Walking Together in the Word

These devotional materials guide you through the Bible readings for the November 29, 2020 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 warns: “Be on guard! Be alert!”

• What does Jesus mean by those words?

• What attitude does Jesus encourage His followers to have regarding the end of the world?

• While we long for Jesus to come, why are we also thankful that He delays His return? (See 2 Peter 3:3-9)

Read Mark 13:24-37.

Have you ever sat at the window, waiting for a special visitor to come? You know they’re coming soon, but you don’t know the exact time, so you wait and watch, eyes glued on the road.

Jesus tell us to watch for His second coming. No one knows the day or hour He’ll come, so we keep watch! How? We pray and read His Word and worship with other Christians. How awesome it will be when He arrives!

• Do you have a favorite Bible verse or Bible story? Share and read these together!

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.

Savior of the nations, come,
Virgin's Son, make here Your home!
Marvel now, O heav'n and earth,
That the Lord chose such a birth.

Not by human flesh and blood,
By the Spirit of our God,
Was the Word of God made flesh --
Woman's offspring pure and fresh.

Yet you, Lord, are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand. Isaiah 64:8

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.

• What words does Isaiah use to describe the Israelites’ relationship to God, and God’s relationship to the Israelites?

• What hope does Isaiah still hold in spite of Israel’s rebellion against God? (See verse 8.)

Read Isaiah 64:1-9.

Take out some clay or playdough and make something. What did you make?

Isaiah calls God the potter (one who makes clay pots) and us the clay.

• Talk about how God made you. You are His special creation!

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 thanks God for the church in Corinth.

• What specific things does he thank God for? (see vv. 4-7)

Paul writes: “He will keep you strong to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus.”

• How can Paul speak with such confidence? What confidence and comfort do these words give you?

Read 1 Corinthians 1:3-9.

Did you know that your parents and caregivers thank God for you? They do! They thank God that He made you and gave you faith in Jesus.

• Who can you thank God for today? Say a prayer of thanks to God for those people right now.

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 80 begins with a familiar picture of God and His people: the Shepherd and His flock.

• What is it about the image of the Shepherd that gives encouragement, comfort, and peace to you? (see Psalm 23, John 10)

Verse 3 includes a blessing that should be familiar to us: “Make your face shine upon us.”

• Where do we often hear those beautiful words? (see Numbers 6:24-26)

Read Psalm 80:1-7.

• Reread verse 7 of the psalm. Then look up Numbers 6:24-26.

Think about this blessing and God’s face shining on you and giving you peace!

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 Lord, how shall I meet You,

How welcome You aright?

Your people long to greet You,

O kindle, Lord most holy, My hope, my heart’s delight!

Your lamp within my breast

To do in spirit lowly

All that may please You best.

Your Zion strews before You

Green boughs and fairest palms;

And I too will adore You

With joyous songs and psalms.

My heart shall bloom forever

For You with praises new

And from Your name shall never

Withhold the honor due.

I lay in fetters, groaning;

You came to set me free.

I stood, my shame bemoaning;

You came to honor me.

A glorious crown You give me,

A treasure safe on high

That will not fail or leave me

As earthly riches fly.

Love caused Your incarnation;

Love brought You down to me.

Your thirst for my salvation

Procured my liberty.

Oh, love beyond all telling,

That led You to embrace

In love, all love excelling,

Our lost and fallen race.

Sin’s debt, that fearful burden,

Cannot His love erase;

Your guilt the Lord will pardon

And cover by His grace.

He comes, for you procuring

The peace of sin forgiv’n,

His children thus securing

Eternal life in heav’n.

He comes to judge the nations,

A terror to His foes,

A light of consolations

And blessèd hope to those

Who love the Lord’s appearing.

O glorious Sun, now come,

Send forth Your beams so cheering,

And guide us safely home.

Public domain

Verse 2 speaks of Jesus’ entrance into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. The Palm Sunday story is even the alternate Gospel reading for this 1st Sunday in Advent.

• Why is the Palm Sunday story an appropriate text to hear and sing about as we enter into the season of Advent?

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