Walking Together in the Word

These devotional materials guide you through the Bible readings for the September 5, 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.

• In interacting with the deaf and mute man, what was the reason that Jesus took the man aside, away from those who had brought him?

• How was Mark 7:35 a direct fulfillment of Isaiah 35:5-6?

Read Mark 7:31-37.

Jesus showed the man how He would heal him. He touched his ears, then his tongue, then pointed to heaven. With the power of God, Jesus made him hear and speak! Jesus shows us how He heals us too. He points us to His Word, where we hear about His forgiveness and eternal life with Him.

• Learn how to use American Sign Language to sign "Jesus Loves Me" using the video below.

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 a message of encouragement for those with “fearful hearts.” What things will accompany God’s coming that will help overcome fear?

• Why did Isaiah describe God as coming “with vengeance” and with “divine retribution?”

Read Isaiah 35:4-7a.

God sent prophets like Isaiah to tell the Old Testament people about the Messiah who would come. The Messiah would give sight to the blind, hearing to the deaf, and heal those who can’t talk. Who did all that? Jesus! He is the promised Messiah.

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 2:1-10, 14-18.

Have you heard the saying, “Don’t judge a book by its cover”? It means you shouldn’t judge someone by the way they look. God says, Don’t judge anyone at all! Be kind to everyone. Love your neighbor as yourself, as God loves 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.

• Sing or read “Praise the Almighty” (#797 in Lutheran Service Book) and meditate on the words of the hymn that are based upon Psalm 146.

• The psalmists urges that we do not put our trust “in princes, in mortal men, who cannot save.” Good advice in our highly polarized and political world! Instead, where does the Christian put his or her trust? (see vv. 5-10)

Read Psalm 146.

Who do you trust to help you, to guide you, to protect you? The writer of Psalm 146 says, put your trust in the One who made the heaven and the earth! Why? Because we know how good and powerful He is. God can, and will, help us with everything we need.

• Read verses 6-9 again. Write down some of the reasons we should trust our God. Think about your own experiences and add some more!

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.

Refrain:

There is a balm in Gilead

There is a balm in GileadTo make the wounded whole;

To heal the sin-sick soul.

1 Sometimes I feel discouraged

And think my work’s in vain,

But then the Holy Spirit

Revives my soul again. [Refrain]

2 If you cannot preach like Peter,

If you cannot pray like Paul,

You can tell the love of Jesus

And say He died for all. [Refrain]

3 Don't ever feel discouraged,

For Jesus is your friend;

And if you lack for knowledge,

He'll ne'er refuse to lend. [Refrain]

Public domain

In the days of ancient Israel, Gilead was famous for a balsamic resin believed to have healing properties. This African American spiritual, however, is not speaking of a balm for a physical wound.

• What balm is the hymn referring to that will “heal the sin-sick soul?”

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