WELS Family Devotion

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/family-devotions/20260928fam.mp3 Listen to Devotion Read: Ezekiel 18:1-4,25-32 “What do you people mean by quoting this proverb about the land of Israel: “‘The parents eat sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge'? “As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, you will no longer quote this proverb in Israel. The parent as well as the child—both alike belong to me. The one who sins is the one who will die. “Therefore, you Israelites, I will judge each of you according to your own ways, declares the Sovereign LORD. Repent! Turn away from all your offenses; then sin will not be your downfall. For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign LORD. Repent and live! Ezekiel 18:1-4,30,32 Don't Blame Others In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. You can't blame others for the wrong things you do. Well, that isn't entirely true. You can—and you do. We all do. It sounds like, “They started it.” Or, “She was frustrating me.” Or maybe, “What they did was far worse.” When we are caught sinning, we naturally make excuses. We quickly point a finger at a sibling, friend, parent, or even a teacher. When we blame others, we are doing what sinners have done since sin first entered our world. When God asked Adam if he had eaten fruit from the one tree in the garden he was not supposed to eat from, Adam's response was to blame someone else. “The woman you put here with me—she gave me fruit from the tree, and I ate it” (Genesis 3:12). The Israelites in Ezekiel's day had a similar attitude. “The parents eat the sour grapes and the children's teeth are set on edge” was their way of saying, “Our problems are our parents’ fault.” Point the finger. Shift the blame. Excuse your sin. That attitude probably feels familiar. Through the prophet Ezekiel, our just and loving God tells us to stop blaming and start confessing. In Sunday worship, we admit, “I have not loved you with my whole heart; I have not loved others as I should. We have done those things that we should not have done, and we have not done those things which we should have done.” No blaming others. We honestly confess it to our holy God. Why does God call us to repent? Because he doesn't want sin to destroy us. He says, “I take no pleasure in the death of anyone . . . repent and live!” (Ezekiel 18:32). God wants us to confess our sins and receive the forgiveness Jesus won for us by his perfect life and innocent death. Jesus accepted the blame and punishment for every sin—even the sins for which we blame others. So when you do something wrong, you don't need to hide behind an excuse. Confess it. Jesus has taken your blame away. You are forgiven! Now live freely and confidently as God's forgiven child. Prayer: Dear God, forgive us for blaming others instead of confessing our sins. Help us to live in faithful confidence of our forgiveness. Thank you for your faithful love that never fails. Amen. The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire. Questions for Younger Children What should you do when you have done something wrong? God forgives us not because of what we have done, but because of what Jesus has already done. How does that make you feel? Questions for Elementary Age Children Why are we sometimes tempted to blame someone else for what we did? How does knowing Jesus forgives you help you tell the truth? Questions for Middle School and Above What excuses are you most tempted to make when you are confronted about a sin? How does God's forgiveness give you the freedom and confidence to accept responsibility? Download Family Devotions Family Devotions are brought to you by WELS Discipleship. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/family-devotions/20260925fam.mp3 Listen to Devotion Read: Matthew 20:1-16 Don't I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous? Matthew 20:15 More Than Fair In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. What would you buy if you had eight billion dollars? A mansion? A private airplane? An entire amusement park? Chuck Feeney had that much money. But instead of spending it on himself, he quietly gave more than eight billion dollars away. He helped build hospitals and schools and helped people around the world. After giving away nearly all his fortune, the former billionaire didn't even own a home. He lived in a rented apartment. Chuck Feeney was amazingly, extraordinarily, unbelievably generous. The owner of the vineyard in Jesus' story was amazingly, extraordinarily, and unbelievably generous. At first, he seemed like an ordinary boss. He promised to pay his workers a fair wage. But at the end of the day, workers who had labored for only one hour received a full day's pay. That frustrated those who had worked all day in the hot sun. But the owner had not cheated them. They received exactly what he had promised. He simply decided to be amazingly generous with the workers hired last. Sometimes a person follows Jesus throughout life, while someone else lives far from God but is brought to faith near the end of life. It can seem unfair that both receive the same eternal life. We are tempted to think: “We followed you all these years, Jesus, and they didn't. That's unfair!” It may feel unfair, but God has not taken anything away from us. He is simply being amazingly generous with them. Even Christians who go to church every Sunday haven't earned heaven. Believing in Jesus for many years does not make us more deserving than someone brought to faith near the end of life. We have all sinned and deserve God's punishment. The only reason any of us can go to heaven is God's undeserved generosity. He gave his own Son for us. Jesus lived the perfect life we could not live and died the innocent death that saved us. In him, God gives us forgiveness and eternal life as a gift. God is amazingly generous to those who come to believe at the end of their lives. Celebrate God's generosity when he brings someone to faith—even at life's last hour. God gives every believer more than what is fair! Prayer: Dear God, thank you for being amazingly, extraordinarily, and unbelievably generous to us. Help us celebrate when you show that same generosity to others. Amen. The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire. Questions for Younger Children Did the workers hired last receive less money or the same amount as the others? Why were the workers who worked all day upset? Questions for Elementary Age Children How would you have reacted if you were one of the guys who worked all day? In what ways has God been amazingly, extraordinarily, and unbelievably generous with you? Questions for Middle School and Above Why shouldn't it frustrate us when people who did terrible things or never went to church in their lives repent at the very end of their lives and believe in Jesus? If someone can be saved near the end of life, why is it foolish to plan on rejecting God now and repenting later? Download Family Devotions Family Devotions are brought to you by WELS Discipleship. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/family-devotions/20260923fam.mp3 Listen to Devotion Read: Romans 9:6-16 What then shall we say? Is God unjust? Not at all! For he says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” It does not, therefore, depend on human desire or effort, but on God's mercy. Romans 9:14-16 Bigger Than Our Brains In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Dogs are smart animals. They can understand simple commands like sit, roll over, and lie down. They understand when you tell them it's time to eat or time to go outside. A dog learns to depend on its owner for food, protection, and care. But have you ever tried to teach your dog algebra? He'll tilt his head, stare at you blankly, or jump up and lick your face. Compared to our brains, dogs’ brains are much smaller and simpler. Even the best-trained dog cannot understand everything its loving owner does. Its owner understands things that are simply too big for the dog's brain. In today’s reading, the apostle Paul talks about something our brains can't fully understand: Why do some people believe in Jesus while others reject him? The Bible gives us two clear answers. First, nobody gets to go to heaven because they have earned it or deserved it. We can't work our way to heaven. It is only because of Jesus that we can go to heaven. We are saved only because of God's mercy. God's mercy is his forgiving love. God loves all people. Jesus died for all people and offers forgiveness and heaven to all people. So, why do some people believe while others reject God's promise? Here is the second clear answer: when someone is saved, God gets all the credit. When someone rejects Jesus, that person is responsible. We must not change either truth to make them fit neatly inside our minds. Just as people understand far more than dogs do, God's understanding is infinitely greater than ours. We can't understand everything God has revealed about himself. But we can trust everything he says because he never lies or makes a mistake. Your faith is not something you earned or created. God brought you to Jesus through his Word and Baptism. He gave you his promises and made you his child. Your salvation does not rest on how smart, strong, or faithful you are. It rests entirely on God's mercy. Some truths about God are bigger than our brains—but his promises are always big enough to trust. Prayer: Dear Lord, thank you for giving me faith and saving me by your mercy. When your Word is bigger than my brain, help me humbly trust everything you say. Amen. The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire. Questions for Younger Children What are some things a dog can understand? What is something it can't understand? Who loves you, forgives you, and brings you to Jesus? Questions for Elementary Age Children What is God's mercy? Why can't we earn our way to heaven? Questions for Middle School and Above If someone is saved, who receives all the credit? If someone rejects Jesus, who is responsible? What should you do when something in the Bible is bigger than your brain and you cannot fully understand it? Download Family Devotions Family Devotions are brought to you by WELS Discipleship. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/family-devotions/20260921fam.mp3 Listen to Devotion Read: Jonah 3:10–4:11 The LORD replied [to Jonah], “Is it right for you to be angry?” Jonah 4:4 When Mercy Makes You Mad In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Jonah was acting like a baby. He sat outside Nineveh on the desert sand, crossed his arms, and pouted. He was angry that God had spared the city. Jonah hated the people of Nineveh. They belonged to a nation known for treating its enemies cruelly. That's why he ran away all those months before when God called him to preach to the people of Nineveh. He knew they might turn away from their sins and seek God's mercy. And Jonah knew what God would do—what God always does when people tell him they are sorry for their sins. He forgives sinners who turn to him for mercy. And Jonah didn't want that. He wanted God to destroy Nineveh. As Jonah sat in the hot sun, God caused a huge, leafy plant to give him shade. Jonah appreciated the cool shade and started feeling better. But then God sent a worm to chew the plant, so it withered and died. Again, Jonah crossed his arms and pouted. “Jonah,” God said, “you have been concerned about the plant that grew one day and died the next. Shouldn't I be concerned about the 120,000 people living in Nineveh?” Jonah cared more about losing his comfortable shade than he did about thousands of people who needed God's mercy. You see, God loves all people. He wants everyone to believe in him and be saved. And he wants us to love everyone—even our enemies and those who treat us badly. That's hard to do. But God did not stop loving us when we were his enemies. He sent Jesus to save us. Remembering that love helps us love people who are hard to love. Loving our enemies does not mean pretending that evil is acceptable or that wrongdoing should have no consequences. We can ask God and earthly authorities for justice without seeking revenge or wanting anyone to be eternally lost. Don't be a Jonah who wanted his enemies destroyed! Love your enemies. Pray for those who are mean to you. And when mercy makes you mad, remember the mercy God has shown you! Prayer: Dear God, thank you for loving me and showing me mercy through Jesus. Help me love my enemies, pray for them, and want them to know your saving love. Amen. The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire. Questions for Younger Children Was Jonah happy or angry when God spared Nineveh? Does God want us to love only our friends or even our enemies? Questions for Elementary Age Children Why is it so hard to love and pray for those who are mean to us? In what ways are we hard to love? Questions for Middle School and Above Jonah cared more about his shade plant than about the people of Nineveh. What comforts or preferences might we care about more than people who need Jesus? If God wants us to love our enemies and pray that they will be saved, is it wrong to want justice for people who do evil? Explain your answer. Download Family Devotions Family Devotions are brought to you by WELS Discipleship. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/family-devotions/20260918fam.mp3 Listen to Devotion Read: Matthew 18:21-35 The kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. A man who owed him ten thousand bags of gold was brought to him. The servant fell on his knees before him. ‘Be patient with me,' he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.' The servant's master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go. Matthew 18:21-35 (selected verses) You Don't Have to Pay In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Andy wasn't trying to break the window. Every day, he walked by the old warehouse. Beneath its tall windows were wide brick ledges. Andy and his friends often tossed stones toward the ledges to see if they could land them there. One day, Andy threw a little too hard. The stone crashed through a window. A security guard ran out and grabbed Andy by the arm. “You are going to have to pay for that,” he said. Andy arrived home in tears. He told his dad what had happened. The new window would cost $500, but Andy only had $10 in his piggy bank. Andy and his father went to talk to the building owner. Andy quietly held out his ten-dollar bill. “I promise I will pay you the rest one day,” he said, looking at the ground. The owner looked at the sad little boy holding the money up to him. “Keep your money,” he said. “You don't have to pay. Just please don't throw any more rocks at my windows.” It would have taken Andy years to pay that debt. Can you imagine how relieved he must have felt when the owner canceled it?! That's how the servant in Jesus' story must have felt—relieved, excited, thankful. He owed the king more than he could ever repay. Sadly, after the king canceled his enormous debt, the servant refused to forgive another servant's much smaller debt. The king in Jesus' story helps us understand God. We are like the servant with the enormous debt—ten thousand bags of gold. We have sinned against God in more ways than we can count—in what we think, say, and do. Our debt of sin is something we could never pay. But God did not simply pretend that our debt did not exist. Jesus paid it completely by suffering our punishment on the cross. Because Jesus paid everything, God tells us, “You don't have to pay.” God forgives us like the king in the story and like the owner who didn't make Andy pay for the window. But he did ask Andy to stop throwing rocks—it was the right thing for Andy to do. God's forgiveness changes how we treat people who sin against us. So be relieved. Be excited. Be thankful. Then share with others the mercy God has shown you. Prayer: Dear Jesus, thank you for paying the debt I owe for all my sins. Help me to forgive others as you have forgiven me. Amen. The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire. Questions for Younger Children Could the servant ever pay back everything he owed? What did the king do with the servant's debt? Questions for Elementary Age Children How would you feel if someone canceled a debt you could never pay? What does Jesus say to us because he paid for all our sins? Questions for Middle School and Above Why can God's forgiveness begin to feel ordinary, even though our debt was enormous? How should remembering the debt Jesus paid change the way you respond when someone sins against you? Download Family Devotions Family Devotions are brought to you by WELS Discipleship. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/family-devotions/20260916fam.mp3 Listen to Devotion Read: Ephesians 4:29–5:2 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Follow God's example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. Ephesians 4:32; 5:1-2 A Striking Family Resemblance In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Do you resemble anyone in your family? Brothers and sisters often resemble each other. A child might have his dad's nose, his mom's smile, his grandpa's laugh, or even the same way of walking. Sometimes we sound or act just like our parents. People might say, “You can certainly tell whose child you are!” Can people tell whose child you are by the way you live? Honestly, because of sin, we don't always resemble our heavenly Father. Our words and actions are often cruel, selfish, and unforgiving. But in our baptism, God washed away our sins and adopted us as his sons and daughters. Through faith in Jesus, we are children of God, fully forgiven and made heirs of heaven. But can people see the family resemblance? Can they tell whose children we are by the way we act? Young children often copy everything: the way their parents talk on the phone, the way they fold their arms, the way they cook or clean or cheer during a football game. In today's reading, Paul tells us to follow the example of God our Father as his dearly loved children. God wants us to speak as he speaks and act as he acts. Just as he is kind and compassionate to us, just as he loves and forgives us—so he wants us to love and forgive those around us. We imitate him because, through Jesus, we already are his children. That is who God made us to be in our baptism. His forgiveness changes us; it leads us to be like him. Dearly loved children show love. Forgiven children become forgivers. So, follow your Father. Imitate him and let your family resemblance show. When people see kindness, compassion, and forgiveness in you, they are catching a glimpse of your heavenly Father. May they look at you and say, “I can certainly tell whose child you are!” Prayer: Dear Father in heaven, thank you for washing, forgiving, and adopting me in my baptism. Help me to resemble you in everything I say and do. Amen. The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire. Questions for Younger Children In what ways do you look or act like your mom or dad? In what ways can you look or act like God? Questions for Elementary Age Children What blessings did God give you in Baptism? How can your kindness or forgiveness help someone see your heavenly Father in you? Questions for Middle School and Above What does this statement mean: “My baptism is not just something that happened to me; it tells me who I am”? Sometimes young people feel unfair pressure to grow up and be just like their parents. Is it unfair for God to expect his children to act like him? Explain. Download Family Devotions Family Devotions are brought to you by WELS Discipleship. