WELS Family Devotion

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/family-devotions/20260128fam.mp3 Listen to Devotion Read: 1 John 2:3-11 The one who says, “I know him,” but does not keep his commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him. The one who loves his brother remains in the light, and nothing causes him to stumble. 1 John 2:4,10 (EHV) The One Who Loves His Brother In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Imagine saying to a police officer, “I know you! I like you!” But then you grab his hat and run away laughing. Imagine saying to a teacher, “I know you! You’re the best!” But then you cheat on a test in her classroom. Imagine saying to your brother or sister, “I love you!” But then you punch them in the arm or say something mean. People would say, “That doesn’t make sense.” You can say you love someone a hundred times, but if your actions don’t match your words, people won’t believe you. That’s what the apostle John was teaching when he wrote, “The one who says, ‘I know him,’ but does not keep his commands is a liar.” John was talking about Jesus. If someone says they know and love Jesus but never listens to him or never tries to do what he says, their words don’t match their actions. That can feel a little scary. Have you always listened to Jesus? Have you always been loving? Kind? Obedient? John also writes, “The one who loves his brother remains in the light.” So think about today: Were you kind to your brother or sister—or did you say something mean? Did you listen to your parents and teachers—or argue and complain? Did you treat classmates and friends with love—or ignore them or hurt their feelings? These questions help us do something important called repentance. Repentance means admitting we have sinned and being sorry about it. But repentance doesn’t stop there. Repentance means taking that sin and sadness to Jesus. And here’s the best part: Jesus forgives. Always. Jesus is the one who perfectly loved his brothers and sisters—us! He showed that love by going to the cross and taking the punishment for our sins. Because Jesus loves you and forgives you, you really do know him. And because you know him, you want to listen to him. That’s what it means to be “the one who loves his brother” and “remains in the light.” God forgives you. Jesus is with you. And one day, he will raise you to live forever. That’s why, even when we mess up and stumble in sin, don’t stay stuck—keep walking in the light! Prayer: Lord, as you first loved us, inspire us to love one another. 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 it hardest to love your brother, sister, or parents? (What usually causes arguments or hurt feelings?) How did Jesus show that he loves you? (Think about the cross, forgiveness, and promises.) Questions for Elementary Age Children What does it mean to “know Jesus”? (Is it just knowing facts—or trusting and following him?) What are some ways you can show others that you know Jesus? (At home, school, or with friends.) Questions for Middle School and Above What is repentance? (Try to explain it in your own words.) Why do we need repentance every day—even when we’re 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/20260126fam.mp3 Listen to Devotion Read: Isaiah 8:19–9:4 The people walking in darkness have seen a great light. For those living in the land of the shadow of death, the light has dawned. Isaiah 9:2 (EHV) A Great Light In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. “Can you leave the door open just a little bit?” a two-year-old asks at bedtime. Mom smiles and leaves the hallway light on. A thin line of light sneaks into the room. Suddenly, the darkness doesn’t feel so scary anymore. The shadows don’t look like monsters. The child feels safe, happy, and thankful. Soon, she falls asleep. Darkness and light can do powerful things. Darkness makes it hard to see and makes our imaginations run wild. Light helps us see what’s really there. Darkness hides things; light shows the truth. That’s why the child wanted light, it helped her feel safe. That’s what the prophet Isaiah said about God’s people long ago. He said they were “walking in darkness.” He didn’t mean the sun disappeared. He meant their lives felt scary and confusing. They were afraid of a powerful enemy called Assyria, who had attacked them. They felt lost—like trying to walk on a path at night with no flashlight. They wanted to follow God, but they kept wandering off. Isaiah called this “living in the shadow of death,” because without light, things don’t grow—they die. We have darkness in our lives too. We can be afraid of things like getting in trouble, being left out, failing a test, or letting someone down. We want to follow God and do what’s right—but we mess up. That’s called sin. Sin separates us from God and leads to death. But Isaiah gives us amazing news: “A light has dawned.” People who walked in darkness have seen a great light! This light scares away monsters. This light forgives sins. This light defeats death. Who is that light? Jesus tells us: “I am the light of the world” (John 8:12). When Jesus was born in Bethlehem, he was like a bright star shining into a dark world. When Jesus died on the cross, he took the darkness of your sins onto himself. When Jesus rose from the dead, he chased away the shadow of death forever. So the next time the dark feels scary, remember this promise: “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light.” Jesus is your light—and he is always with you. Prayer: Lord, “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path” (Psalm 119:105). Help us walk according to it. 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 make you scared of the dark? How does Jesus make you feel safe? Questions for Elementary Age Children How is sin like darkness? How is Jesus like light? Questions for Middle School and Above What did the prophet mean when he said that people “were walking in darkness”? When Jesus says, “I am the light of the world,” what is he promising 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/20260123fam.mp3 Listen to Devotion Read: John 1:29-41 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” John 1:29 It’s Good to Point! In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Parents teach their children many important lessons. One lesson kids often hear early on is: “It’s not nice to point.” Pointing can be rude. It can hurt someone’s feelings. So parents remind kids to keep their fingers to themselves. But here’s something interesting. Sometimes pointing is actually a very good thing. Think about babies and toddlers. Before they can talk, what do they do? They point! They point to toys. They point to snacks. They point to things they want you to see. Pointing means, “Look at this—it’s important!” In today’s Bible lesson, God was very happy with two people who pointed. The first was John the Baptist. Whenever John saw Jesus, he wanted everyone to notice