For the student: Read along, fill in the blanks, and write your answers on the lines. Your parent has the answers.
Step 1 · Understand the Collect
A collect is a short prayer the pastor prays for the whole church. Here is today's collect:
Stir up our hearts, O Lord, to make ready the way of Your only-begotten Son, that by His coming we may be enabled to serve You with pure minds; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Words to know. Stir up: wake up. Make ready: get ready. Only-begotten Son: God's one and only Son, Jesus. Enabled: made able. Pure: clean, not spoiled by sin. Redemption (in the Gospel): being bought back and set free.
1. We are talking to the ______________.
2. We ask God to stir up our ______________.
3. We want to be ready for the coming of God's ______________.
Step 2 · Understand the Gospel
Luke 21:25-36
25 "And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves, 26 people fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world. For the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 27 And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near."
29 And he told them a parable: "Look at the fig tree, and all the trees. 30 As soon as they come out in leaf, you see for yourselves and know that the summer is already near. 31 So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near. 32 Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all has taken place. 33 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
34 "But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap. 35 For it will come upon all who dwell on the face of the whole earth. 36 But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man."
1. Where will there be signs?
2. How will people see the Son of Man coming?
3. When these things happen, what does Jesus tell His people to do?
4. What will never pass away?
Step 3 · Find the Collect in the Gospel
Our prayer asks God to wake up our hearts so we are ready for Jesus. In the Gospel, Jesus tells us how to be ready. Let's find our prayer in the story.
1. The collect asks God to stir up our hearts. Read verse 34. What does Jesus say can happen to our hearts?
2. The collect talks about Jesus' coming. Which verse tells how He will come?
3. The collect asks God to help us make ready. In verse 36, what does Jesus tell us to do?
Step 4 · The Small Catechism
The Second Article. And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended into hell. The third day He rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. From thence He will come to judge the living and the dead. What does this mean? I believe that Jesus Christ, true God, begotten of the Father from eternity, and also true man, born of the Virgin Mary, is my Lord, who has redeemed me, a lost and condemned person, purchased and won me from all sins, from death, and from the power of the devil; not with gold or silver, but with His holy, precious blood and with His innocent suffering and death, that I may be His own and live under Him in His kingdom and serve Him in everlasting righteousness, innocence, and blessedness, just as He is risen from the dead, lives and reigns to all eternity. This is most certainly true.
1. Find the words in the Creed that tell what Jesus will do when He comes again.
2. Luther says Jesus bought us with His blood "that I may be His own." Does a child who belongs to Jesus need to be afraid when He comes back? Why?
Step 5 · Wrap It All Up
Pray today's collect together one more time. Then ask:
1. What does Jesus do for you when He comes again?
Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible. Small Catechism quotation from Luther’s Small Catechism with Explanation, © Concordia Publishing House.