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/family-devotions/20260914fam.mp3 Listen to Devotion Read: Genesis 50:15-21 Joseph said to them, “Don't be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.” And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them. Genesis 50:19-21 Forgiveness Isn't Fair In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. “But that's not fair,” Billy said, fighting back tears. “He doesn't deserve to be forgiven.” Billy’s face was scratched and his elbow was bleeding as he sat in the pastor's office. He was right. Joey had started it. He pushed Billy down during a game at vacation Bible school. Joey said he was sorry, but that didn't make what he did okay. “He doesn't deserve to be forgiven,” Billy repeated. Billy was right. Think about the bully who was mean to you, the teacher who was unfair to you, or your sister who lied about you to your parents. None of them deserve to be forgiven. Joseph's brothers didn't deserve to be forgiven. They were cruel to him. They planned to kill him and then sold him into slavery. Because of his brothers, Joseph spent years as a slave in Egypt and then many more as a prisoner in a dark dungeon. Now Joseph held a powerful position in Egypt—and his brothers' lives were in his hands. They begged him not to punish them. It wasn't fair. But do we really want what is fair? Fair means getting what we deserve. Because of our sins, we deserve God's punishment forever in hell. We don't want fair; we want mercy. And that's exactly what God gives us. God did not ignore our sins. In his great mercy, Jesus suffered what wasn't fair in our place so we could be forgiven. Forgiveness is never fair. Fair would mean that we would suffer the punishment Jesus suffered for us. But God has treated us in the most wonderfully unfair way. He forgives us, even though we don't deserve it. Forgiving someone does not mean pretending that the wrong was okay or that there should never be consequences. It is mercy we share because God first showed mercy to us. And when we see God's undeserved, unfair, unending forgiveness for us, it helps us to do the hard work of forgiving others. That's how Joseph could forgive his brothers. That's how Billy could learn to forgive Joey. That's how you can forgive those who do you wrong, even though they don't deserve it. Prayer: Dear Jesus, please forgive me even though I don't deserve it and help me to forgive those who don't deserve my forgiveness. Amen. The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire. Questions for Younger Children Were Joseph's brothers kind or mean to him? What did Joseph do instead of hurting his brothers? Questions for Elementary Age Children Why do you think it's so hard for us to forgive other people? How does remembering Jesus' forgiveness help you forgive someone who hurts you? Questions for Middle School and Above Agree or disagree? Knowing what Jesus did to save us makes it easier to forgive others. A friend says, “My mom grounded me unfairly, and I'll never forgive her.” What could you say without pretending that the situation was handled fairly? Download Family Devotions Family Devotions are brought to you by WELS Discipleship. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/family-devotions/20260911fam.mp3 Listen to Devotion Read: Galatians 2:11-16 When Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. For before certain men came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles. But when they arrived, he began to draw back and separate himself from the Gentiles because he was afraid. When I saw that they were not acting in line with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas in front of them all, “How is it, then, that you force Gentiles to follow Jewish customs? “We who are Jews by birth and not sinful Gentiles know that a person is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ.” Galatians 2:11-16 (selected verses) The Gospel Wins People Over In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. This week, we have seen how God calls Christians not to be tattletales but also to watch out for others who are heading toward spiritual danger. Jesus says that the goal is to win a person over—to lead that person away from sin and back to Jesus and his forgiveness. Knowing when and how to speak can feel like walking on a balance beam. It's hard! Paul knew how hard this could be. Paul had to point out to Peter—also called Cephas—that Peter had given in to peer pressure. Peter had been eating with Gentile Christians. But when certain Jewish Christians arrived, Peter separated himself from the Gentiles because he was afraid of what others would think. Peter's actions sent a dangerous message. They suggested that faith in Jesus was not enough and that Gentile Christians also needed to follow Jewish customs to belong in God's family. Other Christians followed Peter's bad example. Even Barnabas was led astray. Because Peter's actions were public and were hurting many people, Paul corrected him publicly. Paul showed Peter that his actions did not match “the truth of the gospel.” What is that truth? Paul explained that no one is justified by obeying God's law. To be “justified” means that God has declared us not guilty. We cannot earn that verdict by being good enough, following enough rules, or belonging to the right group. God declares sinners not guilty through faith in Jesus Christ. That’s what we call “the gospel.” The gospel is the good news of Jesus' free forgiveness, and we use the gospel to win others over to Jesus. We will never win people over by only pointing a finger at them. God calls us to point out sin truthfully and then point sinners to Jesus. The Holy Spirit works through God's Word to lead people to repentance and strengthen their faith. It can be scary to speak to someone about sin. But the goal is not to win an argument. The goal is for the gospel to win—to bring a brother or sister back to the forgiveness that is already theirs in Jesus. Prayer: Lord, make me strong enough to overcome peer pressure and to stand firm in your Word. But also make me gentle when I speak to others about sin. Above all, help me point them to the forgiveness Jesus freely gives. Amen. The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire. Questions for Younger Children Who is the only one who can save us from our sins? Does Jesus forgive us because we are good enough or because he loves us? Questions for Elementary Age Children What does it mean that God “justifies” someone? How did Peter's fear of other people hurt his Christian brothers and sisters? Questions for Middle School and Above Why did Peter's actions communicate that faith in Jesus might not be enough? How can you correct a Christian friend without acting proud, harsh, or self-righteous? Download Family Devotions Family Devotions are brought to you by WELS Discipleship. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/family-devotions/20260909fam.mp3 Listen to Devotion Read: Ezekiel 33:7-11 “Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the people of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me. Say to them, ‘As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live.” Ezekiel 33:7,11 God Puts Christians on the Case In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. You may be familiar with the cartoon TV series Paw Patrol. A group of dogs serve as emergency first responders. A human named Ryder leads them. If someone in Adventure Bay needs help, they call Ryder. Then Ryder sends the Paw Patrol from their lookout tower to rescue the person in danger. If you have seen the show, it is impossible to imagine Ryder or the pups hearing about someone in danger and saying, “That's not our problem.” Imagine how shocking it would be if a firetruck drove away from a burning house, a police officer covered his eyes during a bank robbery, or an ambulance sat at the station instead of going to a bad car accident! First responders are responsible for noticing danger and helping people. God gave Ezekiel a similar responsibility. Ezekiel was a spiritual watchman. God told him to warn the Israelites about the deadly danger of continuing in sin. God gives us opportunities to watch out for people, too. God does not want tattletales. He does not want us snooping around, hoping to catch someone in sin. But when someone we love is heading toward spiritual danger, we should not simply say, “That's not my problem.” That would be like the Paw Patrol sitting on their paws or firefighters, police officers, or ambulance drivers not doing their job. Sin is even more dangerous than a fire or accident. Unrepented sin separates people from God and leads to eternal death. Yet God does not enjoy punishing sinners. He says, “I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked.” God wants them to turn from sin and receive life from him. So, God puts Christians in positions to help watch over one another and to help each other be turned away from sin. Parents watch over their children. Pastors watch over their congregations. Teachers watch over their students. Christian friends and family members lovingly watch out for one another. How do we recognize spiritual danger? We listen to God's Word—not merely our own opinions. Then we lovingly share what God says. God uses his Word to expose sin, lead people to repentance, and show them their Savior. Jesus carried every sin to the cross so that sinners could be forgiven and live. God puts Christians on the case—but God's powerful Word performs the rescue! Prayer: Dear Father in heaven, thank you for putting people in my life who watch over me and lovingly warn me about sin. Help me to take their words to heart. Give me the courage to help rescue others from their sin. Amen. The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire. Questions for Younger Children What important job did God give Ezekiel? Does God want sinners to die, or does he want them to turn to him and live? Questions for Elementary Age Children How can we tell whether something is sinful—by our opinions or by God's Word? Who are some trusted adults who can help you when someone is doing something wrong or dangerous? Questions for Middle School and Above Why might someone be tempted to say, “That's not my problem,” when a friend is caught in sin? How does God use both his warning about sin and his promise of forgiveness in Jesus to rescue someone? Download Family Devotions Family Devotions are brought to you by WELS Discipleship. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/family-devotions/20260907fam.mp3 Listen to Devotion Read: Matthew 18:15-20 [Jesus said] “If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over.” Matthew 18:15 Jesus Makes Us Forgivers, Not Tattletales In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. How many brothers and/or sisters do you have? Whatever that number is—whether zero, one, two, or five—Jesus adds to that number. In today’s Gospel reading, Jesus talks about your brothers and sisters. But he is not talking about the children in your earthly family. He is talking about your spiritual family—your fellow Christians. Why are Christians your spiritual siblings? Because, just like you, God has made them his children through faith in Jesus. You share the same heavenly Father and the same Savior. Jesus is your brother. That makes you family. In your earthly family, perhaps you have a rule against tattling. Tattling means spreading the news about something wrong another person did—not because someone needs protection, but because you want to get that person in trouble. Jesus does not want Christians to tattle on each other. Simply telling other people what someone did wrong does not solve the problem. It can hurt that person and divide God's family even more. So, Jesus gives us a powerful tool to use. Jesus knows that earthly families will sin against each other. He also knows that members of his spiritual family will sin against each other. So, Jesus gives us the power and authority to forgive sins! He teaches us to speak lovingly and privately with someone who has sinned—perhaps even against you. Jesus gives every Christian the right to approach that person and say, “What you did was wrong and sinful. It hurt someone else.” That's not the same thing as tattling. We do not approach the person to embarrass or defeat them. We want to “win them over”—to restore a brother or sister. It's like welcoming them back as family. The goal is to hear them confess their sin, so that we can say, “I forgive you! And God forgives you, too!” Tattling pushes people away. Forgiveness sends sin away and welcomes people back—like family! Because Jesus has forgiven you and made you a part of his family, you can lovingly help restore a brother or sister. Prayer: Jesus, thank you for forgiving my sins and sending them far away. Give me the love and courage to speak gently when someone sins against me. Help me forgive as you have forgiven me and strengthen your spiritual family. Amen. The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire. Questions for Younger Children Who are some people in your church family? What wonderful words can you say when someone is sorry for hurting you? Questions for Elementary Age Children What is the difference between tattling and asking a trusted adult for help? Why does Jesus want us to speak privately and lovingly with someone who has sinned against us? Questions for Middle School and Above What might tempt you to tell other people about someone's sin before speaking with that person? If someone asked, “What gives you the right to forgive my sins?”, how would you explain the authority Jesus gives his believers? Download Family Devotions Family Devotions are brought to you by WELS Discipleship. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/family-devotions/20260904fam.mp3 Listen to Devotion Read: Romans 8:18-25 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently. Romans 8:18,24-25 Carrying a Cross, Holding on to Hope In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. This week, we have heard that Jesus commands Christians to carry their “crosses”. To carry your cross means to bear whatever difficulties you face because of your faith in Jesus. This week we also heard from Jeremiah that because our crosses are so heavy, we are tempted to set them down and turn away from God. Both Jesus and the prophet Jeremiah recognize that being a Christian does not mean that life is easy. Saint Paul says the same thing in our verses, and that can be very helpful. Sometimes, Christians feel like they are doing something wrong whenever they suffer. Sometimes, Christians feel like they do not have enough faith if they are frustrated by the way the broken world works around them. Neither of those things is necessarily true. Paul says that all creation “groans” because sin has damaged God's once-perfect world. Christians groan too. We become sick. People hurt us. Things break. Loved ones die. This means that we Christians do not have to pretend that life is all cake and ice cream. We Christians do not have to pretend that everything is a walk in the park. Instead, we can honestly admit when something hurts. Suffering does exist. We can cry, pray, and ask others for help. But our suffering is not the end of the story. Paul writes, “Our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us” (Romans 8:18). Paul is talking about the day when our Lord Jesus returns and makes all creation new. He will raise our bodies and make them glorious, never to become sick, injured, or old again. How can we be sure? Jesus was raised from the dead on Easter. Because he lives, our sins are forgiven. Because he lives, we will also live with him in his perfect new creation. So, even though we Christians are realistic about our suffering, we are still hopeful. We are completely confident that one day everything will not merely be better, it will be perfect! That's why Paul says that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with what's coming. It is like comparing canned spinach with an ice-cream sundae or extra homework with an entire summer of fun. The difference is so enormous that there really is no comparison. For now, we wait. But we do not wait like someone wondering whether something will happen. We wait with certain hope because Jesus has already risen. Trouble is real—but so is Jesus. And because Jesus lives, our hope is real too. Prayer: Almighty God, sin has brought pain and brokenness into your creation. When we hurt, help us to speak honestly to you and trust that you will make all things new and perfect when Jesus returns. Give us certain hope as we wait for him to return, raise our bodies, and make all things new. Help us encourage others with this hope. Amen. The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire. Questions for Younger Children We are waiting for heaven. What is something you know comes each year but that you have to wait for? What wonderful thing will Jesus do when he returns? Questions for Elementary Age Children Paul says that sin causes things in creation to decay—to wear out, break down, or die. What examples have you seen? What can you say, do, or remember when you are suffering and waiting for Jesus to make everything new? Questions for Middle School and Above How could you use these verses to comfort Christians suffering after an earthquake or another disaster? Paul says that Christians “groan inwardly” while waiting for Jesus to make everything new. How can prayer help us during that waiting? Download Family Devotions Family Devotions are brought to you by WELS Discipleship. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/family-devotions/20260902fam.mp3 Listen to Devotion Read: Jeremiah 15:15-21 LORD, you understand; remember me and care for me. Avenge me on my persecutors. You are long-suffering—do not take me away; think of how I suffer reproach for your sake. Why is my pain unending and my wound grievous and incurable? You are to me like a deceptive brook, like a spring that fails. Therefore this is what the LORD says: “If you repent, I will restore you that you may serve me . . . Let this people turn to you, but you must not turn to them. I will make you a wall to this people, a fortified wall of bronze; they will fight against you but will not overcome you, for I am with you to rescue and save you,” declares the LORD. “I will save you from the hands of the wicked and deliver you from the grasp of the cruel.” Jeremiah 15:15,18-21 Keep Your Eyes on God In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. My dad always got excited when he saw deer while driving. He would shout, “Deer!” so that everyone in the vehicle could look. But here's what almost always happened. As Dad turned toward the tree line, the vehicle veered a little. We were never in danger of crashing, but it certainly wasn't helpful. Maybe you have experienced something similar while riding your bike. You turn to look at something, and suddenly your bike begins moving in that direction. Where you look can affect where you go. In the verses above, Jeremiah was losing his focus. God had made him a prophet. Jeremiah's job was to tell Israel to turn from sin and listen to God. But the people refused to listen. They mistreated Jeremiah, and their country was headed for disaster because of their unbelief. All this weighed heavily on Jeremiah. He felt hurt, angry, and alone. He even began to wonder whether God was keeping his promises. How did God answer? God called Jeremiah to turn back to him and trust his promises again. It was as if God said, “I know people are turning against you because you believe in me and speak my Word. I know that hurts. But don't let their unbelief pull you away from me. I am with you. I will rescue you and save you.” God makes that promise to us, too. When we show that we believe in God, people may make our lives difficult. When we speak God's Word, they may turn against us. Instead of keeping our eyes on God, we may begin watching what everyone else is doing. We may wonder whether following God is worth it. We may even begin wandering away from him. That is dangerous. But when it happens, God lovingly calls us back. He turns our eyes away from our fears, doubts, and other people's opinions. He turns our eyes to Jesus. Jesus never turned away from his Father's Word—not even when people hated him and nailed him to a cross. He died for all the times we have doubted God or wandered from him. Then he rose to assure us that we are forgiven. Remember God's promise: He is not only leading you to heaven; he is with you right now. He will strengthen you, rescue you, and bring you safely home. Where you look can affect where you go. So when fear, trouble, or other people pull your attention away, keep your eyes on Jesus. His eyes are always on you. Prayer: Lord, when other people turn against me because I believe in you, keep my eyes on Jesus. Strengthen me with your promise that you are with me and, therefore, my enemies will not overpower me. Amen. The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire. Questions for Younger Children What did Jeremiah do when he felt afraid and alone? When you feel afraid, who promises to be with you? Questions for Elementary Age Children What kinds of things can distract us from listening to God and trusting his promises? Describe a time when following God's Word meant not doing what others were doing. How did that make you feel, and what promise from God could help you? Questions for Middle School and Above Jeremiah sometimes felt alone because he would not join the people around him in doing wrong. When might following God's Word make someone your age feel alone? Jeremiah called God's words his “joy” and his “heart's delight.” How can regularly hearing God's Word help you keep your attention on Jesus when you feel hurt, doubtful, or alone? Download Family Devotions Family Devotions are brought to you by WELS Discipleship. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/family-devotions/20260831fam.mp3 Listen to Devotion Read: Matthew 16:21-26 Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.” Matthew 16:24 The Weight Is Worth It In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. What is the heaviest thing you have ever carried? Was it a gallon of milk because you insisted on pouring it yourself into your cereal? Was it your backpack as you got older and started getting more homework? Was it dumbbells as you started training for a sport? Let me ask one more question: Was it worth it? No matter what the object was, was there a good reason to carry something so heavy? Jesus tells us that following him sometimes means carrying something heavy—and that following him is always worth it. He calls that heavy burden a “cross.” When we think of Jesus and a cross, we probably think of how he died on a cross on Good Friday. And we should! In fact, Jesus wanted his disciples to think about that, too. He predicted his death when he said in our reading that he needed to go to Jerusalem to “suffer many things” and to “be killed.” One of the things Jesus suffered on Good Friday was carrying his own cross to Mount Calvary. But Jesus knew that all of his suffering would be worth it. He knew that “on the third day” he would “be raised to life.” On Easter Sunday, he rose from the dead, and he still lives! Because Jesus suffered and died in your place, your sins are forgiven. Because he rose, you will live forever with him. Even when you face death, your heart can be at peace. Jesus willingly carried his cross because he loves you and wanted to save you. And now Jesus tells us to take up our crosses and follow him. You can't weigh these crosses like a gallon of milk, a backpack, or dumbbells. But they can still feel heavy. That's because a Christian's cross is something painful or difficult that comes from following Jesus. Sometimes it's the struggle to say no to sin. Sometimes it's being made fun of because of our faith. Sometimes it's feeling like you're missing out because other people are doing something that God says is wrong. Carrying a cross does not earn us a place in heaven. Jesus already did everything necessary to save us. But because Jesus saved us, we follow him—even when following him is hard. And we never carry our crosses alone. The same Jesus who carried his cross for us walks beside us, strengthens us, and promises to bring us safely home. Some burdens feel heavy. But Jesus is worth following. He carried the weight that saved us, and he will help us carry every cross along the way. The weight is worth it because Jesus is worth it. Prayer: Dear Jesus, because you carried your cross for us and in our place, give our souls courage and strength to pick up our crosses each day and follow you. Give us confidence that you will lead us to eternal life. Amen. The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire. Questions for Younger Children What are some things that are heavy to carry? Jesus carried his cross because he loves you. How does it make you feel to know that Jesus loves you that much? Questions for Elementary Age Children What is a “cross” that someone your age might carry because he or she follows Jesus? What can you remember about Jesus when following him feels difficult? Questions for Middle School and Above Why didn't Peter want Jesus to suffer and die? Why was Jesus' cross necessary for our salvation? Jesus asked, “What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?” What might someone your age be tempted to gain by turning away from Jesus—and why would it never be worth the cost? Download Family Devotions Family Devotions are brought to you by WELS Discipleship. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/family-devotions/20260828fam.mp3 Listen to Devotion Read: Matthew 16:13-20 “But what about you?” [Jesus] asked. “Who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Matthew 16:15-16 The One Word for Jesus In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. If someone asked you what Jesus means to you, how would you answer? Could you answer in one word? A classic devotional book has eleven chapters to explain what Jesus means to the author. Jesus means . . . Life, Pardon, Peace, Power, Provision, Companionship, Hope, Truth, Assurance, Joy, and Heaven. That is quite a list—and every word tells us something wonderful about Jesus! People in Jesus' day were still figuring out who he was and what he meant for them. Some thought he was one of the great prophets who had come back to life. Some hoped he might become a powerful earthly king who would free the nation of Israel. Most were wrong. They may have said impressive things about Jesus, but they still did not understand who he really was. Then Jesus made the question personal. “But what about you?” he asked his disciples. “Who do you say I am?” By God's grace, Peter got it right. He said, “You, yes you, Jesus are the Messiah, God's chosen Savior, the Son of the living God.” If we could boil what Jesus meant to Peter down to one word, it would be, “Savior.” But Peter's answer was not just his personal opinion about Jesus. Peter confessed the truth God had revealed: Jesus really is the Savior. What we think about Jesus does not change who he is. Even when people misunderstand or reject him, Jesus remains the Messiah and the Son of God. What about you? You don't have to boil down what Jesus means to you in just one word. It's helpful to explain a little further. Jesus is the Savior because he saves us from our sins. As the promised Messiah, he became truly human. He could stand in our place, obey God's law for us, suffer our punishment, and die our death. But Jesus is also the Son of the living God. He is truly God, equal to the Father. Because of that he could save us from our sins and promise to bring us into his true, heavenly kingdom. That is why all those other words fit Jesus too. He is our pardon because he forgives us. He is our peace because he makes us right with God. He is our hope because he rose from the dead. He is our life because he will raise us to live with him forever. But if you had to choose just one word, “Savior” says it best. Who do you say Jesus is? By God's grace, you can confess with Peter: “Jesus is my Savior, the Son of the living God!” Prayer: Dear Jesus, you mean so much as the Savior for sinners. Help us always build our lives on you and what you mean to us. Amen. The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire. Questions for Younger Children Who did Peter say Jesus is? Which word about Jesus do you like best: Life, Peace, Hope, Joy, or Savior? Why? Questions for Elementary Age Children How would you answer if someone asked you, “Who is Jesus?” Draw a cross. Around it, draw or write things Jesus gives you, such as forgiveness, peace, hope, and heaven. Questions for Middle School and Above People in Jesus' day had several impressive but incorrect ideas about him. What incomplete or incorrect ideas about Jesus do people have today? Imagine that a friend asks, “What does Jesus mean to you?” Choose one word and prepare a three-sentence answer that explains both who Jesus is and what he has done for you. Download Family Devotions Family Devotions are brought to you by WELS Discipleship. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/family-devotions/20260812fam.mp3 Listen to Devotion Read: Romans 8:28-39 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39 It Still Holds In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. There's an episode of the show Bluey called “Cubby”, where Bluey and Bingo make a pillow fort for the ages. Have you ever built a pillow fort before? A really good one needs something to hold it together. You can use couch cushions or chairs. You can use clothespins, binder clips, or even some tape to try to hold the blankets up. But then someone crawls inside and the whole thing moves, shifts, and then . . . falls apart. Not everything holds. You'll notice that in today's Bible reading, Paul talks about some very tough things: trouble, danger, hunger, pain, and even death. Things that are waaaaay too heavy for the pillow forts of our lives. And when those things happen, people might wonder, “Does God still love me? Did his promises fall apart, too?” But the answer in Romans is clear: it still holds. God's love still holds when life is scary. God's love still holds when our prayers aren't answered the way we wanted them to be. God's love still holds when people are mean to us, when we get sick, or when we feel worried. How can Paul be so sure? Because of Jesus! “He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also . . . graciously give us all things?” (Romans 8:32). God already gave his only Son for you. God showed his love for us like this: while we were still stuck in sin, Jesus died for us. He carried your sins to the cross and rose again so you could know for sure that God's love still holds. So, when you wonder, “Is God still for me?” just look at Jesus. In him, God's answer is yes. That doesn't mean everything will be easy; Paul never says that. You will still have very hard days. But the point is that those hard days cannot pull you away from Jesus. Sad days can't take Jesus away from you. Scary days cannot remove you from his love. Because that love is not like tape on a pillow fort. It won't slip, snap, or give up. In Jesus, God's promise still holds. Prayer: Dear Jesus, thank you for holding us in your love when life is hard or scary. Help us trust that nothing can separate us from you. Amen. The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire. Questions for Younger Children Build a tiny “fort” with your hands. What would happen if it fell? Say this together: “Jesus' love still holds!” Now write it down and put it somewhere the whole family can see it. Questions for Elementary Age Children Name one thing that does not always hold together very well. What hard things does Paul say cannot separate us from God's love? Questions for Middle School and Above Why is it important that Paul does not pretend Christians will avoid trouble? When someone wonders, “Is God still for me?” how does Jesus answer that question? Download Family Devotions Family Devotions are brought to you by WELS Discipleship. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/family-devotions/20260810fam.mp3 Listen to Devotion Read: 1 Kings 19:9-18 And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 1 Kings 19:12-13 You're Not Alone In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Amelia sat on the back porch with her backpack still on. When her dad asked what was wrong, she said, with tears in her eyes, “Nobody wanted to play with me today!” Now, that wasn't completely true. Her best friend Ruth was home, sick. Her teacher complimented her on her last writing assignment. Her big brother even saved her a seat on the bus. And now her dad was sitting next to her, asking what was wrong. But Amelia still felt alone. Sometimes our feelings point to something real. Amelia really did feel like she had a hard day. But other times, our feelings don't tell the whole story. Even though Amelia felt alone, she needed someone to remind her, “You're not as alone as you feel.” Elijah had spoken God's Word, just like he was supposed to. But many people didn't listen. The wicked queen, Jezebel, wanted to kill him. So, Elijah ran away. He was tired, scared, and felt like he was the only one who loved the Lord. But that's why God asked him: “What are you doing here, Elijah?” So . . . Elijah told him how he felt! The people have turned away, torn down God's altars, and killed God's prophets. “I am the only one left!” cried Elijah. But that wasn't true. God told Elijah to stand on the mountain. A powerful wind came. It was strong enough to tear rocks apart! But the Lord was not in the wind. Then the ground shook in an earthquake. But the Lord wasn't in that, either. Then came a fire. But you guessed it, the Lord was not in the fire. After the fire came a gentle whisper. That is where God came to Elijah with his quiet Word and his promise: “You're not alone, Elijah.” Elijah felt alone, but God showed him the truth. “You're not alone.” God says the same to you in his Word. You may feel unseen, but God sees you. You may feel forgotten, but God remembers you. You may feel alone, but God is with you. Jesus proves it. He came to be with sinners, die for sinners, and rise for sinners. He's the one who promised he would be with you always, until the very end. Listen to God's gentle whisper in his Word. You are not alone. Your Savior is with you. Prayer: Dear Lord, when we feel afraid or alone, help us listen to your Word and trust your promises. Thank you for staying with us and sending Jesus to keep all your promises. Amen. The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire. Questions for Younger Children Use your loudest whisper to say, “God is with me.” Point to someone in the room. How does that person remind you that God gives you people who care about you? Questions for Elementary Age Children Elijah thought he was the only one left who loved the Lord. What did God tell him that he did not know? Draw two pictures: one of Elijah feeling alone, and one of Elijah hearing God's promise. What changed? Questions for Middle School and Above Why might God's “gentle whisper” be a better answer to doubt than wind, earthquake, or fire? When someone feels alone in their faith, what promises from God's Word would be helpful to hear? Download Family Devotions Family Devotions are brought to you by WELS Discipleship. