DISCOVER MORE : TOGETHER
Our weekly devotional content ties back to the worship themes and scriptures from the previous Sunday. Dig deeper into what the Word and the message mean to you, and explore how you can deepen your walk with Christ through these resources.
In addition to the devotional resources, the "5 Minutes with God" sections are like spiritual snacks; small, quick, easy connections you can make as you go about your busy life.
Fall Worship & Study Series
I BELIEVE ...
Our Fall Worship Series, I Believe, will closely examine The “I believe in the …” statements of the Apostles’ Creed that we say each week in traditional worship.
This 9-week study (in three, 3-week segments) will take you behind the words so you can better understand where they come from and to give you more meaning when we recite it together.
You can pick up a printed study guide at the church, or use the digital version linked below. To go deeper with a discussion group, find one that fits your schedule at the link below.
Weekly Devotion
10-5-25
Life in the Savior: What does Jesus Do?
The Second Article of the Apostles’ Creed: Redemption
(I believe in Jesus Christ, God's only Son, our Lord) …suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. On the third day (Jesus) rose again….
Luther’s Small Catechism: What does this mean?
(I believe that Jesus Christ) has redeemed me, a lost and condemned human being. He has purchased and freed me from all sins, from death, and from the power of the devil, not with gold or silver but with his holy, precious blood and with his innocent suffering and death.
Pr. Steve’s Introduction:
Jesus is my Lord, because I experience what Jesus does for me on the cross: he redeems me, he frees me. Throughout his ministry, Jesus was a friend of sinners. Jesus befriended those who needed help. I might wonder if I need such help. When I step back from the cross and what happened to Jesus in his death and resurrection, I gain a new perspective on our human need. What does it say of my life, if Jesus dies for me? Though innocent, Jesus is condemned. And though I try to justify myself, now I see I am the one who is lost and needs help.
Jesus is the one who dies, but not even death will have the last word. God’s victory on Easter is not just about Jesus, but God’s victory over everything that diminishes human life—our sin, our death, and the power of evil. Jesus is my Lord, because God offers life through Jesus. If you want to know who Jesus is for you, remember how he was treated on Good Friday, and remember how God has the last word on Easter.
1 Corinthians 15:3-6,12-14, 17-22
For I handed on to you as of first importance what I in turn had received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures 4and that he was buried and that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the scriptures 5and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers and sisters at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died. 12Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say there is no resurrection of the dead? 13If there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised, 14and if Christ has not been raised, then our proclamation is in vain and your faith is in vain. 17If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile, and you are still in your sins. 18Then those also who have died in Christ have perished. 19If for this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied. 20But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have died. 21For since death came through a human, the resurrection of the dead has also come through a human, 22for as all die in Adam, so all will be made alive in Christ.
Luke 23:39-43
One of the criminals who were hanged there kept deriding him and saying, “Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” 40But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? 41And we indeed have been condemned justly, for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong.” 42Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come in your kingdom.” 43He replied, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
Discussion Questions
Opening Discovery
1. The creed moves to the events of Holy Week, from Passion Sunday, through Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, to Easter. What are your favorite services of Holy Week? (or) What are memorable moments associated with various Holy Week services?
Discover More
2. The catechism shifts focus from what happened to Jesus to the deeper meaning of what Jesus accomplished. Luther uses a parallel construction: to redeem means literally to purchase and set free. What does it mean to you that you have been set free?
Let’s look at each element in turn.
3. How does Jesus free you from sin through the cross?
How does God’s forgiveness set you free?
Have you ever had an experience of forgiveness with God or another person, where that word of forgiveness gave a sense of freedom?
4. How does Jesus free you from death?
How does the cross and Easter resurrection speak to you at a funeral or time of death?
How does Easter speak to you when you think of your own mortality?
5. How does Jesus free you from the devil and power of evil?
In other places, Luther describes Jesus as going to battle with the devil and the powers of chaos at the cross. Easter announces God’s victory. We know the end of the story, even as we live through these present times. How does that provide comfort or not to you?
