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.
Weekly Devotion
11-9-25
Matthew 25:31-40
31When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory. 32All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, 33and he will put the sheep at his right hand and the goats at the left.
34Then the king will say to those at his right hand, 'Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; 35for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.'
37Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? 38And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? 39And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?' 40And the king will answer them, 'Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.'
41Then he will say to those at his left hand, 'You that are accursed, depart from me into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels; 42for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not give me clothing, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.'
44Then they also will answer, 'Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not take care of you?' 45Then he will answer them, 'Truly I tell you, just as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.' 46And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."
Opening Discovery
1. Have you ever been thanked for doing something, and you didn’t even realize you had done anything? Can be big or small.
Discover More about the Scripture
2. Jesus lists six actions. What are ways each might be done today?
a. Gave food to the hungry
b. Gave drink to the thirsty.
c. Welcomed the stranger
d. Gave clothing to the naked
e. Cared for the sick
f. Visited one in prison
3. What do you make of the sense that God is the one who decides who is needy or not. That the choice of who to serve is not on the basis of what I choose, but what is chosen for me?
4. What do you make of the sense that while the acts are recognized, i.e. feeding, clothing, etc, yet the occasions when they were to be done were not recognized. Both those who acted and those who did not act didn’t recognize the significance of what they were doing. How do you respond to that?
The parable is told for our benefit. What are we to learn from this parable.
5. What do we learn about the priority of these acts of service? Which acts are easier, which are harder to do?
6. What do we learn about serving not when we want to, not when it is convenient, but serving when it is placed on us, serving when we may not want to serve?
7. What do you make of the fact that no one knew what they were doing? Yet they are held accountable? Does that mean we don’t know or now we do know?
Discover More Together
8. What does this passage teach about the Christian life?
9. Do you think the judgment at the end is fair or not? Why does Jesus end on this note? In the larger scope, did Jesus only die for the sheep? How might have he died for the goats as well? What would that mean for this story?
Weekly Devotion
11-2-25
Life in the Spirit: Fulfilling God’s Promises
The Third Article of the Apostles’ Creed: Sanctification
I believe in the Holy Spirit….the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
Luther’s Small Catechism: What does this mean?
On the Last Day He will raise me and all the dead, and give eternal life to me and all believers in Christ.
Pr. Steve’s Introduction:
“Life” is a recurring word in scripture and in the explanation of the creed. In the beginning, the Spirit of God moved over the waters, and God created life. In Jesus, we are offered eternal life, which is both about heaven and a quality of life we experience on earth. The embrace of the Spirit’s work is great enough to include our living and our dying, our everyday life today, and the mystery of life beyond our mortal life.
Why talk about the resurrection of the body? God wants all of you, the whole you. Resurrection life is not limited to some spiritual part of you, but is meant to embrace the whole of you, the fulness of what makes you who you are. Rather than get snagged by the mechanics of what that looks like, think more of the poetry of who you are fully. God restores the whole of you.
We celebrate All Saints Festival this week. In the promise of everlasting life, God is there to meet us when our life on earth ends. It’s not just about the future. All Saints gives us new eyes to see our present life. God vindicates the faithful. God’s ways are true and enduring. We can be faithful to God in this earthly life, because God is faithful to God’s children in heaven.
In addition, notice how the language of God the Spirit is connected to the triune God. The Spirit offers God’s eternal life as the Spirit draws me into community of Christ and the reign of the risen Lord. The catechism looks at life from perspectives of life in creation, life in Jesus, and life in the Spirit. And in each perspective, we see the fullness of God showing up to give us life in the full.
Ephesians 1:11-23
11 In Christ we have also obtained an inheritance, having been destined according to the purpose of him who accomplishes all things according to his counsel and will, 12 so that we, who were the first to set our hope on Christ, might live for the praise of his glory. 13 In him you also, when you had heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and had believed in him, were marked with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit; 14 this is the pledge of our inheritance toward redemption as God’s own people, to the praise of his glory. 15 I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, and for this reason 16 I do not cease to give thanks for you as I remember you in my prayers, 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know him, 18 so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may perceive what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance among the saints, 19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power for us who believe, according to the working of his great power. 20 God put this power to work in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the age to come. 22 And he has put all things under his feet and has made him the head over all things for the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.
Luke 6: 20-31
20 Then [Jesus] looked up at his disciples and said: “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. 21 “Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you will be filled. “Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh. 22 “Blessed are you when people hate you and when they exclude you, revile you, and defame you on account of the Son of Man. 23 Rejoice on that day and leap for joy, for surely your reward is great in heaven, for that is how their ancestors treated the prophets. 24 “But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation. 25 “Woe to you who are full now, for you will be hungry. “Woe to you who are laughing now, for you will mourn and weep. 26 “Woe to you when all speak well of you, for that is how their ancestors treated the false prophets. 27 “But I say to you who are listening: Love your enemies; do good to those who hate you; 28 bless those who curse you; pray for those who mistreat you. 29 If anyone strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from anyone who takes away your coat do not withhold even your shirt. 30 Give to everyone who asks of you, and if anyone takes away what is yours, do not ask for it back again. 31 Do to others as you would have them do to you.”
Discussion Questions
Opening Discovery
1. When you think of those who are in heaven with Jesus, who comes to mind? Why?
2. Who has been an example of faithfulness for you? Who are the Saints in your life?
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3. Of the blessings (Luke 6:20-23)
a. Which speaks most to you?
b. Which is most challenging?
4. Of the woes (Luke 24-26)
a. Which speaks most to you?
b. Which is most challenging?
5. Jesus talks about non-violence as a way of living (Luke 7:27-31). How easy or hard is this to do? What are stories of Christians who have lived this?
6. Jesus describes the values he brings to the world. How have these values shaped your actions and attitudes?
7. Ephesians suggests that God’s victory in Christ, both secures our future in Christ, and makes a difference in our hopes and actions today. How does your future in Christ change how you live this present day in Christ? What difference does Jesus make today for you?
8. We confess: “I believe in the resurrection of the body…” Why the body and not just the sprit of a person? What more is denoted by the body? Why is the body important?
Discover More Together
9. What does the promise of everlasting life mean to you? How important is it for you?
10. We have journeyed 9 weeks with the catechism. What is a key insight you have gained?
