Walking Together in the Word

These devotional materials guide you through the Bible readings for the January 24, 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.

• What does it mean that Jesus chose and called ordinary, uneducated men to be His disciples and apostles?

• How did the response of Peter, Andrew, James, and John show that Jesus should take precedence over everything else?

Read Mark 1:14-20.

“Follow me!” your friend says. And what do you do? You follow! You know they have something special to show you or tell you. “Follow Me!” said Jesus to some fishermen. And they followed! They knew Jesus had something special for them: Good News of love and forgiveness. Jesus has love and forgiveness for you too. Follow Him!

• Talk about what it means to follow Jesus.

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.

Truly my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from him. Psalm 62:1

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.

Ninevah was the capital city of the Assyrians, one of the Israelites’ most feared enemies. The Assyrians were well known to be ruthless and brutal and violent, even abusing God’s chosen people.

• What does the Lord’s desire to forgive them say about His love and grace?

• How could one man’s preaching have such an impact on such a powerful, pagan people?

Read Jonah 3:1-5, 10.

Who does God love? You, your family, your friends . . . how about those who are mean to you? Yes, God loves those people too. That’s what Jonah found out. God told Jonah to go to his enemies and tell them to repent of their sins. God wants all people to be saved in Jesus.

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.

So very often we are distracted by the things of this world -- so distracted that we take our mind off of Jesus and we lose our eternal perspective.

• How do Paul’s words encourage us to live in the truth that “the time is short?”

• What is Paul’s purpose in this passage in his exhortation and encouragement of the Corinthian church (see verse 35).

Read and focus on 1 Corinthians 7:29-31 and verse 35.

What is the most important thing in your life? Who is the most important person in your life? God says, "Put me first." Why? Because He made you. He knows everything about you. He takes care of you. He sent Jesus to be your Savior. God is the only One who can help you with every single need that you have. He is truly the most important!

• Talk about what it means to put God first in our lives.

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.

• In what ways in this psalm does David express his trust in the Lord?

Reread the last two verses of the psalm.

• What are the reasons that David gives for his abiding trust in the Lord?

Focus on Psalm 62:1-2 and 11-12.

When you’ve had a bad day, a mad day, a sad day, or just a tired day, who can you turn to? Talk to God. He’s listening. He loves you. You can find rest in Him.

• How does God help you feel glad when you are tired or sad? Think about how much He loves you. Think about all the good things He has given you. See how many you can name out loud!

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

• What a wonderful prayer this hymn is for those who are lost or those who have gone astray from Christ and His Word. Using the stanzas of this hymn, take time each day this week to pray for the lost and the wayward.

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