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/family-devotions/20260807fam.mp3 Listen to Devotion Read: Matthew 14:13-21 They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children. Matthew 14:20-21 When Your Lunch Is Too Little In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Five loaves of bread and two fish. That might be enough for one small lunch. Maybe. But it was definitely not enough for a crowd of thousands of people. Not even close! The disciples knew that. They looked around at the hillsides packed with people who had followed Jesus. Some of them had been sick—and Jesus had miraculously healed them. Now the people were tired and hungry. The sun was starting to set. So, the disciples did the math: one tiny, packed lunch divided by thousands of people equals . . . uh-oh. Big trouble! You can understand why the disciples told Jesus to “send the crowds away.” It made sense. Let the people go buy their own food. But Jesus had a different plan. He said, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.” Just imagine the disciples looking at each other! “We should feed them? With what?” They had only five loaves and two fish, and that would never feed a crowd like this. It probably wouldn't even feed your whole classroom at school. But watch closely what Jesus does next. He says, “Bring them here to me.” Five loaves and two fish looked far too small—but they were being placed into the hands of Jesus. That is the best place for small things, weak things, hard things, and impossible things. Bring them to Jesus. Jesus took the bread and fish. He gave thanks. Then he gave the food to the disciples, and the disciples gave it to the people. And everyone ate. Not just a little taste; not just one tiny bite. They all ate and were satisfied. They began with one small meal and ended with twelve baskets of leftovers! Perhaps each disciple carried away a basket—a powerful reminder of what Jesus can do. Jesus gave more than enough. That's what Jesus did for the hungry crowd. He saw hungry people and gave them bread. He saw sick people and healed them. Most importantly, he saw sinful people and came to save them. Jesus sees what you need, too. Sometimes you need food, help, courage, patience, or rest. But most of all, you need him. So, Jesus gave himself for you. He gives forgiveness that does not run out. He gives love that does not end. He gives life that lasts forever. Five loaves and two fish looked hopelessly small—until placed in Jesus' hands. When what you have looks too small, bring it to Jesus. In his hands, there is always more than enough. Prayer: Dear Jesus, thank you for seeing what we need and caring for us with compassion. Help us bring our worries and needs to you, trusting that your love is always more than enough. Amen. The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire. Questions for Younger Children Hold up five fingers for the loaves. Now hold up two fingers for the fish. Was that a lot of food for thousands of people? Show with your face how the disciples might have looked when they saw twelve baskets of leftovers. Questions for Elementary Age Children What do the twelve baskets of leftovers teach us about Jesus' power? Jesus said, “Bring them here to me.” What is one worry or need your family can bring to Jesus in prayer? Questions for Middle School and Above The disciples' first idea was to send the hungry people away. Why do people sometimes try to solve problems without bringing them to Jesus first? Jesus gave the crowd more than enough food. How does that miracle help you trust him when your own strength, patience, faith, or resources feel too small? Download Family Devotions Family Devotions are brought to you by WELS Discipleship. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/family-devotions/20260805fam.mp3 Listen to Devotion Read: Ephesians 1:3-10 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ. Ephesians 1:4-5a Picked on Purpose In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Let's all admit it feels good to be picked for something. Maybe you get picked to be the line leader at school, or you get picked to help make cookies. Maybe your coach picks you to take the first kick in soccer. Or maybe someone picks you to choose the movie for family movie night, which is a very big responsibility. Use that power wisely! But not being picked can really hurt. When everyone else gets chosen first, and you're the only one left, it can make you feel small, forgotten, or not important. But did you catch something in today's Scripture? Something amazing? God picked you. The thing is, God didn't pick you the way people sometimes pick teams at recess. He wasn't looking for the fastest runner, the strongest kid, or the person who knew all the rules perfectly. God did not choose you because you were better than someone else. God picked you in Jesus. And he picked you on purpose. Paul, who wrote the book of Ephesians, says God chose his people “before the creation of the world.” That means before there were mountains to climb, oceans to swim in, puppies to cuddle, pizza to eat, stars to gaze at, or even one bug crawling on the ground, God already knew you. God already loved you. God already had a plan to bring you into his family through Jesus. Why would God do that? The answer is “grace.” Grace means that God loved you in Jesus, not because you earned it or deserved it. Not because you won a contest or passed a test. You didn't impress God be being better than everyone else. God's grace, shown through Jesus' perfect life, innocent death, and victorious resurrection, is the reason he chose you. Because of Jesus, you are redeemed, forgiven, and richly blessed as a member of God's family. Sometimes people wonder, “Does God really care about me?” Ephesians gives us the answer: YES—absolutely! God's love for you didn't just start yesterday; it didn't start when you were born. It didn't even start when the world began. God chose you in Christ before the world began. So, when you feel like the last person waiting to be picked, remember this: You are not forgotten; you are not an accident. You are not someone God barely noticed. In Jesus, you are picked on purpose—for his purpose—and you will always belong to him. Prayer: Dear Father, thank you for choosing us in Jesus and making us your children. When we feel forgotten or unimportant, help us remember your love that began before the world was made. Amen. The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire. Questions for Younger Children Act it out: Show what your face might look like when someone picks you for something special. Finish this sentence together: “In Jesus, God ________ me!” Questions for Elementary Age Children Name one time when being picked for something made you feel happy. Why did it feel good? What does the word “grace” mean? And how does remembering that help when you feel left out or forgotten? Questions for Middle School and Above How is being chosen by God different from being chosen for a team, award, or position? How does knowing you were chosen in Christ “before the creation of the world” help answer the fear that God might forget you? Download Family Devotions Family Devotions are brought to you by WELS Discipleship. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/family-devotions/20260803fam.mp3 Listen to Devotion Read: 1 Kings 17:1-6 You will drink from the brook, and I have directed the ravens to supply you with food there.” So he did what the LORD had told him. He went to the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan, and stayed there. The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning and bread and meat in the evening, and he drank from the brook. 1 Kings 17:4-6 God's Delivery Service In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Birds are pretty good at finding food. They peck in the grass. They look for crumbs. They raid your beach picnic (we're looking at you, seagulls!). They search in trees and bushes. But in today's Bible reading, you probably noticed that the birds weren't finding food for themselves. They were working for God's delivery service! God used ravens to deliver food to Elijah. Sounds pretty strange, right? Elijah was a prophet who spoke God's Word during the reign of a wicked king named Ahab. Ahab didn't love the one true God and led many people away from the Lord. So, God sent Elijah with a message to show Ahab how serious his sin was: there would be no rain for a long time. No rain meant dry ground; dry ground meant no crops; no crops meant people wouldn't have enough food. Many people and animals could starve to death! But God didn't forget about Elijah. He told his prophet to go to a special place near a brook, where clean, cool water would flow for Elijah to drink. God would even send ravens to bring food for Elijah! So, Elijah went, and God kept his promise. Every morning and evening, ravens came with bread and meat. Day after day, Elijah had what he needed. God's care looked strange . . . it came through birds! But it was still God's care. God still provides for us today. And he provides for us in ways you have come to expect: grocery stores, parents, friends, a teacher, a neighbor . . . so many different ways. But, at other times, God provides for us in ways we never saw coming. This is what makes God's people different, though, just like Elijah was different from Ahab. Christians don't always know how God will provide or when he will provide. But we do know this: God will provide! God cared for Elijah near the brook. God cares for you, too. And if you ever need proof of that, remember that God provided his own Son, Jesus, as the sacrifice needed to pay for our sins. Through Jesus, God gives you what you need. Through Jesus, God gives forgiveness, life, and a home with him forever. The God who sent birds with bread has not forgotten what his children need. And he knows why you need it. And he promises that he will always provide. Prayer: Dear Father, thank you for giving us what we need each day. Help us trust your care, even when we do not yet see how you will provide. Amen. The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire. Questions for Younger Children What kind of birds brought Elijah food? Pretend you are a raven delivering Elijah's meal. What food are you carrying? Questions for Elementary Age Children What did God show Elijah by giving him food each morning and evening? List as many people, places and things God uses to give you what you need as you can in 30 seconds. Ready. Set. Go! Questions for Middle School and Above Why can it be hard to trust God when he provides only one day at a time? What’s the difference between trusting God to provide what we need and expecting him to give us everything we want? Download Family Devotions Family Devotions are brought to you by WELS Discipleship. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/family-devotions/20260731fam.mp3 Listen to Devotion Read: Matthew 13:44-52 [Jesus said] “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field. “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.” Matthew 13:44-46 Something Better Than Buried Treasure In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Imagine trying to count the value of everything you own: your clothes, toys, books, games, bike, electronics, and everything in your room. The total might surprise you! If you guessed that everything you own is worth $5,000, the real number might be closer to $15,000. Now imagine someone asking you to trade all of it—every last thing—for one treasure. What treasure could possibly be worth that much? In two short parables Jesus told of people who sold everything they had to obtain one thing. One man discovered treasure hidden in a field. Another man found an incredibly valuable pearl. Both of them gladly sold everything they owned to make that treasure theirs. Jesus was teaching us about a treasure even greater than a chest of gold or a priceless pearl: the kingdom of heaven. Nothing we own can compare with belonging to God's kingdom. God's kingdom is King Jesus ruling in our hearts. Jesus may not promise us expensive clothes, a fancy house, or thousands of online followers. He promises something infinitely better—eternal things. He forgives every sin. He will raise the dead on the Last Day. He has opened heaven for all who believe in him. Be honest: would you sometimes rather have Jesus give you a new phone, a giant flatscreen, or a bigger house instead of invisible gifts like forgiveness and heaven? Our sinful hearts are easily excited by shiny new things. But how long do those things stay new? Today's newest phone will eventually stop working. The biggest screen will be replaced by an even bigger one. Toys break. Clothes wear out. Games become boring. But the kingdom of heaven will never grow outdated, never wear out, and never be surpassed. A man named James Howells accidentally threw away a computer hard drive containing $800 million worth of bitcoin. He tried to buy the landfill for $73 million to search for it. His request was denied. Imagine knowing that your treasure was buried somewhere underneath a mountain of garbage! He was willing to spend a fortune trying to recover it, but he could not get it back. Thankfully, the treasure Jesus gives can never be buried in a landfill, lost underneath the bed, stolen by a thief, or accidentally thrown away. We did not have to sell everything to purchase it. We couldn't purchase it—even if we owned all the money in the world. Jesus gave up everything to make that treasure yours. He left heaven, carried your sins, and won for you a place in God's kingdom forever. Jesus doesn’t want your stuff; he only wants your heart so he can teach it to say, “Jesus, you are my treasure.” Prayer: Dear Jesus, help us treasure your kingdom above all things. Forgive us when we love our possessions more than we love you. Keep our hearts fixed on your forgiveness, your promises, and the eternal life you have won for us. Amen. The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire. Questions for Younger Children What is a treasure? (hint: a favorite thing that you own) What is the greatest treasure that God has given to you? Questions for Elementary Age Children What did the two men in Jesus' parables find? What were they willing to give up to have it? What kind of treasure would be so valuable that you would gladly give up all your toys, games, and electronics to have it? Questions for Middle School and Above How can you tell when something you own has become too important to your heart? Jesus said, “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:21). What might the way you spend your time, attention, and money reveal about your treasure? Download Family Devotions Family Devotions are brought to you by WELS Discipleship. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/family-devotions/20260729fam.mp3 Listen to Devotion Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life. Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to your care. Turn away from godless chatter and the opposing ideas of what is falsely called knowledge, which some have professed and in so doing have departed from the faith. Grace be with you all. 1 Timothy 6:17-21 The Richest Kid in the World In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. David Lee Edwards won a $27 million lottery, but only five years later, all that money was gone, and he was living in a storage shed with his wife. Imagine having millions of dollars—enough to buy enormous houses, fancy cars, and almost anything you wanted—and then losing it all! Other lottery winners have had the same thing happen to them. I guess money doesn't last forever. Then why do so many people chase after money as if it is the magic wand that will solve every problem, make them happy forever, and never run out? Because every one of us has a sinful nature. Our sinful selves are attracted to things we can see, hold, buy, and enjoy right now. God's treasures may not be things we can hold in our hands, but they are much more valuable—and they last forever. This is not a new problem. More than 2,000 years ago the apostle Paul wrote, “Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth” (1 Timothy 6:17). Paul did not say that having money is sinful. Money is one of God's gifts, and it can be used in wonderful ways. The danger comes when we trust money more than we trust God. God wants you to be rich—just not only in things that can break, disappear, or be taken away. Be rich in something that lasts. Paul said it like this, “Command [them] . . . to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment . . . to be rich in good deeds . . . In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age” (1 Timothy 6:17-19). “Everything” means that our money, food, clothing, homes, toys, and everything are gifts from God. We can enjoy them and thank him for them. But those blessings are only for our life here on earth. Now look even farther—past this life and the way into eternity. There you can see God's greatest treasures. We are sinners who could never earn a place in heaven or save ourselves. So God gave us something no amount of money could ever buy: Jesus, our Savior. Because of him, God freely gives us forgiveness and eternal life. So be rich in things that last! Adults invest in “forever” when they use that money to support Christian education. Parents invest when they bring their family to worship and Sunday school. Friends are “rich in good deeds” when they use their time and talents to help others. You become spiritually rich whenever you spend time with God in his Word. So, who is the richest kid in the world? You may not have the most money or the coolest stuff. But if Jesus is your Savior, that makes every child of God—including you—one of the richest kids in the world. Prayer: Dear Jesus, help us put our hope in you instead of money or possessions. Make us rich in faith, rich in good deeds, and rich in the treasures that last forever. Amen. The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire. Questions for Younger Children Does money last forever? What do we have that WILL last forever? Questions for Elementary Age Children Name some earthly treasures—things we can own or buy. Who gives us those blessings? Name some spiritual treasures—gifts from God that money can't buy. Who blesses us with those? Questions for Middle School and Above If someone watched how you use your time, spend your money, and serve with your talents, what would they conclude is most valuable to you? Make a list of at least ten spiritual treasures Jesus gives us for free that are more precious than anything money can buy. (Possible examples include forgiveness, faith, peace with God, prayer, God's Word, Baptism, the Lord's Supper, Christian friends, purpose, and eternal life.) Download Family Devotions Family Devotions are brought to you by WELS Discipleship. