Walking Together in the Word

These devotional materials guide you through the Bible readings for the January 3, 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.

These verses contain Jesus’ first words recorded in any of the Gospels.

• What does Jesus’ response to His mother, Mary, teach us about who Jesus is and what He is about?

At the age of twelve, Jewish boys began preparing to take their places in the religious community.

• How might this parallel confirmation in our tradition? Why is confirmation not the end of our religious study and training?

Read Luke 2:40-52.

Have you ever been lost? Did your parents come looking for you? Jesus was missing, and His parents went looking for Him, but He wasn’t lost—He was in His heavenly Father’s house! Jesus was listening, learning and talking about God’s Word. Jesus loved to be in His Father’s house, studying His Word. We do too!

• Take some time each day this week to read and listen to God’s Word. It’s life-changing!

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.

How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!

Psalm 119:103

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.

Read verse 13 again. Compare this promise to Jesus’ promise in Luke 12:31.

• What do these promises suggest regarding seeking God’s spiritual benefits versus the material goods of this world?

God promises Solomon blessings and long life if he walked in His ways.

• Did Solomon do as God commanded? What happened? (See 1 Kings 11:1-11.)

Read 1 Kings 3:4-15.

If God said to you “I’ll give you whatever you ask for” what would you ask for? An X-box? A year's supply of candy? Or, wisdom? King Solomon asked for wisdom so he could rule wisely, and God was pleased. God wants to give us good gifts too.

• What will you ask of God? (See Galatians 5:22-23 for some hints of good gifts).

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 section of Paul’s letter was all one sentence in the original Greek language! Often this part of Ephesians is called a “doxology,” which is a hymn of praise to God.

• Read through this section again and write down all the reasons that Paul gives praise to God.

Notice how many times in this reading you see the phrase “in Christ” or “in Him” (or something similar). Look also at John 1:17.

• What does this tell us about God’s grace?

Read Ephesians 1:3-14.

How does it feel when you are chosen for something--chosen to be the leader, or to play on a team, or to be someone's friend? It feels great, doesn't it? Did you know that God has chosen you? He chose you even before you were born! He chose you to be His child, for the praise of His glory.

• How can you give praise and glory to God today?

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.

What does God require of us in the First Commandment? We should fear, love and trust in God above all things.

To fear God is not to be afraid of Him, but to respect and be in awe of Him.

• What are some reasons the psalmist gives for fearing, or respecting, our awesome God?

Read Psalm 119:97-104.

Eat some honey on toast as you read this part of Psalm 119.

• How is God’s Word “sweet” to 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.

Within the Father’s house

The Son has found His home,

And to His temple suddenly

The Lord of life has come.

The doctors of the Law

Gaze on the wondrous child

And marvel at His gracious words

Of wisdom undefiled.

Yet not to them is giv’n

The mighty truth to know,

To lift the earthly veil that hides

Incarnate God below.

The secret of the Lord

Escapes each human eye,

And faithful pond’ring hearts await

The full epiphany.

Lord, visit Thou our souls

And teach us by Thy grace

Each dim revealing of Thyself

With loving awe to trace.

Till we behold Thy face

And know as we are known

Thee, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,

Coequal Three in One.

Public domain

Jesus has come! And yet, the hymn writer notes, an “earthly veil” hides who He really is to those scholars at the temple. They marvel at Him, yet God’s “secret” of who the boy Jesus is escapes them.

• Pray aloud stanza 5 as we ask Jesus to reveal Himself to us.

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