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 (Lutheran Service Book, pg. 192)
Monday (10/16/23)
- Say the Invocation – “In the name of the Father, and of the ☩ Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.” You may teach your child to make the sign of the cross.
- Say the First Six Commandments (Have your child use their fingers to count the 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.
You shall not murder.
You shall not commit adultery. - Read Matthew 18:21–35 in your Family Bible. Ask your children: What are the issues in Jesus’s parable? Did the master have to forgive the servant? What does this tell us about the master? What should the servant have done to his fellow servant? How does this relate to the Lord’s Prayer (Fifth Petition)? How much has God forgiven us? How much then should we forgive others?
- Sing the Offertory. A recording is provided at the top of this page.
- Pray the Lord’s Prayer.
Tuesday (10/17/23)
- Say the Invocation – “In the name of the Father, and of the ☩ Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.” You may teach your child to make the sign of the cross.
- Say the First Six Commandments (Have your child use their fingers to count the 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.
You shall not murder.
You shall not commit adultery. - Teach the Sixth Commandment. For younger children, it is easier to simply teach that God wants fathers and mothers (husband and wives) to be faithful to each other and to stay married their entire lives (until death parts them). Then, ask your children: How do we break the sixth commandment? How should husbands and wives love each other? (This is also a good time to teach your children that husbands and wives are not perfect and need to forgive each other).
- Sing the Offertory. A recording is provided at the top of this page.
- Pray the Lord’s Prayer.
Wednesday (10/18/23)
- Say the Invocation – “In the name of the Father, and of the ☩ Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.” You may teach your child to make the sign of the cross.
- Say the First Six Commandments (Have your child use their fingers to count the 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.
You shall not murder.
You shall not commit adultery. - Read The Ten Commandments (Arch Book). Answer any questions your children may have.
- Sing the Offertory. A recording is provided at the top of this page.
- Pray the Lord’s Prayer.
Thursday (10/19/23)
- Say the Invocation – “In the name of the Father, and of the ☩ Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.” You may teach your child to make the sign of the cross.
- Say the First Six Commandments (Have your child use their fingers to count the 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.
You shall not murder.
You shall not commit adultery. - Show the Art Card “Parable of the Unmerciful Servant (Matthew 18:21–35).” Review the parable by pointing out the pictures on the card. First, the master forgives the servant (left). Second, the servant demands the other servant pay his debt and won’t forgive him (middle). Third, the fellow servants report this to the king (right). Finally, the unmerciful servant is thrown into hell (bottom; those are demons and the devil).
- Sing the Offertory. A recording is provided at the top of this page.
- Pray the Lord’s Prayer.
Friday (10/20/23)
- Say the Invocation – “In the name of the Father, and of the ☩ Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.” You may teach your child to make the sign of the cross.
- Say the First Six Commandments (Have your child use their fingers to count the 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.
You shall not murder.
You shall not commit adultery. - Review the Fifth Commandment. Ask your children what they think of marriage. Tell them what a joy and blessing it is to be married and have children. Tell your child the most important thing they could ever have in a marriage is to find someone who believes in Jesus and loves him.
- Sing the Offertory. A recording is provided at the top of this page.
- Pray the Lord’s Prayer.
Saturday (10/21/23)
- Say the Invocation – “In the name of the Father, and of the ☩ Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.” You may teach your child to make the sign of the cross.
- Say the First Six Commandments (Have your child use their fingers to count the 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.
You shall not murder.
You shall not commit adultery. - Read Matthew 22:15–22 (Tomorrow’s Gospel reading). Ask your children what we owe to the governing authorities (Caesar). Ask them what we owe to God. Tell your child that we go to Church tomorrow to give back to God the things that belong to God.
- Sing the Offertory. A recording is provided at the top of this page.
- Pray the Lord’s Prayer.