him. So he said loudly and excitedly: “Look! The Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” John wasn’t being rude. He was helping people see their Savior. Another person who pointed was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. Andrew didn’t use his finger either—but he used his words. He ran to Peter and said: “We have found the Messiah!” Both John and Andrew pointed people to Jesus—and God praised them for it. Now think about this question together: Who pointed you to the Lamb of God? Was it your parents—when they brought you to be baptized, brought you to church, or prayed with you at home? Was it a teacher? A pastor? A grandparent? A friend? Christians love to point to Jesus because only good things happen when people look to him. Jesus loves when people point to him! That’s important, because sometimes we forget to look at Jesus. We rush away from the dinner table without stopping to thank Jesus. We let sports, screens, or homework take over time we could spend with God’s Word and prayer. We let scary or sad things make us forget that Jesus is always with us. When that happens, God lovingly sends people to point us back to Jesus again. And Jesus doesn’t get tired of that. He keeps forgiving. He keeps loving. He keeps staying with us. Now here’s the exciting part: You can be a pointer too. You can be a modern-day John the Baptist. You can be a 21st-century Andrew. You can point your parents, your friends, your classmates, and your teammates to Jesus, the Lamb of God who takes away their sins too. Yes, sometimes pointing can be rude. But pointing to Jesus is loving. Pointing to Jesus is helpful. Pointing to Jesus helps people know they have a Savior. Prayer: Dear God, you pointed me to my Savior through many different people. Give me opportunities to point others to Jesus as the Lamb of God who takes away all 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 Why do parents usually tell kids not to point? Why is pointing to Jesus different? Who has helped point you to Jesus? (Parents, teachers, pastors, friends?) Questions for Elementary Age Children What is one Bible story you really like listening to or talking about? Why do you like that one? If a friend wondered, “Does God really forgive me?” what Bible story could you share? Questions for Middle School and Above What would you do if you pointed someone to Jesus, but they didn’t believe right away? (Who could you pray for? What could you keep doing?) What makes you feel nervous about talking about Jesus? What could help calm those nerves? 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/20260121fam.mp3 Listen to Devotion Read: Colossians 2:6-15 For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. Colossians 2:9-10a Victory Through a Substitute In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Right before the school talent show started, Connor developed a bad cough. No matter what he tried, he couldn’t stop coughing. There was no way Connor could sing his song on stage. No performance meant no chance to win the prize. But something amazing happened. Connor’s brother, Grayson, stepped in. He looked a lot like Connor. He wore Connor’s clothes. He sang Connor’s song. Everyone thought, “Wow, Connor did a great job!” The performance won first place. And when it was time to get the award, Grayson gave all the credit to Connor—even though Connor hadn’t sung a single note! That’s called a substitute—someone taking another person’s place. That kind of switch only worked because Grayson was human and looked like Connor. When it comes to the prize of heaven, something similar—but much bigger—happened. Jesus became one of us so he could take our place. Yes, Jesus is God. But he also became fully human. That’s what the apostle Paul means when he writes, “For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and in Christ you have been brought to fullness” (Colossians 2:9-10a). Jesus didn’t stop being God—but he also became a real human being. The Bible is clear what we humans have earned because of our sins. We have earned suffering, pain, and death. God made that clear to Adam and Eve—and he explained it to us too. For sin to be forgiven, someone had to pay the price. That price was death. And it had to be paid by a human who had never sinned. That’s a problem—because none of us are perfect. We couldn’t make a perfect sacrifice. So God made one for us. God sent his own Son. Jesus became human so he could: Live a perfect life Follow God’s law completely Suffer and die in our place That’s what it means when we call Jesus the Lamb of God. He didn’t just show us who God is. He took our place and paid our debt as someone who was innocent. What you and I couldn’t do, God did for us. What you and I don’t deserve, God declared that it is ours. Jesus, the Lamb of God, looked like us. He had a body. He got hungry and tired. He felt sad. He felt pain. In everything, he stepped in for us, just like Grayson did for Connor—but on a much greater scale. What we lost because of sin, God gave back to us completely through Jesus. Now that’s victory—through a substitute! Prayer: Dear God, thank you for sending a substitute to die on the cross instead of us. Help us to praise you for this wonderful gift with our thoughts, words, and actions. 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 Because Jesus was human just like you, what are some things he experienced that you experience too? (Being tired? Hungry? Sad? Happy?) How does it make you feel to know that Jesus did everything needed so you can go to heaven? Questions for Elementary Age Children Why did Jesus have to be both true man and true God? (What could he do as God? What could he do as a human?) What are you most excited about when you think about heaven—the reward Jesus won for you? Questions for Middle School and Above While he lived on earth, Jesus was true God. Can you think of times when he didn’t use his full power? (When he was tired? When he suffered? When he died?) Why couldn’t God just say, “I’ll forget about everyone’s sins”? (What does this teach us about God’s justice and love?) 