Walking Together in the Word

These devotional materials guide you through the Bible readings for the September 12, 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.

• Jesus reminded the doubtful father that with God all things are possible. How did the man respond?

• What important thing did the father recognize?

Read Mark 9:14-29.

What are some things you know you can do? Ride a bike? Count to 100? Recite the multiplication tables? What are some things that are impossible to do? Lift a car. Jump to the moon. Heal your sick friend. Some things are impossible for us. But not for God. With God, all things are possible!

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.

Blessed are those whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord their God.

Psalm 124:5

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.

• This is the third of four “servant songs” in Isaiah which apply to the suffering Servant, Jesus Christ. How does the Servant show His determination to carry out His commission? How does He show confidant trust in God the Father?

• Read Isaiah 50:7-9 and Romans 8:31-39. What comparisons and similarities do you find?

Read Isaiah 50:4-10.

Sometimes people aren’t very nice to us. They might say mean words or hurt us, even when we are doing the right thing. When that happens, we can turn to God for help and comfort. We can trust Him to be with us and care for us.

• Listen to the song above. Think about how God will help you when you are afraid.

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.

James admonishes that we must not show favoritism.

• How can we develop a Christian love that will combat our tendency toward discrimination and showing favoritism? (see 1 John 4:7-13)

• After reading this passage from James (especially vv. 14-18), think about the statement: “Man is justified by faith alone, but not by a faith that is along.” What does that mean? Do you agree or disagree?

Read James 3:1-12.

What is the most powerful part of your body? Your tongue! With your tongue, you can say mean words that hurt and anger others or you can say kind words that make others feel good and loved. God helps us use our powerful tongues for good!

• How can you use your tongue to be kind this week?

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 116 is a song of thanksgiving and praise. List the reasons the psalmist gives as to why he praises his God.

• In our personal thanksgiving and praise to God, what are the reasons that we would give our God praise?

Read Psalm 116:1-9.

The psalmist writes about why he loves the Lord: the Lord heard his cry for mercy, delived him from death, his eyes from crying, and his feet from stumbling so that he could walk before the Lord in the land of the living.

• Why do you love the Lord? What has He done for you?

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.

Your hand, O Lord, in days of old

Was strong to heal and save;

It triumphed over ills and death,

O’er darkness and the grave.

To You they came, the blind, the mute,

The palsied and the lame,

The lepers in their misery,

The sick with fevered frame.

Your touch then, Lord, brought life and health,

Gave speech and strength and sight;

And youth renewed and frenzy calmed

Revealed You, Lord of light.

And now, O Lord, be near to bless,

Almighty as before,

In crowded street, by beds of pain,

As by Gennes’ret’s shore.

O be our great deliv’rer still,

The Lord of life and death;

Restore and quicken, soothe and bless,

With Your life-giving breath.

To hands that work and eyes that see

Give wisdom’s healing pow’r

That whole and sick and weak and strong

May praise You evermore.

Public domain

• How is Jesus “near to bless” and how does He come to “crowded street, by beds of pain” today?

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