Walking Together in the Word

These devotional materials guide you through the Bible readings for the December 6, 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.

Notice how Mark 1:1 echoes Genesis 1:1.

• Mark tells us that God is making a new beginning. What is it the beginning of?

• What was John the Baptist’s role according to Mark and the Old Testament prophecies?

• How did he carry it out? What was His message?

Read Mark 1:1-8.

Play “Telephone.” One person whispers a message to the next, and so on. Is the last message the same as the first?

John the Baptist had a message, but he didn’t whisper it—he shouted it! Repent! Tell God you’re sorry for your sins! Jesus is coming! It’s a message we listen to and obey today.

• Tell Jesus you’re sorry—He loves and forgives 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.

1 On Jordan's bank the Baptist's cry
Announces that the Lord is nigh;
Awake and hearken, for he brings
Glad tidings of the King of kings!

2 Then cleansed be ev'ry life from sin;
Make straight the way for God within,
And let us all our hearts prepare
For Christ to come and enter there.

3 We hail Thee as our Savior, Lord,
Our refuge and our great reward;
Without Thy grace we waste away
Like flow'rs that wither and decay.

4 Lay on the sick Thy healing hand
And make the fallen strong to stand;
Show us the glory of Thy face
Till beauty springs in ev'ry place.

5 All praise, eternal Son, to Thee
Whose advent sets Thy people free.
Whom with the Father we adore

And Holy Spirit evermore..

The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. 2 Peter 3:9

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.

In what ways does this reading point to Jesus and who He is and what He does?

• Three “voices” are mentioned in this passage (verses 3,6,9). How does each voice show how comfort will come about? Who in particular is this voice linked to in the New Testament?

Read Isaiah 40:1-11.

Who comforts you when you are sad?

God comforts us with His Word. He says, “I love you! I forgive you! I have sent Jesus to save 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.

In Peter’s day, some false teachers believed that Christ would never return.

• Why might some people think so today? What reason does Peter give for the delay in Christ’s second coming? (see verse 9)

• Even though the day of the Lord sounds ominous with destruction and fire and melting, how do Peter’s words provide hope and comfort for God’s people?

Read 2 Peter 3:8-14. Focus on verses 8-9.

Do you ever wonder when Jesus is coming back? He promised He would return, so why is it taking so long? God isn’t slow—He wants more people to repent and believe in Him!

• Who can you tell about Jesus 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.

This psalm is a communal prayer for the Lord to restore His people and renew His mercies after a time of suffering and distress.

• What hope and comfort does this give us today?

Read again verses 8-13.

• Note the answer to the prayer of God’s people and write down the attributes and actions of God that the Psalm describes (eg. peace, salvation, steadfast love…).

Read and focus on Psalm 85:1-7.

What happens when you disobey your parents? They're unhappy with you, aren't they? But do they still love you? Yes! When you tell them you're sorry for what you did (or didn't do, but should have), they forgive you. What a great feeling to know you're loved and forgiven!

We disobey God too. God is unhappy when we sin. Does He still love us? Yes! We tell God we're sorry for our sins, and He forgives us, for Jesus' sake. He tells us in His Word that He still loves us. What a wonderful feeling to know that we're loved and forgiven by our heavenly Father!

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.

“Comfort, comfort ye My people,

Speak ye peace,” thus saith our God;

“Comfort those who sit in darkness,

Speak ye to Jerusalem Mourning ’neath their sorrows’ load.

Of the peace that waits for them;

Tell her that her sins I cover

And her warfare now is over.”

Yea, her sins our God will pardon,

Blotting out each dark misdeed;

All that well deserved His anger

He no more will see or heed.

She hath suffered many_a day,

Now her griefs have passed away;

God will change her pining sadness

Into ever-springing gladness.

Hark, the herald’s voice is crying

In the desert far and near,

Calling sinners to repentance,

Since the Kingdom now is here.

O that warning cry obey!

Now prepare for God a way;

Let the valleys rise to meet Him

And the hills bow down to greet Him.

Make ye straight what long was crooked;

Make the rougher places plain.

Let your hearts be true and humble,

As befits His holy reign.

For the glory of the Lord

Now o’er earth is shed abroad,

And all flesh shall see the token

That His Word is never broken.

Public domain

This hymn closely follows the text of the Old Testament reading from Isaiah 40.

• How do the words and melody of the hymn give peace and comfort to those experiencing the pangs of sin and its consequences?

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