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/20260119fam.mp3 Listen to Devotion Read: Isaiah 49:1-6 “It is too small a thing for you to be my servant to restore the tribes of Jacob and bring back those of Israel I have kept. I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.” Isaiah 49:6 One Sacrifice for All In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Close your eyes for a moment and imagine living in the desert. Day after day, hundreds of thousands of families walked through the wilderness to a huge tent called the tabernacle. Can you picture it? Sand under their feet. Sun in the sky. Animals bleating and people talking. Families didn’t come empty-handed. They brought animals—sheep, goats, and bulls—because God had given them a special rule. When someone sinned, an animal was sacrificed to show that sin is serious and that forgiveness costs something. One kind of sacrifice was called the guilt offering. One person would bring one ram to take away one sin. Just one. Now let’s think together. How many sins do you think one person commits in a week? More than one? Probably! Now imagine hundreds of thousands of people sinning every day. That would be piles and piles of animals. The sacrifices would never stop. That’s what makes Jesus as the Lamb of God so wonderful and so powerful. Listen again to what God promised through the prophet Isaiah: “It is too small a thing for you to be my servant to restore the tribes of Jacob . . . I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth” (Isaiah 49:6). God was saying: “It’s not enough for Jesus to save just one group of people. Jesus will be the Savior for everyone.” It would have been incredible if Jesus had died only for the Jewish people. That would be one sacrifice for millions of people. But God said, “I have something even bigger in mind.” Jesus’ death on the cross was one sacrifice for the whole world. People who lived long, long ago—sins forgiven. People living right now—sins forgiven. People who haven’t even been born yet—sins forgiven. One sacrifice. For everyone. Seeing animals sacrificed would not have been fun. Seeing Jesus die on the cross was sad and scary. But because of that cross, God now looks at you and adores you. He doesn’t see your ugly sins anymore. Not the ones you remember. Not even the ones you forgot. Jesus, the Lamb of God, took them all away. And now God calls you his precious treasure. Prayer: Dear Lamb of God, thank you for your perfect sacrifice on the cross to take away the world’s sins. Help us to share the wonders of your sacrifice with the world. 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 part of this story surprised you the most? (The animals? One sin at a time? Jesus forgiving everyone?) We call the day Jesus died “Good Friday.” Why do you think something sad can also be called good? How does it make you feel to know that Jesus died for your sins? (Happy? Thankful? A little sad? Relieved?) Questions for Elementary Age Children Can you think of someone who might not know that Jesus loves them and forgives them? What would you say to the person you just mentioned? Questions for Middle School and Above Why don’t we need to sacrifice animals anymore as part of our worship? When you’re at church, what are some things you see that remind you of Jesus’ sacrifice? 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/20260116fam.mp3 Listen to Devotion Read: Matthew 3:13-17 “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” Matthew 3:17 Anointed and Appointed In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. When Jesus was baptized, something amazing happened. The Holy Spirit came down on Jesus like a dove, and God the Father spoke from heaven. God said, “This is my Son, whom I love. I am very pleased with him.” That’s a big moment! God was showing everyone that Jesus is special. Jesus is God’s chosen Savior. There is no guessing here. God tells us clearly who Jesus is. But there is a question we might ask: Why did Jesus get baptized? Jesus never sinned. He didn’t need his sins washed away like we do. So why did he do it? Jesus answered that question himself. He said it was right to be baptized “to do everything God wants done.” That means Jesus was obeying God perfectly—for us. A long time ago, kings were chosen by having oil poured on their heads. That was called being anointed. Jesus wasn’t anointed with oil. He was anointed with the Holy Spirit. At his baptism, God was saying, “This is the one I have chosen.” God tells people to be baptized. So Jesus obeyed that command too. He obeyed every rule perfectly—so we don’t have to. Jesus lived a perfect life for us, and one day he would give that life on the cross. And God would be pleased again. Here’s the amazing part for us: Because of Jesus, baptism is special for us too. Baptism is not just a symbol. It is something God does. In baptism, God forgives sins. He gives new life. He makes us part of his family. When you were baptized, God chose you. He made you his child. He anointed and appointed you too. That means you belong to him and get to live for him. Just like God said about Jesus, he also says about you: “This is my child, whom I love. With this child, I am pleased.” Prayer: Dear Holy Spirit, thank you for bringing us to faith in Jesus through the precious waters of baptism. Help our family remember our baptisms and live as people who belong to you, and the Father, and the Son. 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 Do you know when you were baptized? (Parents can help tell the story!) What is one fun or special way your family could remember your baptism each year? (Cake? Prayer? Candle? Story time?) Questions for Elementary Age Children When is your baptism date? What is one thing that was the same about Jesus’ baptism and your baptism? (God’s name, water, God’s promises) Questions for Middle School and Above What does God give you in baptism? (Forgiveness, new life, God’s family) Because you are baptized, what is one loving (or spiritual) thing you can do this week? 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/20260114fam.mp3 Listen to Devotion Read: Acts 10:34-38 [You know] how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him. Acts 10:38 Jesus Was No Flop In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Adults like to argue about sports players. They talk about who they think will be the best player ever. Sometimes they get really excited about a player and say, “This one will be amazing!” But later, that player doesn’t do very well. When that happens, people say the player was a “flop.” That means they didn’t turn out the way people hoped. Now let’s think about Jesus. Long before Jesus was born, God talked about him in the Bible. People heard that he would be powerful and that he would help others. God chose him and anointed him at his baptism. Everyone expected great things from him. And Jesus did amazing things! He healed sick people. He helped people who were hurting. He was kind to everyone. But then something confusing happened. Jesus died on a cross. He let people hurt him. At first, that might make someone wonder, “Did Jesus fail?” But Jesus was not a flop. The apostle Peter reminds us what really happened. He said that God anointed Jesus with the Holy Spirit and power. Jesus went around doing good and healing people because God was with him (Acts 10:38). Jesus’ miracles were like big signs pointing to who he really is—God’s Son and our Savior. The good things Jesus did weren’t only miracles. They were also the loving words he spoke. And the most important words he spoke were on the cross: “It is finished!” That means Jesus finished saving us. His death paid for our sins. His death broke the devil’s power. And just like God promised, Jesus rose from the dead. Jesus didn’t fail. He won. God knew exactly what he was doing. Jesus was never a flop. He is God’s chosen Savior—and our forever champion. Prayer: Dear Jesus, we praise you for fulfilling all that Scripture said you would do. Guide us safely home to your side in heaven, where we will see you, our champion, face to face. 