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/family-devotions/20260727fam.mp3 Listen to Devotion At Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon during the night in a dream, and God said, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you.” Solomon answered, “You have shown great kindness to your servant, my father David, because he was faithful to you and righteous and upright in heart. You have continued this great kindness to him and have given him a son to sit on his throne this very day. “Now, LORD my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David. But I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties. Your servant is here among the people you have chosen, a great people, too numerous to count or number. So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?” The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this. So God said to him, “Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice, I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be. 1 Kings 3:5-12 Pray for Your Heart to Have Ears In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Imagine someone handing you their Venmo app and saying, “Write down any amount you want!” Nobody would really do that, would they? But that is a little like what the Lord God offered young King Solomon—only better. During the early days of Solomon's reign over Israel, God appeared to him in a dream and said, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you” (1 Kings 3:5). Imagine the possibilities! The sinner inside all of us gets excited at the thought of being able to ask God for anything knowing he will give it to us. What would you ask for? More money? A giant house? Straight A's? To be famous? Your dream vacation? Or maybe for someone who hurt you to get what you think they deserve? Solomon could have asked for any of those things—and more. But he didn't. Instead, Solomon asked God for “a hearing heart” (1 Kings 3:9). What a strange prayer! Hearts don't hear; ears do. Yet Solomon understood something important. The greatest treasure God could give him was not wealth, power, or fame. It was a heart that listened to God. God gave Solomon exactly what he asked for, “I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be” (1 Kings 3:12). The Lord blessed Solomon with amazing wisdom because he had asked for something far more valuable than riches, power, or success. None of us will ever need the kind of wisdom required to rule God's chosen nation. You probably won't need to settle arguments between thousands of people or make decisions for an entire country! Yet there is greater wisdom than knowing how to govern. The wisest thing anyone can do is listen to God's Word and trust its promises. That is what makes followers of Jesus different from the rest of the world. The Holy Spirit has given us a new heart—one that has ears to listen to what God tells us in his Word. We listen humbly when God shows us that something we have done is sinful—even when we don't want to admit it. We listen joyfully when God forgives every one of our sins through Jesus. We listen thankfully when God guides us in ways that show love for him and for our neighbor. When God opened the doors of his goodness to Solomon, Solomon's response was simple: “Give me a hearing heart.” One of the wisest prayers we can pray is this: “Lord, give me a heart that listens to you.” Prayer: Dear Lord, give us hearing hearts that gladly listen to your Word. Help us trust your promises and follow your wisdom every day. Amen. The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire. Questions for Younger Children If you could ask for one special gift, what would you ask for? What did Solomon ask God to give him? Questions for Elementary Age Children What is a “hearing heart”? Someone commented, “Solomon's request already showed God had begun answering his prayer.” What did they mean? How did his request show wisdom? Questions for Middle School and Above If God told you, “Ask for whatever you want,” what might your first request reveal about your heart? How do we show that we have a “hearing heart” when God shows us our sins and points us to Jesus for forgiveness? Download Family Devotions Family Devotions are brought to you by WELS Discipleship. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/family-devotions/20260724fam.mp3 Listen to Devotion Jesus told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared. “The owner's servants came to him and said, ‘Sir, didn't you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?' “‘An enemy did this,' he replied. “The servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?' “‘No,' he answered, ‘because while you are pulling the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.'” Then he left the crowd and went into the house. His disciples came to him and said, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field.” He answered, “The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the people of the kingdom. The weeds are the people of the evil one, and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels. “As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. They will throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Whoever has ears, let them hear. Matthew 13:24-30,36-43 Difficult Farming In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Farming is difficult business. You need to find good seeds and good soil. The sun and rain are beyond your control. Neither planting nor harvesting are easy. And in between you’ve got to keep the weeds from choking out the wheat. But what if the weeds looked almost exactly like the wheat? How would you know which ones to pull? Jesus says the farmer should leave them alone for now. That’s Jesus’ surprising answer. Of course, he wasn’t talking about literal farming. He was talking about harvesting souls. When Jesus explained his parable of “The Weeds and the Wheat,” he uncovered some uncomfortable truths. We are happy that the Holy Spirit has called us to be God's people through Jesus—that’s not uncomfortable. What is uncomfortable, however, is that the devil also has his followers in the world. Like the similar-looking weeds and wheat, believers and unbelievers often look the same on the outside. Someone may smile, be kind, and seem like a good person, but only God knows what is truly in a person’s heart. Only God, who sees hearts, can immediately tell the difference. That leads to a second uncomfortable truth: God allows both believers and unbelievers to live together on earth. Jesus explains that it is out of concern for believers that God allows this, “while you are pulling the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with them” (Matthew 13:29). God knows what he is doing, even when we do not understand all his reasons. It is difficult to live as wheat among weeds. Sometimes it feels like there are more people who ignore God than follow him. Christians can feel outnumbered. We wonder why God does not put an end to wickedness right now. Yet Jesus calls us to live patiently, faithfully, and with hope. God knows those who belong to him. We cannot always tell who truly belongs to Jesus. A friend who doesn’t believe today might hear about Jesus tomorrow. A neighbor who never goes to church today may someday trust in Jesus because someone shared God’s Word with them. He wants more people to hear the good news and be brought into his kingdom. That’s one reason God waits. He wants more people to be saved. A harvest is coming. On the Last Day, God’s angels will separate the wheat from the weeds without making a single mistake. Then every believer will finally “shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father” (Matthew 13:43). What a wonderful day that will be! Until then, we live confidently as God’s people, trusting the Farmer who knows exactly what he is doing. Prayer: Dear Jesus, help us live patiently and faithfully for you among the weeds of this world. Keep us trusting in you until the day we shine in your heavenly kingdom. Amen. The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire. Questions for Younger Children In Jesus’ story, what grew in the field besides wheat? Are weeds good or bad? Who is the only one who can see what is really in a person's heart? Questions for Elementary Age Children True or False: You can always tell if someone believes in Jesus just by looking at them. Why or why not? Can you think of a time when it was hard to follow Jesus because people around you made different choices? Questions for Middle School and Above Why is it dangerous to decide whether someone is wheat or a weed just by what we can see? How does the promise of the final harvest help you live patiently and hopefully in a world where evil still exists? Download Family Devotions Family Devotions are brought to you by WELS Discipleship. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/family-devotions/20260722fam.mp3 Listen to Devotion Read: Romans 1:18-25 For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse. For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen. Romans 1:20-21,25 The Giver In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Think of the favorite gift you received on your last birthday. Who gave it to you? Your mom or dad? Your grandma or grandpa? A favorite aunt or uncle? Now imagine something funny. Let’s pretend you received a new video game console. You spent hours mastering the games. You maybe even lost some sleep before your mom or dad asked you to shut it down for bedtime. Here's a silly question: Did the video game console ever tell you, “I love you!”? Did it ever give you a hug when you were sad? Did it ever thank you for playing it? Of course not. It’s just a video game! Those who gave you the game, however, love you very much! More important than the gift is the giver—the person who gave it to you. Imagine how sad your parents or grandparents would feel if you cared more about the present than about them. Every birthday gift, every Christmas gift—in fact, everything you have comes from one Giver—God. He gave us the things we can see like food to eat, clothes to wear, homes to live in, and so much more. He gave us things like a beautiful sunset, music to enjoy, minds that can learn new things, and bodies that can run, jump, and play As wonderful as God’s gifts are, none of them can love us back. But the Giver can. Even better, the Giver loves us so much that he gave us his only Son to forgive our sins and open heaven to us once again. Unfortunately, people often make a mistake. They begin to love the gifts more than the Giver. The apostle Paul tells us, “For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him” (Romans 1:21). God’s creation should lead us to honor and thank him. Instead, sinners become so focused on God’s gifts that they forget the Giver. That’s called sin, and sin deserves God’s punishment. Paul warns that “the wrath of God is being revealed against all the godlessness and wickedness of people” (Romans 1:18). Yet God did not stop loving those who loved his gifts more than him. The Giver gave the greatest gift of all—Jesus. Jesus perfectly honored his Father and took our idolatry to the cross. Because of Jesus, our sins are forgiven. Through faith, we learn to love the Giver above all his gifts. Paul ends by saying that God is “forever praised” (Romans 1:25). Why? Because God didn’t leave us in our sins. He gave us Jesus! The Giver gave us the best gift—Jesus, the Savior from sin. Prayer: Dear Jesus, forgive us when we love your gifts more than we love you. Help us honor and thank you as the Giver of every good thing. Amen. The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire. Questions for Younger Children Who is the Giver of every good thing we have? Why can't a video game love you back? Questions for Elementary Age Children Can you name five gifts that God has given you today? Which gift from God are you most thankful for right now? Why? Questions for Middle School and Above Paul says people forgot to thank God. Why do you think it’s easy to enjoy God’s gifts but forget to thank him? Agree or disagree: The created world we live in provides enough evidence to know that God exists. Explain your answer. Download Family Devotions Family Devotions are brought to you by WELS Discipleship. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/family-devotions/20260720fam.mp3 Listen to Devotion Read: Isaiah 44:6-11 “This is what the LORD says—Israel's King and Redeemer, the LORD Almighty: I am the first and I am the last; apart from me there is no God. Do not tremble, do not be afraid. Did I not proclaim this and foretell it long ago? You are my witnesses. Is there any God besides me? No, there is no other Rock; I know not one.” All who make idols are nothing, and the things they treasure are worthless. Isaiah 44:6,8-9 God Isn't Monopoly Money! In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Every Monopoly game comes with $20,580. That's a lot of money! But imagine walking into a toy store with a handful of Monopoly money and trying to buy your favorite LEGO set or stuffed animal. It won't work. It's fake money. Sometimes people make a similar mistake with something much more important. They put their hopes for happiness and even heaven in created things instead of the Creator. In Isaiah’s time—and, in some places still today—those created things were statues—idols—made of wood or stone. But idols don’t have to be made of wood or stone. An idol can be anything or anyone that we fear, love, or trust more than the true God. Today idols may look like sports, video games, being the best at something, friends, money, or being popular. Wood and stone are real. Toys, money, friends, and popularity are real too. But none of these are God. They are false gods that cannot bring us real joy, peace, forgiveness, or eternal life. Isaiah says, “All who make idols are nothing, and the things they treasure are worthless” (Isaiah 44:9). What are the idols that tempt you? Money? Are you more in love with the stuff of this world than with the One who created it? Popularity? Is your life focused on being the most popular person in the room with the most “likes” and “followers”? This is what makes believers in Jesus different. Christians may or may not be famous or wealthy, and they may or may not have lots of nice things, but they have Christ. They believe God’s words, “Is there any God besides me? No, there is no other Rock; I know not one” (Isaiah 44:8). By grace, the one and only God found them and called them into his family of faith. They also know that Jesus has forgiven all their sins, even the sin of so often wanting their own selfish desires above what God wants. Living as God's people in this world is not always easy. Advertisements whisper that happiness is found in what we own. Social media suggests our value depends on how many people notice us. Yet none of those can save us. Christians are different because they listen to the voice of their Savior, who alone forgives sinners. To have the true God is to have everything. God forgives sins, promises the resurrection from death, and reserves for us a room in his heavenly mansion. Those are gifts that never wear out, never break, and can never be taken away. When we have him, we possess treasures that never fade and a future that never ends. Prayer: Dear Jesus, forgive us when we love other things more than you. Help us trust you above all else and find our joy in your forgiveness and promises. Amen. The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire. Questions for Younger Children Why wouldn’t Monopoly money work at a real store? How many true Gods are there? Questions for Elementary Age Children Name three idols that people today might be tempted to love more than God. What are some things that the true God gives that idols cannot give? Questions for Middle School and Above Luther says that a “god” is whatever we trust most or run to first for help. When kids are scared, sad, or worried, what are some things they might be tempted to trust instead of God? How can a Christian enjoy God’s gifts—such as family, success, possessions, or popularity—without turning them into idols? Download Family Devotions Family Devotions are brought to you by WELS Discipleship. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/family-devotions/20260717fam.mp3 Listen to Devotion Read: Matthew 13:1-9,18-23 [Jesus said] “A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. Matthew 13:3-8 Seeds Everywhere! In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Imagine your family gave you a packet of flower seeds and said, “Don’t waste these!” You would probably be careful, right? You’d plant them in good dirt. You wouldn’t throw them onto the driveway. You wouldn’t toss them into a pile of rocks. You definitely wouldn’t scatter them into a patch of weeds. That would be silly! But in Jesus’ story, that’s exactly what the farmer does. He throws seed everywhere. Some lands on the path. Some lands on rocky ground. Some lands among thorns. Some lands on good soil. At first, it almost seems like the farmer is being careless. But Jesus is teaching us something important. In this parable, the seed is God’s Word—the good news about Jesus. And the farmer is God. God doesn’t keep his Word locked away or only share it with a few people. He spreads it everywhere. Some people hear God’s Word and ignore it. Some people get excited about it for a little while but then drift away. Some people let other things become more important than Jesus. But some people hear God’s Word, trust in Jesus, and their faith grows strong. That’s the good soil. And when God’s Word grows in someone’s heart, amazing things happen: Faith grows. Lives change. People learn about Jesus. Others hear the gospel too. Just think, one little seed can produce a huge harvest! This parable teaches us how we should share God’s Word. Sometimes we wait for the “perfect” moment. Sometimes we’re afraid someone won’t listen. Sometimes we think, “What if they don’t care?” But Jesus tells us to keep planting. Keep inviting. Keep sharing. Keep talking about Jesus. We don’t have to figure out which hearts are good soil, and which aren’t. That’s God’s job. Our job is simply to scatter the seed. And because God’s Word is powerful, we know it is never wasted. The farmer in Jesus’ story wasn’t careless. He was generous. And God is generous too. He keeps planting his Word in our hearts and in the hearts of others because he wants many people to know the love and forgiveness found in Jesus. So don’t be afraid to share God’s Word. You never know when God is growing a harvest that is bigger than you can imagine! Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for planting your Word in our hearts. Let your Word root deeply in us so that we may bear fruit for your kingdom. Amen. The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire. Questions for Younger Children Where did some of the farmer’s seed land? What does the seed represent in Jesus’ story? What happened to the seed that landed on good soil? Questions for Elementary Age Children Why do you think the farmer scattered seed everywhere instead of only putting it in the good soil? What does this story teach us about our job and God’s job when we share the gospel? Questions for Middle School and Above The farmer kept scattering seed even though he knew some would not grow. What does that teach us about God’s love for people and about the way Christians should share the gospel? Have you ever invited someone to church, Sunday school, or vacation Bible school? What happened? Download Family Devotions Family Devotions are brought to you by WELS Discipleship. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/family-devotions/20260715fam.mp3 Listen to Devotion Read: 1 Corinthians 3:5-11 By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 3:10-11 The First Button In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Have you ever gotten dressed in the dark? Maybe you started buttoning your shirt and everything seemed fine at first. But when you got to the last button, something looked funny. One side was higher than the other! You turn on a light and discover the problem. The very first button was in the wrong hole. Because the first button was wrong, every other button ended up wrong too. One little mistake at the beginning changed everything at the end. Paul was dealing with a problem at the church in Corinth. Some people were arguing about which teacher was most important. Was it Paul, who started the church? Was it Apollos, who helped teach the people afterward? Paul reminded them that they were all working together for God. One person planted the seed. Another person watered it. But God was the one making it grow. Then Paul shared something even more important. Every Christian is building on the exact same foundation: Jesus Christ. A foundation is the part of a building that everything else sits on. If the foundation cracks, the whole building is in trouble. But if the foundation is strong, the building can stand firm. Jesus is the strong foundation for the church. Jesus is also the strong foundation for our family. Sometimes it’s easy to build our lives on other things. We might think, “I’ll be happy if I make the team.” Or “Everything will be okay if I get a good grade.” Or “I need everyone to like me.” Those things aren’t bad. Sports, school, and friendships are gifts from God. But they make terrible foundations. What happens if you don’t make the team? What happens if you get a bad grade? What happens if a friend says something hurtful? If those things are your foundation, your whole life can start to feel shaky like it's going to crash down! Our foundation is already laid for us in Jesus. That means your value doesn’t depend on how well you play, how smart you are, or what other people think about you. Your value comes from Jesus. When Jesus died and rose again, he forgave every sin. He made you part of God’s family. He promised to love you forever. When our family prays together, reads God’s Word together, and reminds each other about God’s forgiveness, we are building on a rock-solid foundation. It's a “first-button” issue: When Jesus is our foundation, we know how the rest of our story lines up. No matter what difficult days come, Jesus will hold us up now until he invites us to our forever home in heaven. Now THAT'S a really good ending! Prayer: Dear Jesus, thank you for being our strong foundation. When we are tempted to build our lives on sports, grades, popularity, or other things, remind us that you are what matters most. Help our family stay close to you through your Word and prayer. Thank you for loving us, forgiving us, and holding us up every day. Amen. The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire. Questions for Younger Children What happened when the first button was put in the wrong hole? Who does Paul say is the foundation of the church? Questions for Elementary Age Children What are some things kids your age sometimes think are the most important things in life? Why can sports, grades, friends, or hobbies make us happy but still be poor foundations? Questions for Middle School and Above Imagine two families. One builds everything around success and achievements. The other builds everything around Jesus. What differences might you notice when both families go through a difficult time? Look at the practical examples mentioned at the end: praying together, reading God’s Word, and reminding each other of forgiveness. Which of these do you think our family is doing well, and which one could we work on to make our foundation stronger? Download Family Devotions Family Devotions are brought to you by WELS Discipleship. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/family-devotions/20260713fam.mp3 Listen to Devotion Read: Isaiah 55:6-11 As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. Isaiah 55:10-11 God's Word Always Works In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Have you ever planted a seed? Maybe it was a bean seed in a cup at school or a flower seed in a garden. What would happen if that seed never got any water? It would stay dry. It wouldn’t grow. But when it rains or someone waters it, something amazing happens. Little roots begin to grow. A tiny plant pushes up through the dirt. Before long, there are leaves, flowers, or even food to eat. A science teacher might call this part of the water cycle. Water goes up into the clouds and then comes back down as rain or snow. You don't have to remember any big science words to know something important: God sends water, and water does what God wants it to do. Rain helps flowers bloom. Water helps crops grow. Animals need water to live. People need water to drink. God sends water for a reason, and it does its job. God says his Word works the same way. When God’s Word is shared, read, taught, or preached, it always does something. Sometimes God’s Word helps someone believe in Jesus. Sometimes God’s Word helps a Christian grow stronger in faith. Sometimes God’s Word shows a person that they are doing something wrong and need God’s forgiveness. Sometimes people don’t want to listen to God’s Word at all. But no matter what happens, God’s Word is never wasted. God promises that his Word will always do exactly what he wants it to do. That means we can tell people about Jesus without being afraid. We don’t have to wonder, “Will this matter?” We don’t have to think, “Maybe sharing Jesus is a waste of time.” God says it isn’t. His Word is living and active. His Word is powerful. His Word works. And God’s Word doesn’t leave us empty either. Because of Jesus, we are forgiven. Because of Jesus, heaven is our home. Because of Jesus, we have peace with God. Since God has filled our hearts with joy, peace, and hope, we can gladly share that same good news with others. Who knows? God can use his powerful Word to fill their hearts too! Prayer: Dear heavenly Father, thank you for giving us your powerful Word that always accomplishes your good purpose. May we trust its power to create and strengthen faith in us and those with whom we share it. Bless everyone who hears your Word, and through your Holy Spirit bring many people to trust in their Savior. Amen The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire. Questions for Younger Children What happens to plants when they get the rain and water they need? What does God say his Word always does? Questions for Elementary Age Children Why do you think God compares his Word to rain and snow? Have you ever told someone about Jesus or invited someone to church? What was that like? Questions for Middle School and Above If someone doesn’t want to listen when we talk about Jesus, does that mean God’s Word failed? Why not? God promises that his Word will always accomplish his purpose. How does that promise help us be brave when we share our faith with others? Download Family Devotions Family Devotions are brought to you by WELS Discipleship. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/family-devotions/20260710fam.mp3 Listen to Devotion Read: Matthew 11:25-30 [Jesus said] “Come to me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, because I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30 (EHV) The Best Kind of Rest In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. There is no animal that purposely delays sleep. Whether it is a giraffe needing 2 hours of sleep or a cat needing 20, no animal will go out of its way to not rest. People, however, are quite different. Despite knowing the dangers associated with lack of sleep and rest we humans continue to work too long and rest too little. We stay up watching shows, playing video games, scrolling on a device, or trying to finish one more thing before bed. The God who made us knows that we need rest. But Jesus came to give us more than a good night's sleep. He doesn't give us one more thing to do, another homework assignment, or one more project to finish. Instead, Jesus invites us to himself so that he can give us rest. Certainly, Jesus gives us an example of rest. Even the Son of God would take time to sleep, to pray, and to spend time in God's Word. But the most important rest Jesus gives is for your soul. He gives you rest when he says that your sins are forgiven. You don't have to carry around the burden of guilt and the wrong things you've done. Jesus took the sins off your back, carried them to the cross himself, and took their punishment away. Because of him, you are God's child and Jesus' friend—forever! Jesus gives you rest as he cares for you even now directing all things for your eternal good. Your life does not consist of you having to be smart enough to figure it all out or to outhustle everyone around you. You can be confident that good things await you because God is directing everything for your sake. Finally, Jesus will give you the greatest rest you will ever know as he is in heaven preparing a place for you to be with him forever. The gentle and humble Savior has promised a place with him forever. In a world where we so often fail to rest, our Jesus gives us exactly the rest we need. Prayer: Father in heaven, our souls are not at rest until they rest in you. Give us the rest Jesus offers to us. Amen. The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire. Questions for Younger Children Who does Jesus invite to come to him in these verses? What kinds of things can make people feel tired, worried, or burdened? Questions for Elementary Age Children How does Jesus describe the rest he gives? Jesus says he is “gentle and humble.” Why is it comforting to know that Jesus is kind and patient with us? Questions for Middle School and Above What are some things kids your age worry about? How can Jesus help you with those worries? The devotion says that you don’t have to have all the answers because God is caring for you. When is it hard to trust God instead of worrying? Download Family Devotions Family Devotions are brought to you by WELS Discipleship. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/family-devotions/20260708fam.mp3 Listen to Devotion Read: Romans 7:15-25 Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! Romans 7:24-25a (ESV) Jesus Does What I Can’t In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. At seven years old, on the way home from church, Matt sat in the back seat of the car and proudly announced to his parents that he wasn't going to sin anymore. Both of his parents chuckled, and his dad told him that he hoped he was right. Matt's promise was short-lived. After arriving home, he didn't like what his mom made for lunch and complained about it. Shortly after lunch, he and his brother had to go to timeout for fighting over Legos. Then before bed, he got in trouble again for sneaking cookies after he brushed his teeth. Matt really did mean it when he told his parents he wasn't going to sin anymore. But by the end of the day, he had already broken his promise several times! Have you ever told yourself that you weren't going to sin anymore only to find yourself still doing wrong things? Maybe you promised not to argue with your brother or sister. Maybe you said you would stop complaining or always obey your parents right away. But sometimes we still do the wrong thing, even when we don’t want to. That happened to the apostle Paul too. He loved God and wanted to do what was right. But he still struggled with sin. That is why he cried out, “Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?” (Romans 7:24). Notice what Paul does not ask. He doesn't ask, “How can I try harder?” or “What rules can I follow to fix myself?” He asks, “Who will rescue me?” Paul knew he needed more than self-control. He needed a Savior. A deliverer. And then Paul gives the answer: “Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!” (Romans 7:25). Your peace with God does not depend on you finally getting it right. It depends entirely on Jesus who already got it right for you. The harder you try to save yourself, the more tired you become. The more you trust Jesus, the more rest you find. Jesus does what we can’t. True rest begins when you reach the end of yourself and find Christ waiting there. So, rest in Jesus! Prayer: Lord Jesus, we confess that the good we want to do, we so often fail to do. Forgive us for trying to rely on our own strength. Thank you, that getting to heaven doesn’t depend on what we do for you, but on what you have already done for us. Give us true peace, knowing that we are safe in your loving hands. Amen. The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire. Questions for Younger Children In the Bible verse, Paul asks who will rescue him from his mistakes, and then he says, “Thanks be to God through . . .” Who is the Savior Paul is thanking? Have you ever tried really hard to be good (like sharing your toys or listening right away) but still made a mistake? How does it feel to know that Jesus always forgives you and loves you anyway? Questions for Elementary Age Children Why couldn’t Paul save himself from his sin? Paul didn’t ask for a checklist of rules to fix himself but instead asked who would rescue him. Why is looking to a person (Jesus) better than just trying to follow a checklist of rules when we mess up? Questions for Middle School and Above True or False: We are both a sinner and a saint at the same time. Sometimes Christians keep struggling with the same sins. How does knowing that Jesus has already forgiven you help you avoid giving up or feeling hopeless? Download Family Devotions Family Devotions are brought to you by WELS Discipleship. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/family-devotions/20260706fam.mp3 Listen to Devotion Read: Exodus 33:12-23 And the LORD said, “Behold, there is a place by me where you shall stand on the rock, and while my glory passes by I will put you in a cleft of the rock, and I will cover you with my hand until I have passed by. Exodus 33:21-22 (ESV) Safe in Jesus' Hands In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Whether it is a scary part in a movie or a loud dog at the park, young children will often reach for their parents’ hand. They want to know if their mom and dad are still there and if they are safe. Their parents' hand lets them know that wherever they are going they don't need to be afraid. Someone stronger is there to protect them. The burden of leadership must have been exhausting for Moses. Every day he helped lead hundreds of thousands of people through the wilderness. The people often complained about food, water, and even about Moses himself. One time, a golden calf seemed more attractive to worship than even God himself! Moses must have been tired, discouraged, and overwhelmed. God had promised Moses, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest” (Exodus 33:14). But Moses wanted even more reassurance. He cried out, “Please, show me your glory” (Exodus 33:18). God answered Moses' request, but in a special way. No sinful person can look directly at all of God's holy glory and live. So, the Lord placed Moses in the cleft of a rock—a safe hiding place—and covered him with his own hand as his glory passed by. Moses found rest not by escaping his work, but by being safely hidden in the care of God Almighty. Moses learned that God's glory isn't just a burning fire of judgment. God's glory is also his mercy and kindness. He is slow to anger and full of faithful love. Like Moses, we also pray to a gracious God that the Rock of ages would hide us as well. We don't need to hide in a rocky outcropping like Moses did, but we do need Jesus. Jesus keeps us safe in his grace and gives us true rest. In Jesus, God's glory is seen as his saving grace. Jesus stretched out his nailed-scarred hands on the cross. Now those same loving hands watch over you and everywhere you go. Wherever you go, Jesus goes with you. Hidden in Christ, your sins are forgiven, your burdens are carried, and your soul is granted eternal rest. God's hand is on you, and you are safe with him! Prayer: Lord God, heavenly Father, when we feel worried, scared, or tired, remind us that Jesus is our safe place. Hide us in the shelter of our rock, Jesus Christ. Thank you for revealing your glory to us through your Word and sacraments. Thank you for forgiving our sins and giving us peace and rest. In Jesus’ name, Amen. The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire. Questions for Younger Children Where did God hide Moses to keep him safe while his glory passed by? Jesus is like that “safe rock” for us. When are times that you feel scared, worried, or nervous? How does it help to know that Jesus is always with you? Questions for Elementary Age Children Moses had a very big job leading God’s people through the wilderness. What are some things that can make kids feel tired, frustrated, or overwhelmed? Why couldn’t Moses look directly at God's holy glory? How does God show us his grace and love today without scaring us? Questions for Middle School and Above The devotion says that Jesus is our safe rock. What do you think that means? How does God's Word in Holy Baptism and Holy Communion “safely hide” us when we face doubts or guilt? Download Family Devotions Family Devotions are brought to you by WELS Discipleship. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/family-devotions/20260703fam.mp3 Listen to Devotion Read: Matthew 10:34-42 [Jesus said] “Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it. “Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward.” Matthew 10:37-40,42 Who Is Number One? In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. It is an uncomfortable situation. You are with your friends. All of a sudden your time together has turned from harmless fun to harmful wrong. Here are some examples: Everyone else seems fine with messing with a neighbor's lawn decorations and stealing them, but what are you going to do? Or maybe you are home with your older siblings, and they want to watch a certain movie or play a video game that the folks have said no to. What do you do? Or maybe everyone in class is laughing at someone, and you know it isn’t kind. What do you do? Sometimes, following Jesus means making difficult, uncomfortable and unpopular choices. In today's reading, Jesus says something that sounds truly frightening: He says he didn't come to bring peace, but a sword. These are shocking words from the Prince of Peace. Jesus isn’t talking about hurting people with a real sword. He means that following him can sometimes cause disagreements because not everyone believes the same things about God. But we know this is sometimes part of our lives as Christians. Jesus is talking about how following him can sometimes cause “sharp” disagreements, even with people we love, like our family or best friends. He wants us to know that being his disciple means he is “Number One” in our lives—even ahead of our close relationships, favorite hobbies, our sports teams, or our own plans. Jesus is to be “Number One” in our lives. All the time. In everything. This sounds like a big job, doesn’t it? The truth is, we aren’t very good at putting Jesus first. Certainly not all the time. Sometimes peer pressure gets the better of us. Too often, we just want peace, so we go along with what we know is wrong. But here is the good news: Jesus put you first. Every time. Without fail. Jesus left the perfect peace in heaven and went to the pain and suffering on the cross for you to take away every sin and every time you choose peace over him. Because Jesus loves you perfectly, he gives you the Holy Spirit to help you stand up for what is right. Now, in faith, we see this in a new light. Jesus tells us, when you put others first—when you help a friend, share your lunch, or tell someone about Jesus—he says it's like you are doing those things for him! Even something as small as giving a cup of cold water to someone who is thirsty is a big deal to God. Sometimes we think only big things matter. Jesus reminds us that small acts of love matter too. Live in faith and in the love of the one who put you first; and because Jesus put you first, you can put him first too. Prayer: Dear Jesus, thank you for loving me so much that you put me first and died for my sins. Help me to put you first in my life, even when it's hard or when my friends don’t understand. Give me a heart that is ready to serve others with kindness. Amen. The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire. Questions for Younger Children Jesus says even a simple cup of cold water can make a difference. Why do small acts of kindness matter so much to God? Can you think of a small act of kindness someone showed you? How did it make you feel? Questions for Elementary Age Children Why is it sometimes hard to put Jesus first when everyone around us is doing something different? Jesus says that whoever welcomes you, welcomes him. How does it make you feel to know that you represent Jesus to the world? Questions for Middle School and Above Jesus says, “Whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.” How do we “lose our life” for Jesus in normal, everyday ways? If Jesus really is “Number One,” what is one thing our family could do this week to show that together? Download Family Devotions Family Devotions are brought to you by WELS Discipleship. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/family-devotions/20260701fam.mp3 Listen to Devotion But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses. In the sight of God, who gives life to everything, and of Christ Jesus, who while testifying before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you to keep this command without spot or blame until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, which God will bring about in his own time—God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honor and might forever. Amen. 1 Timothy 6:11-16 Ready, Set, Run! In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. It is so simple. One of the first sports anyone plays. At the playground, in the backyard, over at the neighborhood park. “I'll race you! Ready, set, go!” Some people, many adults, continue to play this game and are willing to pay money to race with hundreds and thousands of people for distances far longer than to the swing set or across the park. In any race of any distance, to win, you gotta run fast, keep your eyes on the goal and never give up—even when you're tired. In his first letter to Timothy, the apostle Paul tells us to “flee” from things like greed and selfishness. The word “flee” means to run away as fast as you can. If you saw a skunk with its tail up or a swarm of angry bees coming your way, you probably wouldn’t walk away—you’d run! But Paul doesn’t just want us to run away from bad things; he wants us to run toward the good stuff. He tells us to pursue things like righteousness, godliness, and love. The word “pursue” means to chase after something. So, Paul is saying, “Run away from sin, and run toward the things God loves.” Sometimes, living as a Christian can feel like a long race. We know how hard it is to be kind and loving when someone seems to be mean to you. We know the struggle of remaining patient when we really want something right now. And these struggles are part of every day, far more than just a few times in our day. Paul calls this the “good fight of the faith.” It's a fight because our sinful nature always wants us to go the wrong way or simply give up. But here is the best part: You are never running this race alone. God has promised to be with us to strengthen us and help us. We know how hard it can be to tell the truth when a lie seems easier. We know how hard it can be to share when we want something all for ourselves. When it comes to winning the prize, God has already given you the prize! Jesus' resurrection means all our enemies have been defeated. He has won the victory over sin, death, and the devil. Because of him, your sins are forgiven, and you have the gift of eternal life. The victory is yours. Imagine entering a race and finding out that the prize already belongs to you before the race even starts. That’s what Jesus has done for us. We don’t run so that God will love us. We run because he already loves us and has already saved us. When you feel tired or distracted, look at Jesus. Remember his promises from favorite Bible passages. Remember the good news of great joy you heard in worship this last week. Jesus is the “King of kings and Lord of lords.” He gives you the strength to keep running, to keep loving others, and to keep “fighting the good fight” until the day we stand in victory with him in heaven. So today . . . Ready. Set. Run! Run away from sin and run toward Jesus! Prayer: Dear Lord, thank you for winning the victory for me through Jesus. Help me to run away from things that hurt others and run toward the things that please you. Give me strength to continue fighting the good fight of faith today. Amen. The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire. Questions for Younger Children What does it mean “to flee” from something? What does it mean “to pursue” something? Questions for Elementary Age Children Paul calls living our faith a fight. Is it a fight against someone else or something else? Who or what are we fighting? Even in a large race usually only a few top finishers receive a prize. How does knowing Jesus has already won the prize make our days easier when things are hard? Questions for Middle School and Above Take some time to discuss the difference between righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness. Which is easiest to understand? Which one is hardest? King of kings and Lord of lords. The almighty God is on our side and he deeply loves us. How does this help us in the way we act in the constant fight of faith? Download Family Devotions Family Devotions are brought to you by WELS Discipleship. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/family-devotions/20260629fam.mp3 Listen to Devotion Read: Exodus 32:15-29 He said to Aaron, “What did these people do to you, that you led them into such great sin?” “Do not be angry, my lord,” Aaron answered. “You know how prone these people are to evil. They said to me, ‘Make us gods who will go before us. As for this fellow Moses who brought us up out of Egypt, we don't know what has happened to him.' So I told them, ‘Whoever has any gold jewelry, take it off.' Then they gave me the gold, and I threw it into the fire, and out came this calf!” Moses saw that the people were running wild and that Aaron had let them get out of control and so become a laughingstock to their enemies. So he stood at the entrance to the camp and said, “Whoever is for the LORD, come to me.” And all the Levites rallied to him. Exodus 32:21-26 The World's Worst Excuse In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Have you ever been caught doing something wrong and tried to come up with an excuse really fast? Maybe a broken lamp. A missing cookie. A messy bedroom. Sometimes when we know we did something wrong, we try to think of a reason why it wasn’t really our fault. Back when schoolwork was done in notebooks and worksheets, the excuse frequently made fun of was the silly, sad lie claiming, “My dog ate my homework.” Most people knew that excuse wasn’t true. But excuses aren’t just for homework. We all make excuses when we don’t want to admit we did something wrong. When we are young, we may not realize just how wrong our excuses sound. As we age, maybe we get a little wiser in the ways of this sinful world, but still our excuses all fall flat. Because we have a sinful nature, we face a lifetime of struggle with our natural tendency to excuse or minimize our sins. “It wasn't me. She started it.” “Everybody else was doing it.” “I didn't mean to.” How easily these excuses still come to us. Consider what took place in Exodus 32. Moses came down the mountain with two stone tablets engraved by God himself. On them were written the Ten Commandments. God told Moses what the children of Israel had done while he was meeting with God. The children of Israel had made a golden calf and worshipped it as if the idol had led them out of Egypt. That sin, like all our sin, is obvious to our all-knowing God. God had done so much for his people, so they would know he loved them and would protect them: the plagues, the Passover, the parting of the sea, a visible presence in cloud by day and fire by night. But still they built an idol and worshiped it. When caught in this sin, how does Aaron, the brother of Moses respond? He blamed others. He minimized the sin and came up with the sad, silly lie: “I threw it in the fire and out came this calf!” Can you imagine that? Aaron wanted Moses to believe that he tossed some gold into a fire and—poof!—a golden calf just appeared all by itself. It was a pretty ridiculous excuse. Moses knew from his own life how dangerous it is to make excuses and minimize sin. When the people sinned—and when we sin—God didn’t stop being their God. Instead of answering our excuses, God, in love, gave us the only answer for our sin. God used Moses to call them back. God had promised the people the perfect substitute who would shed his blood so God's people would go free. Jesus came to be the only answer for our sin. He is our sinless sacrifice. We don't need excuses, but honesty. Confess our sins and hear God's forgiveness for us in Jesus. Share it and speak it to one another. No excuses, just honesty from our holy and loving God. Prayer: We thank you, dear God, for the gift of forgiveness we need today and every day. Give us the honesty to confess our sins to you who know them and the confidence to trust our forgiveness by your mercy and grace. Amen. The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire. Questions for Younger Children When is the last time you heard the words, “I forgive you”? When is the last time you said the words, “I forgive you”? Questions for Elementary Age Children Why can it sometimes be hard to say, “I was wrong” or “I’m sorry”? What are some of the ways we are reminded of God's forgiveness in our worship service? Is the fact that God knows all things about us sometimes scary, sometimes comforting, or both? Why? Questions for Middle School and Above Can you recall and talk about with the whole family when being honest and admitting fault right away would have been far better than making excuses? God had shown his love in vivid ways to the children of Israel. What are some of the ways you know God has shown his love to you that you can be sure of God's forgiveness? Download Family Devotions Family Devotions are brought to you by WELS Discipleship. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/family-devotions/20260626fam.mp3 Listen to Devotion Read: Matthew 10:5a,21-33 [Jesus said] Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father's care. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. “Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven. Matthew 10:29-33 Safe in God's Care In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Imagine you saw a job description that read something like this: WANTED: Someone willing to work long hours for little pay. You won't see your family as much. Some people won't like you. Some may even be angry with you. You might have to leave your home and travel to new places. Your job will never end. Would you want that job? That doesn't sound very exciting, does it? It's not so different from what Jesus told his disciples when he sent them out to tell others about him. Jesus wanted them to know that sharing God’s Word would not always be easy. And Jesus doesn’t just send pastors and missionaries. He sends all of us to tell others about him. Sometimes people don’t want to hear about Jesus. Sometimes they disagree with what God says. Sometimes they may even make fun of Christians. That happened to Jesus' disciples. All of them suffered. Most of them gave their lives for their faith because they shared the good news about Jesus. But Jesus didn’t tell those things to scare them. He told them something better. Jesus said: “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care” (verse 29). Sparrows are tiny birds. Most people barely notice them. But God notices every single one. “Even the very hairs of your head are all numbered” (verse 30). God knows everything about you. He knows your name. He knows your thoughts. He knows your joys and your fears. And because he loves you so much, Jesus says: “Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows” (verse 31). What a promise! When Jesus sends us to share our faith, he doesn’t send us alone. He walks beside us. He watches over us. He cares for us every day. So, imagine reading this instead: WANTED: Someone to see God’s love every day. You’ll walk side-by-side with a Savior who never leaves you. There will be challenges, but you never need to be afraid. God will care for you so closely that he even knows how many hairs are on your head. And one day you’ll live with him forever in heaven. You don’t have to imagine it. That’s exactly the life Jesus has given you. Prayer: Jesus, help me see the beautiful, challenging, wonderful, grace-filled life you've called me to, and let me speak your Word faithfully here until you bring me faithfully home to heaven. Amen. The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire. Questions for Younger Children Why do you think Jesus talked about sparrows? What does it mean that God knows even how many hairs are on your head? Questions for Elementary Age Children Why can you be brave when you talk about Jesus or share your faith? Who is someone you know that shares Jesus with others? Pray for them together. Questions for Middle School and Above Jesus says that following him can sometimes be hard. If nobody has ever given you a hard time because you’re a Christian, does that mean you aren’t sharing your faith well? Why or why not? What does Jesus promise to do for those who acknowledge him before others? (see verse 32) Download Family Devotions Family Devotions are brought to you by WELS Discipleship. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/family-devotions/20260624fam.mp3 Listen to Devotion Read: 2 Timothy 4:1-8 Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing. 2 Timothy 4:2-4,7-8 Don't Scratch the Itch! In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. A man went to the doctor because his ear hurt badly. But the pain wasn't even the worst part—the itching was! As the doctor examined him, he discovered something awful: there were bugs inside the man's ear. While the man was sleeping, a fly had laid eggs there. That sounds disgusting, doesn't it? But what made the problem even worse was this: every time the man scratched his itchy ear, he pushed the bugs farther inside. Scratching the itch only made the problem worse. When something itches, we really want to scratch it. But Paul says the same thing can happen with God's Word. Paul wrote a letter to a young pastor named Timothy, warning him that people would someday have “itching ears.” Paul didn't mean people's ears would actually itch. He meant people would look for teachers and pastors who would tell them exactly what they wanted to hear. Maybe someone wants to hear that their sins are “not a big deal.” Maybe they want to hear that it doesn't matter what you believe, as long as you believe something. Maybe they want someone to tell them they never need to forgive others or help hurting people. Paul says people sometimes look for “itch-scratchers”—teachers who make them feel good instead of telling them God's truth. But scratching an itch doesn't heal the problem. It only makes it worse. We all have “itches.” There are parts of God's Word that are hard for us to hear. Sometimes God tells us to confess sins we don't want to admit. Sometimes he tells us to forgive someone when we don't want to. Sometimes he tells us to love people who are difficult to love. But God doesn't want teachers who simply scratch our itchy ears. He gives us pastors, teachers, parents, and Christian friends who tell us the truth—even when it's hard to hear. Why? Because God loves us too much to leave us trapped in sin. May God give us preachers, not “itch-scratchers!” May they rebuke us when we need it, so our sins don't destroy our faith, and may they always point us to the great gift of salvation we have in Jesus. That truth may not scratch our itch—but it heals our hearts, opens our ears to truth, and someday, will place a crown of eternal life on our heads! Prayer: When my ears itch, O Lord, I want someone to scratch them. Instead, bless me with people who will tell me your true Word. Instead of scratching my itch, heal my heart. Amen. The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire. Questions for Younger Children In today's devotion, a man's ear was hurting horribly. Why did scratching make the problem worse? Paul talked about “itching ears.” What do you think that means? Questions for Elementary Age Children God says people won't “put up with sound doctrine.” That means they don't want to hear what God really says. Why do people sometimes want teachers to tell them only what they want to hear? Paul said a “crown of righteousness” was waiting for him. What wonderful gift was Paul talking about? Questions for Middle School and Above What are some things God says in the Bible that can be hard for us to hear? When we look for a church, what is the MOST important thing we should look for? Download Family Devotions Family Devotions are brought to you by WELS Discipleship. