Parents, this is a basic outline of how you might do family devotions each day this week. Each devotion takes less than five minutes, though time will vary depending on your child’s participation and questions. When you do devotions, remember to pick a familiar spot each day, whether it’s at a family altar or bedside before going to sleep. Whatever the case, consistency is critical. Remember that “repetition is the mother of learning” (repetitio est mater studiorum). If you have any questions, please feel free to call, text, or email.
Divine Service Setting Three – Offertory (LSB 192)
Monday (10/02/23)
- Say the Invocation – “In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.”
- Say the First Four Commandments:
“You shall have no other gods.”
“You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God.”
“Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.”
“Honor your father and your mother.” - Read Luke 14:1–6 in your Family Bible. You may have to explain what it means for someone to have dropsy (or edema). Here is a picture of the painful swelling of dropsy. Explain that the Sabbath (for us, Sunday morning at Church) is not so much about what we do for God, but rather what God does for us. On Sunday mornings at the Divine Service, Jesus “heals” us by forgiving our sins and strengthening us for the rest of the week just as he healed the man with dropsy (edema). The Pharisees did not understand that the Sabbath was not just about ceasing from work, but rather letting God work in and for us.
- Sing the Offertory. A recording is provided at the top of this page.
- Pray the Lord’s Prayer. Teach your children to fold their hands and close their eyes.
Tuesday (10/03/23)
- Say the Invocation – “In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.”
- Say the First Four Commandments:
“You shall have no other gods.”
“You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God.”
“Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.”
“Honor your father and your mother.” - Teach your child the Fourth Commandment. The full version of the commandment is, “Honor your father and mother that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you” (Exodus 20:12). St. Paul points out in Ephesians 6:1–3, “This is is the first commandment with a promise.” Luther writes on this promise in the Large Catechism, “From this, you can see for yourself how serious God is about this commandment. He not only declares that it is well-pleasing to Him and that He has joy and delight in it, but he also declares that it shall prosper us and promote our highest good, so that we may have a pleasant and agreeable life, furnished with every good thing” (LC I, § 132). Teach your children that it pleases God when we obey our parents and other authorities and that he has also attached this promise that we might gladly keep this commandment.
- Sing the Offertory. A recording is provided at the top of this page.
- Pray the Lord’s Prayer. Teach your children to fold their hands and close their eyes.
Wednesday (10/04/23)
- Say the Invocation – “In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.”
- Say the First Four Commandments:
“You shall have no other gods.”
“You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God.”
“Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.”
“Honor your father and your mother.” - Read The Ten Commandments (Arch Book). Answer any questions your children may have. Explain that Moses received the Ten Commandments directly from God, therefore we know they are good for us and what God wants from us. However, tell your children that we also fail to keep the Ten Commandments and that’s why we pray for forgiveness in the Lord’s Prayer.
- Sing the Offertory. A recording is provided at the top of this page.
- Pray the Lord’s Prayer. Teach your children to fold their hands and close their eyes.
Thursday (10/05/23)
- Say the Invocation – “In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.”
- Say the First Four Commandments:
“You shall have no other gods.”
“You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God.”
“Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.”
“Honor your father and your mother.” - Show the Art Card “Moses Receives the Ten Commandments” (Exodus 31:18). Ask your child, “Who gave Moses the Ten Commandments?” Explain that God gave Moses two tablets because there are two parts to the Ten Commandments: the first part concerns God, and the second part concerns other people (our neighbor). These two parts can be summarized with the two statements, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart… and love your neighbor as yourself” (see Matthew 22:37–40).
- Sing the Offertory. A recording is provided at the top of this page.
- Pray the Lord’s Prayer. Teach your children to fold their hands and close their eyes.
Friday (10/06/23)
- Say the Invocation – “In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.”
- Say the First Four Commandments:
“You shall have no other gods.”
“You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God.”
“Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.”
“Honor your father and your mother.” - Review the Fourth Commandment. Ask your child what other authorities (people in charge) have been given to us by God. What does God expect from us in this commandment? What is the limit to the Fourth Commandment? (Acts 5:29; see the Note on pg. 84 in your child’s Small Catechism)
- Sing the Offertory. A recording is provided at the top of this page.
- Pray the Lord’s Prayer. Teach your children to fold their hands and close their eyes.
Saturday (10/07/23)
- Say the Invocation – “In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.”
- Say the First Four Commandments:
“You shall have no other gods.”
“You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God.”
“Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.”
“Honor your father and your mother.” - Read “The Ten Commandments (Exodus 19–20) in The Story Bible (pgs. 117–120). Explain the vocabulary words (covenant = promise; consecrate = make holy, or set apart; jealous = God wants us for himself and no other). Tell you child that God wants us to keep his Law (the Ten Commandments), but we are not saved by the Law. We are saved by Jesus Christ, because he died for our sins and took the punishment for our sin.
- Sing the Offertory. A recording is provided at the top of this page.
- Pray the Lord’s Prayer. Teach your children to fold their hands and close their eyes.