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 one miracle Jesus did that you remember? Why do you think that miracle is so cool or important? Questions for Elementary Age Children Can you think of a time when something didn’t turn out the way you hoped? How did that make you feel? Can you name a way Jesus helped you or your family—maybe by keeping you safe, giving you help, or bringing you comfort? Questions for Middle School and Above Can you name one Old Testament promise God made in the Bible that Jesus kept? (Parents can help with examples like being born in Bethlehem or rising from the dead.) Imagine you were there when Jesus died on the cross. What might have confused or worried you that Jesus was a flop? What would you say now to remind yourself that Jesus was really winning? 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/20260112fam.mp3 Listen to Devotion Read: Isaiah 42:1-7 “Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will bring justice to the nations.” Isaiah 42:1 God’s Handpicked Champion In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Cameron walked onto the playground, excited for field day kickball. As a team captain, he got to pick his team. He looked around and thought, “Who runs fast? Who kicks hard? Who catches the ball?” He wanted the very best team. But picking was hard. What if he chose the wrong person? Cameron kept wondering, “Did I pick the right teammate?” Only time would tell. Waiting a few months can feel long. Now imagine waiting 700 years! That’s longer than your great-great-great-great-grandparents ago. That’s a really, really long time. If we had to choose a champion 700 years ahead of time, we would get nervous and change our minds. But God is different. The prophet Isaiah wrote these words 700 years before Jesus was born: “Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight.” God was saying, “This is the one I choose.” God didn’t guess. He didn’t worry. He already knew the perfect champion. God had been talking about this champion for a very long time. He promised Adam and Eve a Savior. He promised Abraham a Savior. He promised through Isaiah. And then he sent his Son, Jesus. Jesus is God’s forever choice. His name “Christ” means “the Chosen (Anointed) One.” Jesus did what no one else could do. He obeyed God perfectly. He died on the cross for our sins. And he rose from the dead. That means Jesus defeated sin, the devil, and death—for us! God picked the perfect champion, so we never have to wonder if we are safe. God’s choice is good. And Jesus is our champion. Prayer: Dear Father in heaven, thank you for sending your Son to be our champion over sin, Satan, and death. Lead us to keep on trusting in him alone for our salvation. 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 How many champions did God need to pick to save us from our sins? What did Jesus do to become the champion over sin and the devil? Questions for Elementary Age Children Was God ever worried that Jesus wouldn’t win? Why or why not? Why did God wait thousands of years to send our Savior from sin if he already knew who the Savior would be? (Hint: Galatians 4:4-5) Questions for Middle School and Above Why is it good that God chose Jesus instead of letting us choose? Can you think of times in the Old Testament when God reminded his people that he was going to send a Savior. 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/20260109fam.mp3 Listen to Devotion Read: Matthew 2:1-12 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem. and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route. Matthew 2:1-2,9-12 The Light Worth Worshiping In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. In the last two devotions, we learned an important truth: Jesus came for everyone—people from every place, family, and nation. This wasn’t a surprise to God. It was his plan all along! God had promised it long before through his prophets. At Christmas, God showed this truth in a special way. Wise men from the East followed a star to find Jesus. These wise men were not from Israel. They didn’t grow up going to the temple or celebrating Jewish festivals. They weren’t part of the group people expected to meet the Savior first. And yet—God invited them too. Somehow, they learned about a promise of a coming “King of the Jews.” Maybe they heard it from God’s people who once lived far from home. However they learned about it, they knew the star meant something important. So they traveled a long way—just to meet Jesus. When they found him, they worshiped him in special ways. They worshiped Jesus by going where he was. They followed the star until it stopped right over the place Jesus was staying. They worshiped Jesus by bowing down. Even though Jesus was still very young, they knew he was greater than they were. They worshiped Jesus by giving gifts. Gold, frankincense, and myrrh were valuable and costly—but Jesus was worth it. You know this same light. Someone has told you the good news about Jesus and what he has done for you. So what does worship look like for you? Like the wise men, you can worship Jesus by going where he promises to be. Each week, you have the chance to gather at church with other believers. Being there shows that Jesus matters to you. You worship Jesus when you confess your sins and trust his forgiveness. That’s you saying, “Jesus, you are my Savior.” You can also worship Jesus by giving gifts. Sometimes that means offerings at church. But you can also give him: The gift of your time—reading the Bible and praying. The gift of your service—helping your parents, siblings, teachers, and neighbors. The gift of your words—speaking kindly and sharing Jesus’ love. All of these acts of worship show something important. They show that Jesus is the light of your salvation. They show that he is a top priority in your life. And they shine like a bright light for others to see—so they, too, can come to worship Jesus, the Light of the World! Prayer: Dear Jesus, through the star and the wise men, you showed that you are the Savior for everyone. Fill our hearts with joy and help us worship you with our whole lives—with our hearts, our time, and our strength. 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 your favorite part of worship at church and why? Sometimes parts of worship are confusing. What’s one thing you’ve wondered about during a church service? (Remember to ask your pastor next time!) Questions for Elementary Age Children What are some things that can make it hard to worship Jesus regularly? (Think: busy schedules, distractions, tiredness.) What is one simple way you can remind yourself this week that Jesus is worth worshiping? Questions for Middle School and Above When you earn or receive money, how can you decide what it means to give generously to God? God has given each of you special gifts. Name one ability or trait God has given you. How can you use it to serve others and honor Jesus this week? 