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THE BIBLE STUDY – February 25, 2026 Pastor Tom Steers Christ the Saviour Lutheran Church Our readings this Wednesday from the daily lectionary are Genesis 8:13–9:17 and Mark 4:1–20. The Lord who brought Noah through the flood is the same Lord who sows His Word generously into the soil of human hearts. In Genesis, God’s covenant with Noah is pure promise—unearned, unconditional, grounded in His mercy. It is ultimately the promise of a Saviour. The rainbow is not a symbol that celebrates or endorses sin. God binds Himself to creation through the incarnation of His only Son, who died for our sins on the cross. In Mark Chapter 4, Jesus teaches that His Word is scattered broadly, generously, upon all kinds of soil. Some reject it, some receive it only for a time, and some—by God’s grace and through the power of the Holy Spirit—bear abundant fruit. The power lies not in the soil but in the seed. As Martin Luther writes, “The Word of God is the true holy thing above all holy things… Indeed, it is the treasure that sanctifies everything” (Large Catechism, Explanation of the Third Commandment). The seed is holy because it is God’s living Word, and wherever it takes root, it brings life out of death—just as God brought new life out of the waters for Noah. The covenant with Noah and the Parable of the Sower both reveal a God who delights to give life. God preserves, promises, plants, and He continues to work through His Word today, creating faith in Christ, sustaining hope, and producing fruit that endures for eternity. Prayer: Gracious Father, thank You for Your covenant mercy and the living seed of Your Word. Make our hearts good soil, that we may trust Your promises and bear fruit for Your glory. Strengthen us daily through Christ our Lord and Saviour. Amen. Our Hymn for the Day from Lutheran Service Book is LSB 577 – “Almighty God, Your Word Is Cast”