Walking Together in the Word

These devotional materials guide you through the Bible readings for the August 29, 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.

• What, according to Jesus, is the real source of defilement in people’s lives?

• Jesus cites a long list of sins that come from within, from our sinful hearts, that make us unclean. What do you notice about the kinds of sins that Jesus listed?

Read Mark 7:14-23.

After a long day of playing outside, you can come in and take a bath to wash off all the dirt and grime. You’re clean! But what do we do about the things that make us unclean on the inside? Lies, anger, meanness—how do we wash these away? We don’t—Jesus does! Jesus forgives our sins and makes our hearts clean.

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.

And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.

Ephesians 6:18

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.

• Our human laws change constantly. God’s laws do not change. Because of this, what three things are we instructed to do? (see 4:2)

• What were the two gifts of God that God’s people enjoyed which no other nation could claim? (4:7-8)

Read Deuteronomy 4:1-2, 6-9.

How do people know that we are Christians? Hopefully, they see our kind actions and they hear our loving words that tell about Jesus. When we follow God’s commands, we are witnesses of God’s love!

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.

Paul uses the illustration of a soldier’s armor to describe several gifts of God that He provides to protect us from evil.

• What six things does he list?

Note how there is just one offensive weapon that we are given: the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God.

• In placing this last, as the culmination of the Christian’s armor, how does Paul point us to a basic, ongoing need in our Christian lives?

Read Ephesians 6:10-20.

The devil wants us to sin and to turn against God. God gives us spiritual “armor” to stand up against him, to defend us against evil. Look again at Ephesians 6:14–17. Name the ways God defends us from evil.

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 119 is the longest psalm in the Bible (176 verses!). The focus of this psalm is devotion to the Word of God.

• Throughout this week, take time to read and meditate on all of Psalm 119.

• What does the psalmist pray for in these verses? Can and should this also be our prayer?
  

Read Psalm 119:129-136.

Have you ever thought about rules being good for us? We know rules are important, and we know that if we don't follow the rules we'll get in trouble, but good? How can rules be good?

God's rules are good because they protect us and protect others. God's rules are good because they show us how to live a life that pleases God and helps us share God's love with others. God's rules are good because God is good and He knows what is best for us.

• Say a prayer of thanks to God for His good rules, and ask Him to help you follow them.

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 God, my faithful God,

True fountain ever flowing,

Without whom nothing is,

All perfect gifts bestowing:

Give me a healthy frame,

And may I have within

A conscience free from blame,

A soul unstained by sin.

Grant me the strength to do

With ready heart and willing

Whatever You command,

My calling here fulfilling;

That I do what I should

While trusting You to bless

The outcome for my good,

For You must give success.

Keep me from saying words

That later need recalling;

Guard me lest idle speech

May from my lips be falling;

But when within my place

I must and ought to speak,

Then to my words give grace

Lest I offend the weak.

Lord, let me win my foes

With kindly words and actions,

And let me find good friends

For counsel and correction.

Help me, as You have taught,

To love both great and small

And by Your Spirit’s might

To live in peace with all.

Let me depart this life

Confiding in my Savior;

By grace receive my soul

That it may live forever;

And let my body have

A quiet resting place

Within a Christian grave;

And let it sleep in peace.

And on that final day

When all the dead are waking,

Stretch out Your mighty hand,

My deathly slumber breaking.

Then let me hear Your voice,

Redeem this earthly frame,

And bid me to rejoice

With those who love Your name.

Public domain

This hymn is a prayer for strength and guidance in the daily living of the Christian life.

• How does this hymn and prayer comfort or encourage you?

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