Three-Year Lectionary
Study the appointed readings, prayers and resources for Series A, Series B and Series C through the Church Year.
October 17, 2027
See TodayProper 24
Three-Year Lectionary · Series B
- First Reading
-
Eccl. 5:10–20 (read in KJV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
KJV Scripture text
Select ESV to load this Scripture text.
Select NIV to load this Scripture text.
10 He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity. 11 When goods increase, they are increased that eat them: and what good is there to the owners thereof, saving the beholding of them with their eyes? 12 The sleep of a labouring man is sweet, whether he eat little or much: but the abundance of the rich will not suffer him to sleep. 13 There is a sore evil which I have seen under the sun, namely, riches kept for the owners thereof to their hurt. 14 But those riches perish by evil travail: and he begetteth a son, and there is nothing in his hand. 15 As he came forth of his mother’s womb, naked shall he return to go as he came, and shall take nothing of his labour, which he may carry away in his hand. 16 And this also is a sore evil, that in all points as he came, so shall he go: and what profit hath he that hath laboured for the wind? 17 All his days also he eateth in darkness, and he hath much sorrow and wrath with his sickness.
18 Behold that which I have seen: it is good and comely for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labour that he taketh under the sun all the days of his life, which God giveth him: for it is his portion. 19 Every man also to whom God hath given riches and wealth, and hath given him power to eat thereof, and to take his portion, and to rejoice in his labour; this is the gift of God. 20 For he shall not much remember the days of his life; because God answereth him in the joy of his heart.
Select NKJV to load this Scripture text.
- Psalm
-
Psalm 119:9–16 (read in KJV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
KJV Scripture text
Select ESV to load this Scripture text.
Select NIV to load this Scripture text.
9 Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.
10 With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments.
11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.
12 Blessed art thou, O LORD: teach me thy statutes.
13 With my lips have I declared all the judgments of thy mouth.
14 I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies, as much as in all riches.
15 I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways.
16 I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word.
Select NKJV to load this Scripture text.
- Epistle
-
Heb. 4:1–13 (14–16) (read in KJV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
KJV Scripture text
Select ESV to load this Scripture text.
Select NIV to load this Scripture text.
1 Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. 2 For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it. 3 For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world. 4 For he spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all his works. 5 And in this place again, If they shall enter into my rest. 6 Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief: 7 Again, he limiteth a certain day, saying in David, To day, after so long a time; as it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts. 8 For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day. 9 There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. 10 For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his. 11 Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief. 12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 13 Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do. 14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. 15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
Select NKJV to load this Scripture text.
- Gospel
-
Mark 10:23–31 (read in KJV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
KJV Scripture text
Select ESV to load this Scripture text.
Select NIV to load this Scripture text.
23 And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God! 24 And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God! 25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. 26 And they were astonished out of measure, saying among themselves, Who then can be saved? 27 And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.
28 Then Peter began to say unto him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee. 29 And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel’s, 30 But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life. 31 But many that are first shall be last; and the last first.
Select NKJV to load this Scripture text.
Proper 24
Three-Year Lectionary · Series B
About this service
By the Voluntary Poverty of Christ, We Enter the Kingdom of God
To love and trust in earthly wealth is vanity. For nothing of this earth will last forever, nor can any of it grant eternal life (Eccl. 5:10). But the one who trusts in God is “occupied with joy in his heart” and is able to sleep in peace, “whether he eats little or much,” because he knows that the “days of his life” are “the gift of God” (Eccl. 5:12, 18–20). The person who trusts in riches cannot sleep, because he “shall take nothing for his toil that he may carry away in his hand” (Eccl. 5:15). Therefore, it is difficult “for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God” (Mark 20:23). Indeed, it is impossible for man, yet “all things are possible with God” (Mark 20:27). Thus, the Rich Man, Jesus Christ, has made Himself poor and has gone through “the eye of a needle,” through death and the grave, “to enter the kingdom of God” on our behalf (Mark 20:24–25). He is the “great high priest who has passed through the heavens” (Heb. 4:14), so that we may now enter His Sabbath rest by faith in His forgiveness (Heb. 4:3–9).
Source: LCMS Worship, Lectionary Summaries — Three-Year Lectionary Series B (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 Three-Year Series (B) Propers Chart (opens in a new tab). Citations only; no liturgical or Scripture text is reproduced.
