The Divine Service – Hymnary, p. 67:10-19
The Service of the Word
The Entrance Rite (a “rite” is a ritual or form of service) pointed forward to the gifts that God gives to us, and these gifts arrive in The Service of the Word that brings God’s word to us in the readings and the sermon.
The word of God that brought the world into being also ignites faith in our hearts, as Paul writes, “Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.” (Romans 10:17) Through His word God Himself warns us of the consequences of our sins, He assures us of His redeeming love and truly gives us the forgiveness of all our sins.
Prior to the corruption of the church during the Middle Ages, the readings would have been extensive, sometimes consisting of whole books and extensive exposition and preaching on them. During the early Middle Ages, emphasis upon preaching declined until it was restored in the Lutheran Reformation.
The lessons are chosen according to a schedule called a pericope. There are several pericopes, but the ones we use most in the Lutheran Church are the Historic and the Inter Lutheran Commission on Worship (ILCW). Both are selected with reference to other liturgical Christian churches, so that you will find the same lessons read in other Lutheran churches, Episcopal churches, Roman Catholic churches and others.
Having the lessons chosen according to a pericope assures that over the course of a year most of the teachings of the Bible will be presented. That way the whole body of Scriptural teaching is presented and not just the pastor’s pet topics or what is fashionable at the time. The pericope also follows the church year (more about that later) so that the events of Christ’s saving work, what He did to save us from our sins, is proclaimed to the hearers.