Discover More Together
6. Why do you think the creed and the catechism skips any mention of Jesus teachings or miracles during his earthly ministry? How do you feel about that?
Weekly Devotion
9-28-25
Life in the Savior: Who is Jesus for Me?
The Second Article of the Apostles’ Creed: Redemption
I believe in Jesus Christ, God's only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary,
Luther’s Explanation: What does this mean?
I believe that Jesus Christ, true God, begotten of the Father in eternity, and also a true human being, born of the virgin Mary, is my Lord.
Pr. Steve’s Introduction:
The first part of the creed on Jesus describes what God does at Christmas. God becomes human in Jesus. The message of the angels to shepherds becomes the confession of the Creed: This baby is Christ the Lord.
Who is Jesus for me? Luther answers: Jesus is my Lord. Next week we will look at what Jesus did on the cross and how Jesus is Lord because he saves me, makes available God’s grace for me.
This week, we look more closely at who Jesus is for me. When we confess that Jesus is both true God and a true human being, the creed brings two realities together. One: Jesus was a human being who suffered a real death. Two: Jesus is the very presence of God, who suffered, was crucified, died and was buried. Jesus doesn't just talk about God, but God is fully present in Jesus.
We say we have life in the name of Jesus—this human being Jesus is the very presence of God offering eternal life. That is why we say “my Lord.” The word “my” points to a relationship of faith and trust in Jesus, as the one who saves me. I build my faith upon the foundation of Jesus as my Lord.
Hebrews 1:1-3a
Long ago God spoke to our ancestors in many and various ways by the prophets, 2but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom he also created the worlds. 3He is the reflection of God’s glory and the exact imprint of God’s very being, and he sustains all things by his powerful word.
John 5:16-27
Therefore the Jews started persecuting Jesus, because he was doing such things on the Sabbath. 17But Jesus answered them, “My Father is still working, and I also am working.” 18For this reason the Jews were seeking all the more to kill him, because he was not only breaking the Sabbath but was also calling God his own Father, thereby making himself equal to God.
19Jesus said to them, “Very truly, I tell you, the Son can do nothing on his own but only what he sees the Father doing, for whatever the Father does, the Son does likewise. 20The Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing, and he will show him greater works than these, so that you will be astonished. 21Indeed, just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whomever he wishes. 22The Father judges no one but has given all judgment to the Son, 23so that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Anyone who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him.
24Very truly, I tell you, anyone who hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and does not come under judgment but has passed from death to life. 25“Very truly, I tell you, the hour is coming and is now here when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. 26For just as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself, 27and he has given him authority to execute judgment because he is the Son of Man.”
Opening Discovery
1. What do you like about the Christmas celebration?
How is it meaningful to you?
Discover More
2. Reflect back on the Gospel stories: How are these confessions a kind of work in progress, combining both understanding and a lack of understanding.
Matthew 16:16—Peter. Notice what happens next.
John 4:29—Women at the well. Dawning awareness.
John 20:28—Thomas. Climax of the Gospel: “My Lord and My God.” Believing Thomas comes after doubting Thomas.
3. “Jesus is Lord” points in two directions. One direction points towards God, the inner relationship between Jesus and the God the Father. Jesus is both a human being and the very presence of God. When you think of Christ, do you tend to focus on the humanity of Jesus or the divinity of Jesus? Why?
4. The second direction of “Jesus is Lord” has to do with who Jesus is for me, that is “my Lord.” Are there stories of Jesus that draw you closer to this sense of “my Lord.”
5. Follow-up question: Which stories of Jesus are most important to you? Do they speak more to the humanity
or divinity of Jesus?
Discover More Together
6. When did Jesus become Lord for you? What or how did the shift happen from Jesus being a figure of history to Jesus being important for your faith?
7. Who is Jesus for you?
8. Is this easy to share with others or hard? Why is that so? What is hard about sharing “Jesus is my Lord,” whether with friends, families, or others?