Prayers of the Church
Prayers of the Church for October 20, 2024 — Responsive Form
Lord, You are near to the brokenhearted, and You save the crushed in spirit. Deliver us from every fear and trouble, that the praise of Your name would continually be in our mouths. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
O God, with us salvation is impossible, but with You all things are possible. Give boldness to Your Church to proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord, by whose death and resurrection the way to Your kingdom has been opened. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Gracious God, bless all who study at our universities and seminaries. Raise up more church workers, for the harvest is plentiful but the laborers are few. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Spare the servants of Your Church from love of wealth and from fear of the difficulty of their task, that they would gladly set aside every comfort for Your sake and for the Gospel. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Heavenly Father, lead our households to find eternal rest in Your Son and His Word. Give fathers and mothers diligence in teaching their children, and preserve us all from hardness of heart. Give us urgency to hear the good message of salvation today. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Almighty God, guide our nation and its leaders in true wisdom to promote honest labor, temporal protection and fitting enjoyment under the sun. Guide Your Christians to serve Christ in their citizenship and callings. Do not let our hearts be occupied with the vanity of riches that perish, but with the true joy of Christ. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
When the righteous cry, You hear, O Lord, and deliver them out of all their troubles. Draw near to save the brokenhearted, the crushed in spirit, the sick and those in need [especially _____________]. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Since we have a great High Priest, Jesus Christ, hold us fast in our confession through all temptation and preserve us from sin, O Lord. Give Your blessing to all who draw near to Your throne of grace, especially those who receive the blessed Sacrament this day, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Lord God, heavenly Father, Your Son left His earthly home to do His saving work, and so He knows what it is to leave family behind. Comfort Your children who have left home and loved ones for the sake of the Gospel. Set them firmly into the family of the Church, and sustain them in the hope of eternal life in the age to come; through 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 B 2023–2024 (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 20, 2024 — Ektene Form
In peace, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For deliverance from every fear and trouble, that our Lord would draw near to the brokenhearted and save the crushed in spirit; and that the praise of His name would continually be in our mouths, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For the Church, that she may proclaim boldly our Lord Jesus Christ, with whom all things are possible and by whose death and resurrection the kingdom has been opened, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For those who study at our universities and seminaries; and for an increase in full-time church workers among us, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For the servants of Christ’s Church, that they would be spared from love of wealth and fear of their difficult task and be steeled to set aside every comfort for Christ’s sake and for the Gospel, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For our homes, that every household would find eternal rest in Jesus and His Word; and for fathers and mothers, that they would be diligent in teaching their children and be preserved from hardness of heart, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For our nation and its leaders, that in true wisdom they would promote honest labor, temporal protection and fitting enjoyment under the sun; that all Christians would serve Christ in their citizenship and callings; and that our hearts would be occupied not with the vanity of riches that perish, but with the true joy of Christ, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For the brokenhearted, the crushed in spirit, the sick and those in need, [especially _____________,] that God would hear the cry of His righteous and deliver them out of all their troubles, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For all who draw near to God’s throne of grace, especially those who eat and drink the blessed Sacrament this day, that holding fast to our High Priest and His confession, we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
Lord God, heavenly Father, Your Son left His earthly home to do His saving work, and so He knows what it is to leave family behind. Comfort Your children who have left home and loved ones for the sake of the Gospel. Set them firmly into the family of the Church, and sustain them in the hope of eternal life in the age to come; through 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 B 2023–2024 (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 690 Hope of the World, Thou Christ of Great Compassion
The LCMS Hymn of the Day list appoints this hymn as the Hymn of the Day for Proper 24 (Series B).
Source: LCMS Worship, Hymn of the Day — Arranged by Church Year, p. 169 (opens in a new tab). Appointment identity only. Lutheran Service Book text and LCMS study content are not reproduced.
Suggested hymns
- Entrance LSB 602 The Gifts Christ Freely Gives
- Distribution LSB 633 At the Lamb’s High Feast We Sing
- Distribution LSB 730 What Is the World to Me
- Distribution LSB 744 Amazing Grace
- Closing LSB 529 Since Our Great High Priest, Christ Jesus
Source: LCMS Worship, Hymn Suggestions — Three-Year Lectionary Series B 2023–24 (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.