These devotional materials guide you through the Bible readings for the July 11, 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.

Heavenly Father, bless our time together as we study Your Word. Amen.

• What was it that prompted Herod to quiet John by arresting and imprisoning him? Why did he not right away give in to his wife’s desire to have John put to death?

• What were the three opinions about Jesus that King Herod was told? What was the fearful conclusion that was reached by the king?

• 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?

In [Christ] we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace.

Ephesians 1:7

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).

Heavenly Father, bless our time together as we study Your Word. Amen.

• Where did Amos prophecy and what person did he prophecy against? What risk was Amos taking by doing this?

• Amos was not born into a family of prophets. Why did he become a prophet?

• 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?

Pray the Lord's Prayer, Luther's Morning or Evening Prayers, and/or add your own prayers.

Heavenly Father, bless our time together as we study Your Word. Amen.

• Does Paul emphasize what we should do for God, or what God has done for us? What are some of the things he mentioned that God has done?

• Why did we become God’s children? Who took the initiative to bring this about? (see especially verses 4, 5, 11)

• 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?

Pray the Lord's Prayer, Luther's Morning or Evening Prayers, and/or add your own prayers.

Heavenly Father, bless our time together as we study Your Word. Amen.

Christian liturgical usage has often employed this psalm in the Christmas season.

• What about this psalm makes this appropriate?

These verses of this psalm assure us that God will bless His people because of His steadfast love.

• As you re-read these verses, what comfort and peace do these words give to you?

• 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?

Pray the Lord's Prayer, Luther's Morning or Evening Prayers, and/or add your own prayers.

Heavenly Father, bless our time together as we study Your Word. Amen.

If God Himself be for me,

I may a host defy;

For when I pray, before me

My foes, confounded, fly.

If Christ, my head and master,

Befriend me from above,

What foe or what disaster

Can drive me from His love?

I build on this foundation,

That Jesus and His blood

Alone are my salvation,

My true, eternal good.

Without Him all that pleases

Is valueless on earth;

The gifts I have from Jesus

Alone have priceless worth.

Christ Jesus is my splendor,

My sun, my light, alone;

Were He not my defender

Before God’s judgment throne,

I never should find favor

And mercy in His sight,

But be destroyed forever

As darkness by the light.

He canceled my offenses,

Delivered me from death;

He is the Lord who cleanses

My soul from sin through faith.

In Him I can be cheerful,

Courageous on my way;

In Him I am not fearful

Of God’s great Judgment Day.

For no one can condemn me

Or set my hope aside;

Now hell no more can claim me:

Its fury I deride.

No sentence now reproves me,

No guilt destroys my peace;

For Christ, my Savior, loves me

And shields me with His grace.

Who clings with resolution

To Him whom Satan hates

Must look for persecution;

For him the burden waits

Of mock’ry, shame, and losses

Heaped on his blameless head;

A thousand plagues and crosses

Will be his daily bread.

Public domain

Read Romans 8:31-39 (one of the texts this hymn is based on) as you meditate on the words of this hymn.

• How does the hymn writer, Paul Gerhardt, poetically reflect the truths found in that passage?

Pray the Lord's Prayer, Luther's Morning or Evening Prayers, and/or add your own prayers.

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.