Weekly Devotional Guide

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Theme for the 15th Sunday after Pentecost

A disciple of Jesus Christ will "carry his own cross" (Luke 14:27) and follow the Lord through death into life. Discipleship is costly because it crucifies the old man with "all his own possessions" (Luke 14:33), in order to raise up the new man in Christ. The disciple disavows "his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life" (Luke 14:26), in deference to Christ. That way of the cross is impossible, except that Christ Jesus has already paid the cost. His cross is set before you as "life and prosperity, and death and adversity" (Deut. 30:15). Taking up His cross is to "choose life in order that you may live, you and your descendants, by loving the Lord your God, by obeying His voice, and by holding fast to Him" (Deut. 30:19-20). To live that life in Christ is also to bear His cross in love, "that your goodness should not be as it were by compulsion, but of your own free will" (Philemon 14).

Hymn #853

Alleluia. Far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. Alleluia.

O merciful Lord, You did not spare Your only Son but delivered Him up for us all. Grant us courage and strength to take up the cross and follow Him, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

[Verse and Collect from Lutheran Service Book © 2006 Concordia Publishing House. Used by permission]

Hymns #851, #853, #559, #646, #838, #667, #688

The Sacrament of the Altar

AS THE HEAD OF THE FAMILY SHOULD TEACH THEM IN A SIMPLE WAY TO HIS HOUSEHOLD

• How can bodily eating and drinking do such great things?

Luther's Small Catechism copyright © 1986. Concordia Publishing House. Used by permission of the publisher