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/20260107fam.mp3 Listen to Devotion Read: Ephesian 3:2-12 Surely you have heard about the administration of God’s grace that was given to me for you, that is, the mystery made known to me by revelation, as I have already written briefly. In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, which was not made known to people in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God’s holy apostles and prophets. This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus. Ephesians 3:2-6 The MYSTERIOUS Light In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Have you ever read a mystery book—or watched a mystery show—where you’re trying to guess what’s going to happen next? You look for clues. You make predictions. You keep thinking, “I wonder how this will end?” That kind of mystery keeps you guessing right up to the very end. But when God talks about a “mystery,” he means something very different. God’s mysteries are not puzzles you have to solve. They aren’t only for super-smart people. They don’t depend on you finding the right clues. And they aren’t secrets God wants to hide from you. God’s mystery is actually GOOD news meant to be shared. God’s mystery is the light of Jesus. Jesus came not just for one group of people, but for everyone—people from every country, language, and family. Jesus came to shine God’s truth like a bright light so everyone could see it. This truth is called a mystery because we could never figure it out on our own. The Holy Spirit shows it to us and helps us believe it. Because you trust in Jesus, you get to see amazing things in his light! In the mysterious light of Christ: You see that God loves sinners and gives them grace—even when they mess up. You see that Jesus washes away sin and gives eternal life. You see that God keeps his promises and has a place in heaven for you. You see why the Bible matters—God uses it to grow your faith and teach you how to live. You see that you can talk to God anytime and ask for forgiveness, help, or strength because of Jesus. That’s a LOT to see—and it’s all because of Jesus’ light! And here’s the best part: None of these gifts come from being extra good, extra smart, or extra strong. They are gifts from God—the Creator of everything—freely given to you. God doesn’t want your life to feel like a confusing mystery book. He wants you to know that you are loved. He wants you to know where you are going—heaven! And he wants to guide you with his wisdom every day until you get there. That’s why the Bible is so important. Keep reading it. Keep listening to it. God uses it to fill you with the “riches of Christ” and to help you grow wiser and stronger in faith. Prayer: Lord, thank you for bringing us into your family through the glorious mystery of Jesus. May we be true servants of this gospel and shine your light so others can see your love 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 Because you know Jesus’ light, you can pray to God. What’s the number one thing you would like to pray for today? Who are some people you can pray for right now—at school, at home, or in your family? Questions for Elementary Age Children Long ago, many people thought God’s promises were only for one group. Why do you think it was surprising that Jesus came for everyone? What did Jesus do to show that God’s love is for all people? Questions for Middle School and Above What are some simple ways you can keep learning more about “the unsearchable riches of Christ”? How does knowing the “riches of Christ” (Jesus loves and forgives you) make it easier to talk to God when you mess up or feel worried? 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/20260105fam.mp3 Listen to Devotion Read: Isaiah 60:1-6 “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you. See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the LORD rises upon you and his glory appears over you. Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn. “Lift up your eyes and look about you: All assemble and come to you; your sons come from afar, and your daughters are carried on the hip. Then you will look and be radiant, your heart will throb and swell with joy. Isaiah 60:1-5 The JOYFUL Light In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Raise your hand if you like Christmas lights. By now, some of them have probably been put away, but do you remember going to see Christmas lights last month? December is the month with the shortest days and the longest nights. When it gets dark so early, bright, colorful lights feel extra special! Some displays are so big and beautiful that people will drive from all over just to see them. Christmas lights remind us of something very important. The birth of Jesus shows us that God sent his light into a dark world. When we hear bad news, see people get hurt, or feel scared or sad, it can feel like darkness is everywhere. But that darkness isn’t just “out there.” Sometimes it sneaks into our own hearts too. When we get angry, say mean things, or choose not to listen to God, that’s sin—and sin is like darkness. Here’s really good news for January: God didn’t leave us in the dark! Jesus is the brightest light of all. Even brighter than the best Christmas lights, Jesus shines his love into your heart. Because of Jesus, your sins are forgiven, and you belong to God forever. And this joyful light isn’t just for you, it’s for everyone! Jesus came for people from every place and every family. Just like darkness can cover the whole world, Jesus’ light shines everywhere. And guess what? Jesus lets you help shine that light too. Think back to the Christmas lights you saw. Did you tell someone, “You HAVE to see this house!” Did you tell them where to find the brightest lights? That’s how it works with Jesus too. God uses you—yes, YOU—to tell others about Jesus’ love. When you know Jesus loves you and forgives you, your heart can sparkle with joy. And when you share that joy, you help others see the light of Jesus too. Prayer: Dear Jesus, when life seems difficult and dark, give us joy by reminding us of your glory that saved us. Fill us with your joy and light that we can’t help but tell others the good news as well. 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 one Christmas memory that made you smile? How does knowing Jesus loves you make that joy even bigger? Next time you see the sun rise, say, “Thank you, Jesus, for being my light!” (You can even do this together right now!) Questions for Elementary Age Children Isaiah 60 was written hundreds of years before Jesus was born. Yet who was Isaiah talking about when he wrote about light coming to the world? How is Jesus still shining his light today—through people, churches, or even you? (cf. Isaiah 60:3-4) Questions for Middle School and Above When do you sometimes feel dark or gloomy? How can remembering Jesus help your heart feel brighter and joyful? Say Isaiah 60:2 together once slowly . . . then once with a big smile! Try saying it again the next time you feel worried or sad. 