Walking Together in the Word

These devotional materials guide you through the Bible readings for the July 4, 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.

• How did the people in Jesus’ hometown react to His ministry? Why did they react that way?

• As the disciples were sent out by Jesus, upon whom were they forced to depend as they carried out their assignment? What message were they to give to those who rejected them?

Read Mark 6:1-13.

What kinds of jobs do your parents give you? Do you obey them? Jesus gave His disciples a very important job: to go out and heal people and tell them that the Savior had come! What did disciples do? They obeyed Him! Jesus gives you the same job: Go and tell!

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.

My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.

2 Corinthians 12:9

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 addresses Ezekiel as “son of man.” This phrase is used 93 times in Ezekiel—a reminder to him of his humanity.

• Why do you think this reminder was important?

• How did God describe the people to whom He was sending Ezekiel? Why did He warn Ezekiel about the heart of the people?

Read Ezekiel 2:1-5.

Do you know what it means to be stubborn? It means to refuse to change the way you think or act. God’s people were being stubborn—they kept on sinning and ignoring God. God chose Ezekiel to be His prophet, to speak God’s words to them. Do you think they listened to Ezekiel?

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.

Why did Paul delight in weakness and hardships?

Why is it often hard for us to delight in weakness?

Read 2 Corinthians 12:1-10.

“When I am weak, I am strong” Paul said. That doesn’t seem to make sense, does it? But Paul knew that his own strength didn’t matter. It’s God’s strength that matters. God gives us His strength so we can follow Him and tell others about 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.

• How does the psalmist show the humility of God’s people? What is their prayer?

• What, according to the psalmist, is the response of God’s people to those who treat them with ridicule and contempt?

Read Psalm 123.

When you're asking a friend or a parent to help you, it's best to look them in the eyes. The Psalmist is asking God for help and mercy, so he lifts up his eyes to God. In other words, he looks to God for help.

• When do you look to God for help?

We can trust that when we look to God for help, He will always listen and help us!

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.

O Christ, our true and only light,

Enlighten those who sit in night;

Let those afar now hear Your voice

And in Your fold with us rejoice.

Fill with the radiance of Your grace

The souls now lost in error’s maze;

Enlighten those whose inmost minds

Some dark delusion haunts and blinds.

O gently call those gone astray

That they may find the saving way!

Let ev’ry conscience sore oppressed

In You find peace and heav’nly rest.

Shine on the darkened and the cold;

Recall the wand’rers to Your fold.

Unite all those who walk apart;

Confirm the weak and doubting heart,

That they with us may evermore

Such grace with wond’ring thanks adore

And endless praise to You be giv’n

By all Your Church in earth and heav’n.

Public domain

This hymn is a prayer where each stanza gently reiterates our desire for Christ to save the lost.

• Think about the people in your life who do not have faith in Jesus and pray this prayer to the heavenly Father.

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