The 2026 Steadfast Lutherans Lenten Series is titled “The Lord’s Passion and the Lord’s Prayer”.
The initial thought for this series came from a volume called Sermon Texts by Northwestern Publishing House. We modified the series slightly in 2018 and again for 2026, with a slight change in title and newly-suggested midweek Old Testament and Epistle Readings.
The idea is to teach the Lord’s Prayer from Ash Wednesday up to the Feast of the Resurrection of our Lord using midweek services, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter Services. This includes a catechetical focus as well as teaching Luther’s catechetical hymn on the Lord’s Prayer.
A devotional for the Lenten season of the same theme is available as a free pdf.
The paperback edition is available.
A daily audio podcast will be available.
The service plan recommends Divine Service with Holy Communion for all but the midweek services and Good Friday. Midweek services would be a prayer office (Vespers being preferred). The hymn numbers and so forth are from Lutheran Service Book.
Here is the service plan:
Ash Wednesday
“Our Father Who art in heaven”
2/18/26
(normal LSB propers for Ash Wednesday)
Lessons:
Joel 2:12-19 (OT: call to repentance and recognition of God’s fatherly mercy)
2 Peter 1:2-11 (Epistle: growth in faith and virtue as children of the heavenly
Father)
Matthew 6:16-21 (Gospel)
Opening Hymn: 419 Savior When in Dust to Thee
Hymn of the Day: 607 From Depths of Woe I Cry to Thee
Distribution Hymns:
440 Jesus I will ponder now
634 The Death of Jesus Christ our Lord
609 Jesus Sinners Doth Receive
Closing Hymn – 766 Our Father Who From Heav’n Above stanzas 1 & 9
Midweek of Lent 1
“Hallowed be Thy name”
2/25/26
Psalm 145
Lessons:
Isaiah 6:1-8 (OT: the holiness of God’s name revealed in His throne room)
Philippians 2:5-11 (Epistle: Christ’s humility and exaltation, leading to every
knee bowing at God’s name)
John 17:1-25 (Gospel)
Opening Hymn: 420 Christ, the Life of All the Living
Office Hymn: 766 Our Father, Who From Heav’n Above stanzas 1-2, 9
Closing Hymn: 436 Go to Dark Gethsemane
Midweek of Lent 2
“Thy kingdom come”
3/4/26
Psalm 99
Lessons:
Daniel 7:9-14 (OT: the eternal kingdom given to the Son of Man)
1 Corinthians 15:20-28 (Epistle: Christ’s reign and the subjection of all
things to God’s kingdom)
John 18:28-19:16 (Gospel)
Opening Hymn: 439 O Dearest Jesus, What Law hast Thou Broken
stanzas 1-7
Office Hymn: 766 Our Father, Who From Heav’n Above stanzas 1-3, 9
Closing Hymn: 439 O Dearest Jesus, What Law hast Thou Broken stanzas 8-15
Midweek of Lent 3
“Thy will be done”
3/11/26
Psalm 40
Lessons:
1 Samuel 3:1-10 (OT: Samuel’s submission to God’s will and call)
Romans 12:1-2 (Epistle: presenting ourselves as living sacrifices to discern
and do God’s will)
Luke 22:24-62 (Gospel)
Opening Hymn: 424 O Christ, You Walked the Road
Office Hymn: 766 Our Father, Who From Heav’n Above stanzas 1-4, 9
Closing Hymn: 453 Upon the Cross Extended
Midweek of Lent 4
“Give us this day our daily bread”
3/18/26
Psalm 104:24-35
Lessons:
Exodus 16:1-21 (OT: God’s provision of manna as daily bread in the wilderness)
James 1:17-18 (Epistle: every good gift, including daily bread, comes from the
Father above)
John 19:16b-30 (Gospel)
Opening Hymn: 451 Stricken, Smitten, and Afflicted
Office Hymn: 766 Our Father, Who From Heav’n Above stanzas 1-5, 9
Closing Hymn: 452 O Perfect Life of Love
Midweek of Lent 5
“Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us”
3/25/26
Psalm 51
Lessons:
Micah 7:18-20 (OT: God’s pardon and compassion in casting away sins)
Colossians 1:13-20 (Epistle: redemption and forgiveness through Christ’s blood)
Luke 23:26-49 (Gospel)
Opening Hymn: 610 Lord Jesus, Think on Me
Office Hymn: 766 Our Father, Who From Heav’n Above stanzas 1-6, 9
Closing Hymn: 434 Lamb of God, Pure and Holy
Maundy Thursday
“Lead us not into temptation”
4/2/26
(normal LSB propers for Maundy Thursday)
Opening Hymn: 421 Jesus, Grant that Balm and Healing
Hymn of the Day: 617 O Lord, We Praise Thee
Distribution Hymns:
766 Our Father Who From Heaven Above
619 Thy Body, Given for Me, O Savior
636 Soul, Adorn Thyself with Gladness
No closing hymn for Maundy Thursday.
Good Friday
“But deliver us from evil”
4/3/26
Use the normal propers for Good Friday along with normal congregational
services to teach the Seventh Petition from the Passion account (of St. John
usually).
Resurrection of our Lord
“For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and glory forever and ever. Amen.”
4/5/26
Use the normal propers for the Resurrection of our Lord demonstrating the theme
from them.