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/20260102fam.mp3 Listen to Devotion When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up,” he said, “take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.” So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: “Out of Egypt I called my son.” When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi. Then what was said through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled: “A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more.” After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said, “Get up, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who were trying to take the child’s life are dead.” So he got up, took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning in Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. Having been warned in a dream, he withdrew to the district of Galilee, and he went and lived in a town called Nazareth. So was fulfilled what was said through the prophets, that he would be called a Nazarene. Matthew 2:13-23 There’s Something About This Baby In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Imagine a grandpa talking about his eleven grandchildren. He might say: “She sure is something!” or “He sure is something!” Sometimes it’s just a little laugh from a baby. A silly joke from a toddler. A great math test from a 3rd grader. Or a hustle play in basketball from a middle schooler. Grandkids sure are something! King Herod thought the same thing—but in a bad way—about the baby born in Bethlehem. People were calling him the “King of the Jews,” wise men had come to worship him, and now Herod felt outsmarted. There sure was something about this baby! But Herod didn’t like it—so he tried to get rid of Jesus. Yes, there really is something special about this baby—and God wants you to know it. God made sure Jesus was kept safe. Angels spoke to Joseph three times to guide him. God fulfilled prophecies—from Hosea (Matthew 2:15) and Jeremiah (Matthew 2:18)—even the one that Jesus would be born in Bethlehem. Jesus was protected so he could grow up, obey God’s law, die for our sins, and rise again to give us forgiveness and heaven. So, what makes this baby so special? God himself became a child so that you could be called a child of God! That’s why, yes, there’s definitely something about this baby Jesus! Prayer: Dear Lord, we thank you for working throughout history to accomplish our salvation. Lead us to marvel at your grace, your protection, and your love for us in Jesus. 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 used Joseph to help keep Jesus safe. What blessings has God given you to keep you safe? Because God kept Jesus safe as a baby and a child, what did Jesus do later in his life to keep you safe from sin? Questions for Elementary Age Children With adult help, look up a map online. Can you find Bethlehem, Egypt, and Nazareth? How far do you think Joseph, Mary, and Jesus had to travel? Today’s Bible verses show that God fulfilled prophecies about Jesus as the Messiah. Can you explain what a “prophecy” is? Questions for Middle School and Above Matthew mentions real places and people. How does that help you trust the Bible is true? Herod did terrible things, but God still used it for good. Can you think of other times in the Bible—or in your own life—when something bad turned into a blessing? 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/20251231fam.mp3 Listen to Devotion But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship. Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.” So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir. Galatians 4:4-7 The Best Christmas Gift: God’s Family In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Most people love Christmas! It’s the time between Thanksgiving and New Year’s full of cookies and candy canes, treats and traditions, music and magic. Christmas means family. And most importantly, Christmas means Jesus. But here’s the thing—you only fully understand what that truly means when you think what Christmas without Jesus looks like. How would that change the phrase “Christmas means family”? People love Christmas because it gives them something to look forward to. It’s fun! It makes them feel happy. But we also know life isn’t perfect. There are lots of times we see sin and sadness in the world. Christmas reminds us that we don’t just need fun—we need to belong to God’s family. Through Jesus, you belong to God’s family! Jesus didn’t come just to make a few weeks of Christmas cheer. He came to save people from sin and death. He bought you for his family. And in God’s family, you can talk to your heavenly Father anytime—asking for help, peace, and love. So, when you are afraid of what’s going on in the world, when you feel burdened by your sins, you can call out “Abba, Father”—and your heavenly Father will hear your cry for help because you are his child! Christmas means you belong to God’s family. As part of this family, you get to wear Christmas clothes! Mom and Dad make sure you have nice clothes to wear for a service. Did they tell you to keep them clean for a nice picture? Christmas gives you something even better: Jesus gives you holy white robes of heaven! That means you get to live as someone who belongs to God’s family. Christmas means Jesus. And because of Jesus, Christmas means family—God’s family. Prayer: Abba, Father, thank you for sending your Son, Jesus, that through him you call us your children. In the joy of belonging to your family, may we continue to keep our “Christmas clothes” clean by living lives according to your will. 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 blessings of belonging to God’s family? How can you show thanks to your heavenly Father for these blessings? Questions for Elementary Age Children Why did Jesus have to be born “under the law”? How did Jesus keep the law as your perfect brother? Questions for Middle School and Above What do you think it means to be an “heir of God through Christ”? How can knowing you belong to God’s family help you be a more caring member of your family? 