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:
Lord God, You made Your beloved Son, our Savior, subject to the Law and caused Him to shed His blood on our behalf. Grant us the true circumcision of the Spirit that our hearts may be made pure from all sins; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Words to know. Subject to the Law: under God's commands and bound to keep them. On our behalf: for us, in our place. Circumcision: a small cut made on a Jewish baby boy when he was eight days old. It was the sign God gave Abraham's family to show that they belonged to Him (Genesis 17). True circumcision of the Spirit: God cleansing our hearts, not our bodies.
1. God made His Son subject to the ______________.
2. Jesus shed His ______________ for us.
3. We ask that our ______________ be made pure from all sins.
Step 2 · Understand the Gospel
Luke 2:21
21 And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.
Also read. "She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins." (Matthew 1:21)
1. How old was Jesus when He was named?
2. What name was He given?
3. Who chose the name?
4. Read Matthew 1:21. Why was He named Jesus?
Step 3 · Find the Collect in the Gospel
Our prayer says Jesus kept God's Law and shed His blood for us. In the Gospel, baby Jesus does both when He is eight days old. Let's find our prayer in the story.
1. The collect says Jesus was subject to the Law. What did God's Law say to do for a baby boy on his eighth day? Did Jesus' family do it?
2. The collect says Jesus shed His blood on our behalf. When did Jesus first shed His blood?
3. The collect asks that our hearts be made pure from all sins. What does the name Jesus promise?
Step 4 · The Small Catechism
The Second Commandment. You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God. What does this mean? We should fear and love God so that we do not curse, swear, use satanic arts, lie, or deceive by His name, but call upon it in every trouble, pray, praise, and give thanks.
1. The commandment tells us to "call upon" God's name. What name did God give His Son?
2. Name one way to use Jesus' name rightly.
Step 5 · Wrap It All Up
Pray today's collect together one more time. Then ask:
1. What does the name Jesus tell you He does for you?
Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible. Small Catechism quotation from Luther’s Small Catechism with Explanation, © Concordia Publishing House.