Tag: Friday

Friday: Trust

Pray:  Begin by making the sign of the cross and calling upon God’s name.

From God to us, from death to life, from me to you …
in the name of the Father, and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

O God, be with us now as we study the Small Catechism together. Help us learn what you would have us know, and remember it long after today. In Jesus’ name we pray, amen.

Listen: Pay close attention to this reminder from Luther’s Small Catechism.

God's will is done when he hinders and destroys every evil design and purpose of the devil, the world, and our sinful nature that would keep us from hallowing his name and prevent the coming of his kingdom. (Luther’s Small Catechism)

Engage: Talk about the Bible by having parents respond to children’s questions.

Child: Is it always easy to do the things God wants us to do? What are some of the things that make it hard to be good?

Child: How does God help us resist sin and evil in our lives? Why is it important to remember that God is stronger than any bad things we will face? 

Affirm: Pray for God to put his Word into action in your daily life.

Heavenly Father, we thank you for loving us, and for watching over us each day. Help us to keep your name holy, so that we might bring honor to you. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Have each person in the family bless one another with these words.

May you trust the Lord your God. Amen.

Friday: Trust

Pray:  Begin by making the sign of the cross and calling upon God’s name.

From God to us, from death to life, from me to you …
in the name of the Father, and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

O God, you want us to trust you above all else. Help us to grow in our faith as we study the catechism today. In Jesus’ name we pray, amen.

Listen: Pay close attention to this reminder from Luther’s Small Catechism.

For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen. What does this mean? It means that I should be certain that our prayers are acceptable to our heavenly Father and are heard by him, for he himself has commanded us to pray in this manner and has promised to hear us. So we pray with confidence: “Amen,” meaning, “Yes, it shall be so.”  (Luther’s Small Catechism)

Engage: Talk about the Bible by having parents respond to children’s questions.

Child: In what prayer do we say the words, “For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever?” Do you remember who first taught you that prayer? Tell us about that.

Child: In the Small Catechism, Luther reminds us that God hears us when we pray. Does that mean that God always gives us what we pray for? Why or why not?

Affirm: Pray for God to put his Word into action in your daily life.

Heavenly Father, you care for us, and you hear us when we pray. Thank you for always being willing to listen, and for guiding us each day. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Have each person in the family bless one another with these words.

May you pray to God with confidence. Amen.

Friday: Trust

Pray:  Begin by making the sign of the cross and calling upon God’s name.

From God to us, from death to life, from me to you …
in the name of the Father, and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Heavenly Father, you are good and loving and worthy of our trust. Be with us today as we study the Small Catechism, and help us learn how to trust you even more! We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Listen: Pay close attention to this reminder from Luther’s Small Catechism.

God indeed gives daily bread to all, even unbelievers, without our prayer, but we pray in this petition that he would help us to recognize this so that we would receive our daily bread with thanksgiving. (Luther's Small Catechism)

Engage: Talk about the Bible by having parents respond to children’s questions.

Child: When Luther talks about “daily bread,” what does he mean? Is he only speaking about bread or other things, too?

Child: Why is it good to realize that everything we have comes from God? How can that help us to live with more thankfulness?

Affirm: Pray for God to put his Word into action in your daily life.

Holy God, we have so much to be thankful for! Yet it can be easy for us to overlook this, and to focus only on what we lack. Help us to see the many ways that you bless us each day. In the name of Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.

Have each person in the family bless one another with these words.

May you see the many ways God has blessed you. Amen.

Friday: Trust

Pray:  Begin by making the sign of the cross and calling upon God’s name.

From God to us, from death to life, from me to you …
in the name of the Father, and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Heavenly Father, we want to grow closer to you and deeper in our Christian faith. As we read and discuss Luther’s Catechism today, help us come to trust you ever more. We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Listen: Pay close attention to this reminder from Luther’s Small Catechism.

We pray in this petition that God would guard and protect us from this, that the devil, the world, and our sinful nature may not deceive us or lead us into false belief, despair, and other great and shameful sins, but pray that when we are tempted in these ways, we may finally prevail and gain the victory. (Luther's Small Catechism)

Engage: Talk about the Bible by having parents respond to children’s questions.