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/20251229fam.mp3 Listen to Devotion I will tell of the kindnesses of the LORD, the deeds for which he is to be praised, according to all the LORD has done for us—yes, the many good things he has done for Israel, according to his compassion and many kindnesses. He said, “Surely they are my people, children who will be true to me”; and so he became their Savior. In all their distress he too was distressed, and the angel of his presence saved them. In his love and mercy he redeemed them; he lifted them up and carried them all the days of old. Isaiah 63:7-9 I Can’t Wait to Tell! In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Think about when you come back to school after Christmas break. What’s the first thing everybody does? They tell stories! Stories about presents, fun trips . . . stories about cousins who stayed WAY too long. We like telling the good parts of our break. We don’t usually say things like, “I fought with my brother,” or “I spilled hot chocolate everywhere.” We like to talk about the happy things! The prophet Isaiah reminds us that we can do the same thing when we talk about Jesus—we can tell the good news about him! Tell about his mercies. Even when you and I mess up and sin, Jesus says, “I forgive you.” Every time. And that forgiveness is for your friends too! Tell of the reasons to praise the Lord. Life isn’t always easy. Some days are hard. But look around—God gives you so many good things: food, family, clothes, a bed, friends, a school, a Savior. That’s a LOT to thank him for! Tell about what Jesus has done. Jesus cared for you so much that he became: your Savior in the manger, your Savior on the cross, your Savior who rose from the empty tomb, and your Savior ruling in heaven right now! Here’s the best part: God says to you, “Surely you are my people.” That means, “You belong to me. I love you. I won’t leave you.” So whether the rest of your break is super fun, kind of boring, or a little tough, Jesus is with you. He carries you. He will not let you go. You can trust that because he has also told you that the baby in the manger is your Savior. And THAT is something worth telling others! Prayer: Dear Lord, thank you for telling us in your Word all the wonderful things you have done for us. May we always remember these truths, that we would tell your praises and mercies to those who need to hear them. 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 good things the Lord has done for you this week? Which one makes you smile the biggest?! Who can you tell about those good things? What would say to that person? Questions for Elementary Age Children In verse 8, the Lord tells us that he became your Savior. How does Jesus born a tiny baby show he came to be your Savior? What’s one simple way you can talk about Jesus this vacation week—at home or with a friend? Questions for Middle School and Above God says, “Surely you are my people.” How can those words help you when you are feeling down? Think of a friend who’s having a tough time. What could you tell them about the Lord’s mercies to help them feel better? 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/20251226fam.mp3 Listen to Devotion Read: John 1:1-14 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. John 1:1-2 (EHV) The Best Gift Ever: Jesus! In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. A long time ago, at the very beginning of everything, God used his Word to create the whole world—everything we see and even things we cannot see. Over 2,000 years ago, this same Word became a baby and lived among us in Bethlehem. That is what we celebrate at Christmas—Jesus—“the Word”—comes to be with us! But it wasn’t just about Jesus being born. He came on a special mission—to save us. Everything he did, and even some things he didn’t do, were all part of this mission. His goal? To make us children of God and to bring us close to him. When we look at nativity scenes, manger sets, or Christmas pictures, we remember baby Jesus—“the Word”—and think about all he has done for us. Because of him, we can be friends with God, have our sins forgiven, and live holy lives. We become part of God’s family through faith—that means believing Jesus is our Savior. Because we are God’s children, we can pray, “Our Father in heaven”, and know that God loves us, cares for us, and is with us every single day. He gives us what we need and keeps us close to him through his Word. One day, because of Jesus, we will be with him forever in heaven! All around the world, people are celebrating this amazing Christmas truth: God’s love for us in Jesus. And we get to celebrate it too! Merry Christmas to you and your family! Christ—“the Word”—is born! And that’s the best news ever! Amen. Prayer: Jesus, you are the Word made flesh who came down to heaven to become one of us. You became our salvation so that we could become children of God. May we rejoice in the Christmas message now and 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 What is another name for Jesus in today’s devotion? True or False: God made the world using “the Word.” Questions for Elementary Age Children Why can we pray in the Lord’s Prayer, “Our Father, who is in heaven”? Why did Jesus come to live with us? Questions for Middle School and Above When you see a nativity scene or a Christmas picture, what does it remind you about Jesus? Look at all the Christmas gifts you got this year. Can you think of reasons why the gift of Jesus is even better than all of them? 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/20251224fam.mp3 Listen to Devotion For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all people. It trains us to reject ungodliness and worldly lusts and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope, that is, the glorious appearance of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. He gave himself for us, to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people who are his own chosen people, eager to do good works. Titus 2:11-14 (EHV) Jesus Cleans Us Up—Just Like Dawn Soap! In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. During the school year, we get some breaks—like Christmas break, Easter break, and summer break. Breaks are a time to take a rest from the usual schedule and enjoy something different. Learning is important, but so is rest, fun, and spending time with family and friends. When a break starts, what will you do with that free time? Sometimes, there are plans already. Other times, we have to decide how to use our free time. If we don’t think about it, we might end up doing nothing and feel like we wasted our break. Jesus gives us a different kind of freedom. It isn’t freedom from school—it’s freedom from a life controlled by sin. Sin is all the ways we make bad choices, act selfishly, or ignore God. The freedom Jesus gives us isn’t just a “break” before we have to deal with sin again—it’s freedom to live a new life following him. Jesus has saved us from sin. We are free! But what will we do with this freedom? God calls us to live for him and do good things. Here’s a way to understand it: an old soap commercial—Dawn soap. The power of Dawn soap isn’t just for dishes. There was an oil spill in the ocean, and many birds got covered in oil and couldn’t move. People came and washed the birds with—you guessed it—Dawn soap and hot water. The commercial shows the birds flying away and free. In the same way, Jesus cleaned us from sin and guilt. His cross and blood free us to do the things God made us to do! We can: Care for others with Christian love Praise God with happy hearts Respect and honor those God puts in charge Speak kindly to others Be thankful for what God gives us All of this is possible because Jesus made us clean and pure. Prayer: Dear Jesus, thank you for cleaning us from sin and guilt and giving us freedom to live for you. Holy Spirit, help us use our freedom to do good things, love others, and praise you with happy hearts. Thank you for saving us and being with us 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 Who saved us from all sin and guilt? How can we learn more about God? Questions for Elementary Age Children How did Jesus make us clean from sin and guilt? Name three “good things” (works) you want to do this week to help others. Questions for Middle School and Above How can we live self-controlled, upright, and God-pleasing lives right now? We are not saved by doing good works. Then why do we do them? 