction of the Lord. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Mighty Fortress, Rock of refuge, bless all civil authorities, especially our president; Congress; and all who make, administer and judge our laws. Protect them from the temptations that beset their offices, and grant them wisdom and courage to serve with integrity. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Mighty Fortress, Rock of refuge, be near to all who cry to You for healing of body and soul [especially _____________]. Grant them release from their afflictions according to Your will. Sustain their hope in the full and final healing that awaits them at the day of Christ’s appearing. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Mighty Fortress, Rock of refuge, bless all who come to the altar to partake of Christ’s own body and blood for the forgiveness of their sins. Grant them repentant hearts that seek to amend their lives, and by Your Spirit align them with Your will and purpose. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Mighty Fortress, Rock of refuge, we give You thanks for all Your servants who have departed this life in faith. We especially bless You today for the great reformers of Your Church who call us back to the Gospel and to the righteousness we have in Christ alone. Keep us in fellowship with them, and bring us at last to our heavenly home to see our Redeemer face to face; 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 — Series A 2022–2023 (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 October 31, 2023 — Ektene Form
In peace, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For the Church, that God would deliver her from error and preserve in her the proclamation of the Gospel, and that all would fear the Lord and give Him glory, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For all ministers of the Word, that by their preaching of the Law all would be held accountable to God without excuse, and that by their proclamation of the Gospel all would know Jesus Christ as their Savior, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For all who are blind to the bondage of their sin, that God would open their eyes by the words of Jesus and grant them the true freedom of sonship through a permanent place in His household, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For our homes and families, that God would keep us in His Word and so make us truly His disciples, freed from errors and at peace; and especially for all fathers, that God would preserve and encourage them for their godly task to bring up children who fear Him, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For the civil authorities, especially our president; Congress; and all who make, administer and judge our laws, that God would protect them from the temptations that beset their offices and grant them wisdom and courage to serve with integrity, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For all who cry to God for healing of body and soul, [especially _____________,] that He would grant them release from their afflictions according to His will and sustain their hope until the day of Christ’s appearing, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For all who come to Christ’s altar seeking the forgiveness of sins, that with repentant hearts they may receive His gifts, seek to amend their lives, and by His Spirit be aligned with His will and purpose, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
Mighty Fortress, Rock of refuge, we give You thanks for all Your servants who have departed this life in faith. We especially bless You today for the great reformers of Your Church who call us back to the Gospel and to the righteousness we have in Christ alone. Keep us in fellowship with them, and bring us at last to our heavenly home and the joy of seeing our Redeemer face to face; 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 — Series A 2022–2023 (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.
LSB 555 Salvation Unto Us Has Come
The LCMS Hymn of the Day list appoints this hymn as the Hymn of the Day for Septuagesima (One-Year), Reformation Day (One-Year and Series A, B and C) and Proper 20 (Series A).
Source: LCMS Worship, Hymn of the Day — Arranged by Church Year, pp. 167, 169, 171 (opens in a new tab). Appointment identity only. Lutheran Service Book text and LCMS study content are not reproduced.
Suggested hymns
- Entrance LSB 656 A Mighty Fortress Is Our God
- Distribution LSB 555 Salvation unto Us Has Come
- Distribution LSB 582 God’s Word Is Our Great Heritage
- Closing LSB 585 Lord Jesus Christ, with Us Abide
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.