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/family-devotions/20260622fam.mp3 Listen to Devotion Read: Jeremiah 20:7-13 If I say, “I will not mention his word or speak anymore in his name,” his word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot. But the LORD is with me like a mighty warrior; He rescues the life of the needy from the hands of the wicked. Jeremiah 20:7-13 (selected verses) When God's Word Burns Inside You In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Have you ever had good news that you wanted to tell, but you weren't allowed to yet? Maybe you knew about a surprise party or that your mom was going to have another baby, but you were told, “Don't tell anyone yet!” When you have news that's so exciting like that, it's hard to keep it in. You just want to burst out! That's a little like what happened to the prophet Jeremiah. God gave him a message to share with God's people. Part of the message warned them about their sins. But it also included the promise of God's love and forgiveness. Jeremiah said that he tried not to speak God's Word, it felt like a burning fire inside him. It was hard to keep it in! But there was a problem. People didn't always like hearing God's message. When Jeremiah warned people about their sins, they became angry with him. They even hated him and tried to hurt him. Can you imagine how hard that must have been? It hurt Jeremiah when he didn't speak God's Word, but it also hurt him when he did. You probably can! Because God shared his Word with you. You know that sins separate us from God, and when you see people you love who don't believe in God or are living in sinful ways, you care about them and want them to know Jesus. And more than that, you love to tell people about God's grace and forgiveness. Sometimes it feels hard to keep that good news inside! But maybe you've experienced something else too. Maybe you told someone what God says about sin or told them about Jesus—and they didn't believe you. Maybe they laughed, rolled their eyes, or didn't want to listen. That hurts too. Jeremiah didn't find a way to make it stop hurting. Instead, he remembered that his Savior was with him. That gave him courage to speak—and it gave him comfort when speaking God's Word brought him pain. Jesus is with you, too, and has placed his promises in your heart. He promises to help you speak with courage, kindness, and love. So, don't hold his promises in! Prayer: Lord, thank you for putting your Word in my heart. Help me also keep your Word on my mouth, so that others can hear what you've done. Give me courage to speak your Word truthfully, and grant that other people believe. Amen. The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire. Questions for Younger Children What's a time you had exciting news that was really hard to keep secret? People were mad at Jeremiah for sharing God's Word. Has someone ever been mad at you for telling them about what God says? Questions for Elementary Age Children Jeremiah said God's Word felt like a fire burning inside him. Why do you think he described it that way? Pick a pastor, teacher, or other church leader who shares God's Word—even when it's hard. Pray for them. Questions for Middle School and Above Jeremiah felt hurt whether he stayed quiet or spoke up. Why do you think he still kept sharing God's message? What comfort gave Jeremiah courage at the end of the reading? And how does it help you when the truth of God's Word is hard to hear or to share? Download Family Devotions Family Devotions are brought to you by WELS Discipleship. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/family-devotions/20260619fam.mp3 Listen to Devotion Read: Matthew 9:35–10:8 [Jesus] said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” Jesus called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out impure spirits and to heal every disease and sickness. These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon (who is called Peter) and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him. These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.' Matthew 9:35–10:8 (selected verses) You Matter More Than You Think In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Quick: How many of the twelve apostles can you name? Maybe you remembered Peter, John, or Matthew. But what about Thaddaeus? Or Simon the Zealot? Did you know there were actually two disciples named James and two named Simon? Don't worry if you can't remember all their names. Most people can't! That might seem surprising because the disciples were Jesus' closest followers. The Bible doesn't actually tell us much about them. There's a reason for that. The Bible isn't about them; it's about Jesus and the salvation that he was bringing into the world. But that does NOT mean those disciples were unimportant. Jesus taught them, traveled with them, and gave them two incredible jobs to do. First, Jesus told them to PRAY for more workers to share God's Word. Jesus said there were many people ready to hear about him—like a huge field ready for harvest. So, Jesus told his disciples to “beg” God to send more workers into the field. Then right after Jesus told them to pray for workers, Jesus sent THEM out to be the workers! Those disciples traveled all over the world telling people about Jesus. Some went to faraway countries (Italy, Africa, India). Some faced danger. Some were laughed at or hurt because they believed in Jesus. But they kept sharing the good news anyway. And even though most people today don't know much about those disciples, billions of people know about Jesus because of them. That teaches us something important: You do not have to be famous to matter. Maybe someday people won't remember your name hundreds of years from now. That's okay. God can still use you in wonderful ways right now. Here are your two incredible jobs: First, you can pray for missionaries, pastors, teachers, and Christians who share Jesus with others. And you can also be part of the answer to your own prayer when you tell someone about Jesus yourself. Second, every time you show kindness, invite someone to church, tell a friend about Jesus, or remind someone that God loves them, God is using YOU too. Prayer: Heavenly Father, I believe that you love the world and want all people to believe in Jesus. Please send more people out to share that message. And Father, give me a chance to be the answer to that prayer as you give me opportunities to share my faith, too. Amen. The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire. Questions for Younger Children Which disciples of Jesus can you remember? What important job did Jesus give his disciples? Questions for Elementary Age Children Jesus said, “The harvest is plentiful.” What do you think he meant by that? Who is someone God has used to teach you about Jesus? Questions for Middle School and Above Why is it encouraging to know that you don't have to be famous to matter to God? Jesus told the disciples to pray for workers and then sent them out to work. What lesson does that teach us? Download Family Devotions Family Devotions are brought to you by WELS Discipleship. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/family-devotions/20260401fam.mp3 Listen to Devotion Read: Exodus 24:1-11 Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read it to the people. They responded, “We will do everything the LORD has said; we will obey.” Moses then took the blood, sprinkled it on the people and said, “This is the blood of the covenant that the LORD has made with you in accordance with all these words.” Exodus 24:7-8 God Wants to Be Close to You In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. A covenant is a very special promise. Today we're going to hear about a promise God made because he wanted to be close to his people—and he wants to be close to you too. Long ago, God rescued his people, the Israelites, from slavery in Egypt. God did amazing things to help them. He sent plagues to make the Egyptians let them go. He opened the Red Sea so they could walk safely through it. Later, he even sent bread from heaven and birds for them to eat. God took care of them every day. But the people kept forgetting what God had done. They complained. They got scared. Sometimes they even doubted that God would help them. Even after all the miracles, they struggled to trust him. Still, God did something wonderful. He made a covenant—a special promise—with his people. God said, “I will be your God, and you will be my people.” To show how serious this promise was, sacrifices were made and blood was used to seal the covenant. It may sound strange to us, but in the Bible, blood showed that a promise was very serious and important. God was showing how much he wanted his people to belong to him. God even invited some of the leaders of Israel to come close to him, see his glory, and eat and drink in his presence. Imagine that! The Holy God welcoming people to be near him. That shows how much God loves his people. But sadly, the people kept breaking their promises. They disobeyed God and worshiped other gods. The old covenant depended on people obeying perfectly—and no one can do that. That's why Holy Thursday is such an important night. On Holy Thursday, Jesus gave us a new covenant—a new promise from God. At the Last Supper, Jesus took bread and said, “This is my body.” Then he took the cup and said, “This is my blood.” Jesus knew we could never be perfect, so he came to be perfect for us. The blood of animals in the Old Testament could never truly take away sins. But Jesus' blood can. When Jesus died on the cross, he paid for every sin—once and for all. Jesus said, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, poured out for you.” Did you notice those words? “For you.” Jesus wants you to know his forgiveness is meant for you personally. In the Lord's Supper, Jesus gives his body and blood with the bread and wine. It's a wonderful gift where we can receive and be sure of his forgiveness. God wants us to know that he truly forgives us and brings us close to him. God still wants to be close to you today. Through Jesus, your sins are forgiven and you belong to him forever. Prayer: Dear Lord, thank you for giving yourself for me. Thank you for your Holy Supper where I can taste and touch your forgiveness and grace. Amen. The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire. Questions for Younger Children God helped his people, the Israelites, many times. Can you name two good things God does for you? What does Jesus give people in the Lord's Supper? (A good opportunity to explain what we receive in the Lord's Supper.) Questions for Elementary Age Children Why couldn't the Old Covenant work if people had to obey perfectly? What makes Jesus' New Covenant better? Questions for Middle School and Above What does the Exodus account teach us about the difference between God's promises and human promises? Jesus says his body and blood are given “for you.” Why are those two words such comforting words when we feel guilty or sad about our sins? Download Family Devotions Family Devotions are brought to you by WELS Discipleship. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/family-devotions/20260330fam.mp3 Listen to Devotion Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. I will take away the chariots from Ephraim and the warhorses from Jerusalem, and the battle bow will be broken. He will proclaim peace to the nations. His rule will extend from sea to sea and from the River to the ends of the earth. Zechariah 9:9-10 A King on a Donkey In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Have you ever watched a parade when an important person comes to town? Maybe people cheer, wave, and clap. Something like that happened when Jesus came to Jerusalem on Palm Sunday! Palm Sunday can feel a little confusing. During Lent we remember that Jesus suffered and died for our sins. That makes us feel sorry for our sins. But on Palm Sunday people were cheering and celebrating Jesus. They sang joyful songs and waved palm branches. Why would people celebrate if Jesus was going to die only a few days later? When Jesus came into Jerusalem, the crowd spread their coats on the road like a red carpet. They waved palm branches and shouted with joy. Those were things people did for a king! But many people thought Jesus came to be a powerful king who would beat their enemies and make their country strong again. They wanted help with their problems right away. They didn't understand that Jesus came for something even more important. God had already told people what to do on that day. Through the prophet Zechariah he said, “Rejoice!” God wanted people to celebrate because his Son had come. That was wonderful news! Jesus is a righteous King. That means he is perfectly good and holy. We are not perfect—we sin. But that's exactly why Jesus came. He came to save us from our sins. Now notice something surprising: Jesus did not ride a big war horse like a powerful king. He rode a donkey! That showed that Jesus came gently and humbly. He came to bring peace, not to fight a battle. There's another interesting detail. Many donkeys have a dark stripe down their back and another across their shoulders, making the shape of a cross. It's a quiet reminder of why Jesus came. Right in the middle of the Palm Sunday celebration, God reminds us that Jesus was on his way to the cross. Jesus went to the cross willingly. No one forced him. He did it because he loves you. He came to forgive your sins and give you eternal life. That's why Palm Sunday is such a happy day. Our King came to save us! Let's say the Palm Sunday words together: “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” Prayer: Dear Jesus, thank you for willingly going to the cross for me. Amen. The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire. Questions for Younger Children What did Jesus ride into Jerusalem on? Why is that surprising for a king? What did Jesus really come to do for us? Questions for Elementary Age Children Some people thought Jesus came to defeat their enemies and fix their problems right away. Why is what Jesus actually did even better? What is one way you can say “Hosanna” (praise Jesus) this week—at home, at school, or with a friend? Questions for Middle School and Above Sometimes we want Jesus to fix things immediately. What can we remember about Jesus when life doesn't go the way we expect? Why is it important that Jesus entered Jerusalem as a righteous King who came to suffer rather than to rule with power? Download Family Devotions Family Devotions are brought to you by WELS Discipleship. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/family-devotions/20260327fam.mp3 Listen to Devotion Read: John 11:17-27,38-45 [Jesus said] “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die.” John 11:25-26 Death Is a Problem; Jesus Is the Solution In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. You believe in Jesus, but sometimes we still get sick. We still sit in hospital rooms holding hands. We still hear bad news from doctors. We still say goodbye to people we love. We might wonder: Does God really care? Does he really have the power to help? In the Bible, Lazarus got very sick. His sisters, Mary and Martha, called for Jesus. But Lazarus died before Jesus came. Jesus knew what was happening. He knew it would break Mary and Martha's hearts. But Jesus cared about something even more—more than wanting Lazarus to be well right then—even more than he wanted them to have a life free from pain. He wanted them to have this: “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die” (John 11:25-26). Jesus wanted them to know him as the Savior from death and sin. He wanted them to see that life with God never ends. Jesus wants the same for you. He wants you to enjoy your family, friends, and good health. But even more than that, he wants you to know even if you get sick, even if you die, you will live forever with him. Death is our problem, but Jesus is our solution. Prayer: Dear Jesus, you have defeated sin and death for me. Teach me not to fear the day I die, but to look forward to the eternal life I'll one day enjoy with you. Amen. The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire. Questions for Younger Children When we get sick or sad, who can we trust to help and love us? Even when someone we love dies, what does Jesus promise will happen? Questions for Elementary Age Children Why do you think Jesus didn't come right away when Lazarus was sick? What does Jesus mean when he says that people who believe in him will live forever? Questions for Middle School and Above Why might Jesus care more about saving us from death and sin eternally, than from sickness and pain right now? How does Jesus being the Resurrection and the Life change the way we face illness, loss, and even death? Download Family Devotions Family Devotions are brought to you by WELS Discipleship. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/family-devotions/20260325fam.mp3 Listen to Devotion Read: Romans 8:11-19 And by him we cry, “Abba, Father. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ. Romans 8:15,17 The God Who Lets You Call Him “Dad” In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. How big is God? Think about it for a moment. God describes himself as filling the whole universe. That means He is everywhere—here with you right now, across the world in China, and even up on the moon. All of God is in all those places at the same time! And how far does God's “bigness” extend? Listen to this amazing part: “And by him we cry, ‘Abba, Father.'” “Abba” is an old (Aramaic) word that means, “Dad.” So, a little child would say, “Abba, Abba,” just like little kids would say, “Daddy, Daddy!” Can you imagine it? The holy, all-powerful God looks at you and says, “I want you to talk to me, and you can call me ‘Dad.'” Not “All-Powerful One.” Not “O Amazing One.” Instead, he says, “You get to call me ‘Dad.'” That's amazing! Why can we do that? Because God adopted us into his family. He sent Jesus to become our brother. But we weren't perfect brothers and sisters—we were sinful, selfish, and made wrong choices. So Jesus our brother did what we couldn't do—he went to the cross to pay for all our sins. The result? Listen: “We are heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ” (Romans 8:17). An “heir” (not “hair”!) is someone who inherits things from their parents. That means one day, we will share in the same wonderful life that Jesus has with God forever. What an incredible act of mercy! God loves us so much and he lets us call him “Dad.” What a gracious God we have! Prayer: Father in heaven, thank you for making me your child. Help me to speak with you daily in prayer. Lead me to look forward to the glorious inheritance awaiting me in heaven. Amen. The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire. Questions for Younger Children What special name does God say we can call him? If God is big enough to be everywhere, do you think he can hear you when you talk to him? Questions for Elementary Age Children What does it mean that God is everywhere at the same time? Why does that make you feel safe or happy? Why do you think God wants us to call him “Abba” or “Dad” instead of something scary or far away? Questions for Middle School and Above How can God be so big (filling the universe) and still be close enough to hear us call out, “Abba, Father”? What does it mean that we are God's children and “co-heirs with Christ”? How does that change the way you see yourself and God? Download Family Devotions Family Devotions are brought to you by WELS Discipleship. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.