Child: What is a “false belief?” What are some false beliefs that people hold today?

Child: To be in despair means to lose hope. How can our faith in God keep us from giving up or losing hope?

Affirm: Pray for God to put his Word into action in your daily life.

Holy God, there are many things in this world that can lead us astray or steal our joy. Yet you want a better life for us. Help us to trust you with all our hearts, and to turn to you when we are confused or struggling. In the name of Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.

Have each person in the family bless one another with these words.

May you trust the Lord your God with all your heart. Amen.

Friday: Trust

Pray:  Begin by making the sign of the cross and calling upon God’s name.

From God to us, from death to life, from me to you …
in the name of the Father, and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Heavenly Father, this is the day that you have made! We will rejoice and be glad in it! Thank you for all that you have given us, including this time together. Help us to appreciate it, and to use it wisely. We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Listen: Pay close attention to this reminder from Luther’s Small Catechism.

We know we have not earned, nor do we deserve, those things for which we pray. But we ask that [God] would grant us all things through grace, even though we sin every day and deserve nothing but punishment. And so we, too, will heartily forgive, and gladly do good to those who sin against us. (Luther's Small Catechism)

Engage: Talk about the Bible by having parents respond to children’s questions.

Child: Luther says that we don’t deserve the things for which we pray. Do you agree? Why or why not?

Child: Do you find it hard to forgive? What helps you do good to those who sin against you?

Affirm: Pray for God to put his Word into action in your daily life.

Holy God, it can be so hard to let go of our anger when others are unkind to us. Yet you forgive us every day. Help us to remember this, and to pray for those who sin against us rather than seeking revenge. In the name of Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.

Have each person in the family bless one another with these words.

May you forgive and let go of resentments. Amen.

Friday: Trust

Pray:  Begin by making the sign of the cross and calling upon God’s name.

From God to us, from death to life, from me to you …
in the name of the Father, and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Heavenly Father, you have given us all that we have. Thank you for reaching out to us, and for being with us even now as we gather together in your name. As we study your Word, teach us to trust you more. We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Listen: Pay close attention to this reminder from Luther’s Small Catechism.

[The Holy Spirit] calls, gathers, enlightens, and sanctifies the whole Christian church on earth, and preserves it in unity with Jesus Christ in the one true faith. In this Christian church, he daily forgives abundantly all my sins and the sins of all believers. (Luther's Small Catechism)

Engage: Talk about the Bible by having parents respond to children’s questions.

Child: Have you ever done something wrong and felt bad about it later? When? What happened?

Child: Luther’s Small Catechism reminds us that the Holy Spirit forgives us of our sins. How does this make you feel? How can this help you forgive others more easily?

Affirm: Pray for God to put his Word into action in your daily life.

Holy God, we can trust you with everything, because you care for us and are always working for our good. Please forgive us when we go astray and lead us always back to you. In the name of Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.

Have each person in the family bless one another with these words.

May you never be afraid to ask for forgiveness. Amen.

Friday: Trust

Pray: Begin by making the sign of the cross and calling upon God’s name.

From God to us, from death to life, from me to you …
in the name of the Father, and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

O God, we thank you for this time together. May we always stay close to you and to one another. In Jesus’ name we pray, amen.

Listen: Pay close attention to this reminder from Luther’s Small Catechism.

God protects me from all danger and guards and keeps me from every evil. He does this purely out of fatherly and divine goodness and mercy, though I do not deserve it. Therefore I ought to thank, praise, serve, and obey him. This is most certainly true! (Luther’s Small Catechism)

Engage: Talk about the Bible by having parents respond to children’s questions.

Child: What does it mean that God “keeps us from evil?” How can that help us when we feel frightened by stories we hear on the news?

Child: Have you ever faced something scary and later realized that God kept you safe? When?

Affirm: Pray for God to put his Word into action in your daily life.

Heavenly Father, you give us more than we deserve. We are so blessed to have you as our loving Father! Thank you for protecting us, and for leading us down good paths. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Have each person in the family bless one another with these words.

May you realize that God has always been with you. Amen.