Artwork: Luther at the Diet of Worms (1877), by Anton von Werner (1843–1915)
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 (10/30/23)
- 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 Eight 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.
You shall not steal.
You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor. - Read “King Josiah’s New Book” (2 Kings 22) in The Story Bible (pgs. 211–212). Explain the vocabulary words (wrath, penitent, humbled). Explain to your children: God’s people lost the Bible (the Book of the Law was likely the Pentateuch, the first five books of the Bible). Ask your children: Can you imagine being without the Bible? Why did God give us the Bible? Who is the Bible all about? What does the Bible tell us about how we are saved?
- Sing the Offertory. A recording is provided at the top of this page.
- Pray the Lord’s Prayer.
Tuesday (10/31/23) – Reformation Day
- 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 Eight 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.
You shall not steal.
You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor. - Teach your child about the Reformation. Explain that the Reformation happened because Martin Luther studied Holy Scripture (the Bible). Martin Luther translated the Bible into German (the language of his own people). Before that, when people went to Church, they didn’t understand what was being said by the priest (pastor). Most important of all, Martin Luther found out that Holy Scripture teaches that we are saved “by grace, through faith” in Jesus Christ and “not by works of the Law,” or good works (Ephesians 2:8). We don’t earn our way into heaven, but salvation is a gift given freely to those who trust in Jesus Christ for their salvation.
- Sing the Offertory. A recording is provided at the top of this page.
- Pray the Lord’s Prayer.
Wednesday (11/01/23) – All Saints’ Day
- 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 Eight 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.
You shall not steal.
You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor. - Teach your child about All Saints’ Day. If you have family members who have passed away, this is a good time to talk to your children about the resurrection of the dead. We remember on All Saints’ Day that someday we will be reunited with all the faithful when Jesus comes again and that we will get our bodies back. The Bible talks about death as “sleep” for those who die in the Lord. Just like we go to sleep at night and expect to wake up in the morning, so also we die, we expect to “wake up” at the resurrection of the dead.
- Sing the Offertory. A recording is provided at the top of this page.
- Pray the Lord’s Prayer.
Thursday (11/02/23)
- 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 Eight 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.
You shall not steal.
You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor. - Show the Art Card “Martin Luther at the Diet of Worms (1517)”. Ask your children: Where is Martin Luther? What is he doing? Where is the emperor (king)? Read the quote on the Art Card. What did Luther base his faith on? How is this an example for us?
- Sing the Offertory. A recording is provided at the top of this page.
- Pray the Lord’s Prayer.
Friday (11/03/23)
- 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 Eight 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.
You shall not steal.
You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor. - Sing the Offertory. A recording is provided at the top of this page.
- Teach the Eighth Commandment. Explain to your children: God wants us to speak the truth all the time. He also wants us to speak kindly about others and uphold their reputation. Ask your child: How does it feel when other people say mean things about you? How does it feel when other people lie about you? How then should we speak about others? How can we help maintain (keep) our neighbor’s reputation?
- Pray the Lord’s Prayer.
Saturday (11/04/23)
- 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 Eight 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.
You shall not steal.
You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor. - Tomorrow in Church we will observe All Saints’ Day. Review what we believe about All Saints’ Day. Explain that at the resurrection we will see not just our families, but all Christians of all times and places (even Martin Luther!).
- Sing the Offertory. A recording is provided at the top of this page.
- Pray the Lord’s Prayer.