Walking Together in the Word

These devotional materials guide you through the Bible readings for the February 28, 2021 Sunday worship service. We pray they are a blessing to you and your family!

Why study God's Word and pray together?

• Bible study and prayer strengthens faith and brings you closer to God and to one another.
• Study of readings and hymns for the weekend prepares you for worship.
• The way parents express and model their faith helps shape young people’s faith lives.
• God's Word gives life!---new life now and eternal life with Jesus in heaven. (John 20:31)

• Five Days of devotional material. Catch up or review on the 6th day, worship on Sunday!
• Bible Readings are the LCMS 3-year lectionary readings for the upcoming Sunday.
• Talk about It and Dig Deeper guide discussion and meditation on the Bible passages.
• Kid Talk has questions and activities especially for kids and families.
• Prayer starters are given--add your own as well! Scroll to the bottom for the Lord's Prayer and Luther's Morning and Evening Prayers.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Heavenly Father, bless our time together as we study Your Word. Amen.

Why do you think Jesus responded to Peter by saying “Get behind me, Satan!”

• Compare Peter’s rebuke of Jesus with Satan’s temptation of Jesus in the wilderness (see Matthew 4:1-11).

• What are the “crosses” that we as believers might carry? (See Matthew 5:11-12; 10:37-39; John 16:33)

Read Mark 8:27-38.

Who is Jesus? Some people think He was just a good man, but not God. Some people don’t even believe He was real. What do you believe? The Bible tells us that Jesus is the Son of God, our Savior! Think about what you know about Jesus.

• What would tell someone who asks you about Jesus? Talk about it.

Meditate on this section of Scripture, using these prompts:

• What thoughts come to mind as you read this passage?
• What is confusing or surprising about this passage?
• What does this passage teach you about God, His love for you, and His will for your life?

Then pray over the passage, talk about it with a friend or spiritual mentor, and explore further by reading the notes in a study Bible.

God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8

May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all (2 Corinthians 13:14).

Throughout the week, write prayers of praise, thanksgiving, and requests in a prayer journal or on a sheet of paper. Take turns praying when you gather for devotions.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Heavenly Father, bless our time together as we study Your Word. Amen.

God’s covenant with Abraham rings out throughout this section of Scripture.

• What does God promise to Abraham and Sarah and what does that mean for us?

• In changing his name from Abram (meaning “exalted father”) to Abraham (meaning “father of many”), how does God mark Abraham in a special way as His servant?

Read Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16.

A covenant is a promise. God made some incredible promises to Abraham: He would be the father of many nations, and kings would come from him.

• What great nation came from Abraham? (Israel).

• What kings came from him? (David and Jesus, the King of kings, our Savior.)

• Sing “Father Abraham.”

Meditate on this section of Scripture, using these prompts:

• What thoughts come to mind as you read this passage?
• What is confusing or surprising about this passage?
• What does this passage teach you about God, His love for you, and His will for your life?

Then pray over the passage, talk about it with a friend or spiritual mentor, and explore further by reading the notes in a study Bible.

May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all (2 Corinthians 13:14).

Pray the Lord's Prayer, Luther's Morning or Evening Prayers, and/or add your own prayers.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Heavenly Father, bless our time together as we study Your Word. Amen.

St. Paul says that when God’s people suffer, we can still rejoice.

• What reasons does Paul give for this?

In this text Paul describes how we have been justified, redeemed, and reconciled to God.

• Why is the past tense of these verbs a source of great confidence and comfort for Christians?

Read and focus on Romans 5:1-11.

How do you show love to someone? God showed His love to us in an amazing way: while we were still sinners, Jesus died for us. What great love God has for you and me!

Meditate on this section of Scripture, using these prompts:

• What thoughts come to mind as you read this passage?
• What is confusing or surprising about this passage?
• What does this passage teach you about God, His love for you, and His will for your life?

Then pray over the passage, talk about it with a friend or spiritual mentor, and explore further by reading the notes in a study Bible.

May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all (2 Corinthians 13:14).

Pray the Lord's Prayer, Luther's Morning or Evening Prayers, and/or add your own prayers.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Heavenly Father, bless our time together as we study Your Word. Amen.

Psalm 22, especially the first part of the psalm, points so very clearly to the crucifixion of Jesus. Jesus even quotes the first verse as He suffers on the cross.

• How does this last section of the psalm give foresight into Jesus’ ministry and spread of the Gospel?

• How does Jesus fulfill the last four words of this psalm (see John 19:30)?

Read Psalm 22:23-31. Focus on verses 27-28 and 31

"All the ends of the earth will remember. . ."

• What will they remember? What has God done for us?

• How does your family bow down before God and worship Him?

Meditate on this section of Scripture, using these prompts:

• What thoughts come to mind as you read this passage?
• What is confusing or surprising about this passage?
• What does this passage teach you about God, His love for you, and His will for your life?

Then pray over the passage, talk about it with a friend or spiritual mentor, and explore further by reading the notes in a study Bible.

May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all (2 Corinthians 13:14).

Pray the Lord's Prayer, Luther's Morning or Evening Prayers, and/or add your own prayers.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Heavenly Father, bless our time together as we study Your Word. Amen.

Take my life and let it be

Consecrated, Lord, to Thee;

Take my moments and my days,

Let them flow in ceaseless praise.

Take my hands and let them move

At the impulse of Thy love;

Take my feet and let them be

Swift and beautiful for Thee.

Take my voice and let me sing

Always, only for my King;

Take my lips and let them be

Filled with messages from Thee.

Take my silver and my gold,

Not a mite would I withhold;

Take my intellect and use

Ev’ry pow’r as Thou shalt choose.

Take my will and make it Thine,

It shall be no longer mine;

Take my heart, it is Thine own,

It shall be Thy royal throne.

Take my love, my Lord, I pour

At Thy feet its treasure store;

Take myself, and I will be

Ever, only, all for Thee.

Public domain

Each of the six stanzas of “Take My Life and Let it Be” is a short prayer.

• Throughout this week—before you begin your day, at meals, as you go to bed—pray one of the stanzas of this hymn.

May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all (2 Corinthians 13:14).

Pray the Lord's Prayer, Luther's Morning or Evening Prayers, and/or add your own prayers.

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen.

I thank you my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ Your dear Son, that You have kept me this night from all harm and danger; and I pray that You would keep me this day also from sin and every evil, that all my doings and life may please You. For into Your hands I commend myself, my body and soul and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me. Amen.

I thank you my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ Your dear Son, that you have graciously kept me this day; and I pray that You would forgive me all my sins where I have done wrong, and graciously keep me this night. For into Your hands I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me. Amen.

Chapel of the Cross--Lutheran exists to show the love of Jesus to North County and beyond, so that all may have a living relationship with Christ.

Our Core Values:

• Empowered by the cross of Christ
• People working together
• Opening the Word to all people
• Showing the love of Jesus
• Warm and supportive environment

Email: pastorlaesch@chapelofthecross.org
Website: http://www.chapelofthecross.org/
Location: 11645 Benham Rd, St. Louis, MO, USA
Phone: (314) 741-3737
Facebook: facebook.com/ChapelSTL