We pray the Word of Christ continues to live in you richly through the singing of psalms and hymns and spiritual songs. We encourage you to sing a new song each month of AD 2021. Singing God’s Word brings hope and peace to all ages We’ve often heard it said that Christmas is really “a special time just for kids”. We disagree. It’s a joyful time for all people, the young, those in their middle …
Sing God’s Word The Apostle Paul writes in Colossians 3:15,16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. (ESV) Singing Christ’s Word is an effective and joyful way of teaching, learning, and passing on the Christian faith. When God joins his Word to music through singing, he does extraordinary things, especially in families. His Word …
God is a Farmer (Part 2) Open with a short prayer. During October and November, we are exploring the Biblical metaphor “God is a farmer.” As a farmer, God has planted you in his field (i.e. the world). He provides everything you need to grow and mature in faith, particularly his Word and Spirit. God employs farmhands — like you! — to work in his field to produce good fruit for his harvest. Read Isaiah …
God is a Farmer (Part 1) Open with a short prayer. William Shakespeare once wrote: “All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players. They have their exits and their entrances. And one [person] in [their] time plays many parts.” Metaphors, such as this, are more than literary devices: they carry meaning and reveal truth, they help us to understand and know. Metaphors are usually written: Thing A is Thing B. …
Let Your Light Shine Read Matthew 5:14-16. Prayer: Dear Lord, we pray that you would enlighten our hearts and minds today. Amen. This is the greatest compliment from Jesus, who commands us to be what he is: his light into this dark world. Never before do we need his light, in our world, as we do now. The abundance of the many self-help books is not what people really need. Furthermore, Jesus’ light is FREE. …
Jesus said, I am the Light of the world. He who follows me, will not walk in darkness, but will have the Light of Life. Prayer: Dear Lord, we pray that you would enlighten our hearts and minds today. Amen. It is fascinating to go into a dark room at night, then turn on the light, and to watch “the darkness flee.” Where did it go? Does it hide behind the furniture or under the …
Begin with Prayer. As a group within the LCA, Lutheran Women of Australia (LWA) is one of the biggest supporters of LCA International Mission and the work we do overseas on behalf of the church. What projects can you name that LWA support? (If you’re struggling to recall them all, have a look at the amazing list inside the cover of this magazine!) Each of these projects helps our partner churches proclaim the good news …
Begin with prayer. When I first joined the Lutheran Church of Australia (LCA) as an adult convert, many well-meaning church members would automatically change my surname to Zanker because, as I was told, everyone knows there are no Ankers in the LCA! In my second parish where the secretary’s surname was Zanker, she kindly started referring to herself as ‘zAnker’ to make me feel more at home. What a remarkable act of hospitality! While it …
Thanksgiving Study 2: Jesus institutes the meal of thanksgiving Opening prayer: O give thanks to the Lord for he is good, for his mercy endures forever! Thank you, Lord, that we can be together today studying your Word. Send us your Holy Spirit and guide our meditation and discussion. Give us thankful hearts for all your blessings. In Jesus name, Amen. Read 1 Corinthians 11:23–26 What stands out to you as you read and hear …
Thanksgiving Study 1: Jesus cleanses ten lepers Opening prayer: O give thanks to the Lord for he is good, for his mercy endures forever! Thank you, Lord, that we can be together today studying your Word. Send us your Holy Spirit and guide our meditation and discussion. Give us thankful hearts for all your blessings. In Jesus’ name, Amen. Read Luke 17:11–19 What stands out to you as you read and hear this read today? …
“In everything give thanks” Study 2: Give thanks to God though the going is tough In 1 Thessalonians 5:18 it says, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Discuss times when it’s difficult to give thanks to God. Notice that the text doesn’t say “give thanks for all circumstances”, but “in all circumstances”. The hymn, Now thank we all our God was originally written by …
“In everything give thanks” Study 1: What to give thanks for Psalm 136 is a call to give thanks to the LORD, the God of heaven who is greater than all ‘gods’ and ‘lords’, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever. Verse 1 of this psalm is often used as a prayer of thanks after mealtime. Most of the psalm spells out how the Lord has demonstrated his steadfast love. Read verses …