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/20251222fam.mp3 Listen to Devotion The LORD spoke to Ahaz again. He said, “Ask for a sign from the LORD your God. Ask for it either in the depths below or in the heights above.” But Ahaz responded, “I will not ask. I will not test the LORD.” So Isaiah said: Listen now, you house of David. Is it not enough for you to test the patience of men? Will you test the patience of my God as well? Therefore the Lord himself will give a sign for all of you. Look! The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son and name him Immanuel. Isaiah 7:10-14 (EHV) God With Us: The Greatest Mission In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Have you ever seen a Mission Impossible movie with Tom Cruise? There are eight of them! They have crazy stunts—people hanging from planes, jumping between buildings, and doing things that seem totally impossible. But by the end, all the good guys make it through safely, and the day is saved. A long time ago, over 700 years before Jesus was born, there was a king named Ahaz. Life looked really hard for the people of Judah. They were sad and worried because it seemed like everything was going wrong. But God promised to help them—even when it seemed impossible. God wanted Ahaz to ask for a sign to show that he would keep his promise, but Ahaz didn’t want to. So God gave a special sign anyway—the promise of the Savior, Jesus! Jesus would be born from a virgin, and his name would be Immanuel, which means “God with us.” That’s amazing, isn’t it? God promised to be with his people, and he kept that promise by sending Jesus. Jesus did the most impossible mission ever. He was born as a baby in Bethlehem. He lived a perfect life, died on the cross for us, and promised that everyone who believes in him will be with God forever in heaven. That’s the true miracle of Christmas—God with us, Jesus for us, forever! Prayer: Dear Jesus, you are Immanuel, “God with us.” What a beautiful name! Thank you for coming to us, even when it seemed impossible. Help us remember that you are always with us and that “with you,” all things are possible. Lift up our spirits in joy this week as we welcome your deliverance. 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 Do you know anyone named Immanuel? How long before Jesus was born did God give King Ahaz the promise of a Savior? Questions for Elementary Age Children What does the name “Immanuel” mean? Can you think of a time when it was comforting to know that God was with you? Questions for Middle School and Above Why did Jesus get the name, “Immanuel”? What humanly impossible mission did Jesus do for 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/20251219fam.mp3 Listen to Devotion While John was in prison, he heard about the things Christ was doing. He sent two of his disciples to ask him, “Are you the Coming One or should we wait for someone else?” Jesus answered them, “Go, report to John what you hear and see: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the gospel is preached to the poor. Blessed is the one who does not take offense at me.” As these two were leaving, Jesus began to talk to the crowds about John. “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? What did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? No, those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses. So what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you! And he is much more than a prophet. This is the one about whom it is written, ‘Look, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.’ Amen I tell you: Among those born of women there has not appeared anyone greater than John the Baptist. Yet whoever is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. Matthew 11:2-11 (EHV) Are You the Coming One? In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. There’s a famous children’s book called Are You My Mother? Maybe you’ve read it! It’s about a baby bird who hatches while his mom is gone. So, he climbs out of the nest and starts asking all kinds of animals and even machines, “Are you my mother?” But they all say, “No!” Finally, the baby bird gets lifted back into his nest, and his real mother comes home. They are happy together again! We aren’t baby birds, and John the Baptist wasn’t either. But John was looking for someone—the Coming One, the Savior God promised. But here’s the strange part: John the Baptist already knew Jesus! He even baptized Jesus. He heard God’s voice say, “This is my Son, whom I love.” He saw the Holy Spirit come down like a dove. So why would John ask Jesus, “Are you the Coming One?” Maybe John wasn’t doubting, maybe he was just tired of waiting. He was stuck in prison and probably wished Jesus would save him right away. Or maybe John wanted his followers to learn the truth themselves by going to Jesus and asking. Whatever the reason, we know what happened: John sent two of his helpers to Jesus to ask, “Are you the Coming One?” And Jesus didn’t just say, “Yes.” Instead, he told them to look at what he was doing—making blind people see, deaf people hear, lame people walk and telling the good news to the poor. All those miracles matched the promises in the Bible. So the answer was clear: Jesus IS the Coming One! John’s job was always to point people to Jesus. He wanted everyone to know the Savior. We can do that too. Many people still wonder, “Who is Jesus?” With our lives, words, and church family, we can point to Jesus—the One who came to save us, forgive us, and lead us to eternal life. Prayer: Jesus, you are the Coming One whom God promised. You help us see the truth, walk in faith, and one day you will raise us to live with you forever. Make our faith stronger and help us share the good news with others—at Christmas and all year long. 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 John the Baptist send to Jesus to talk to him? (His disciples.) What question did they ask Jesus? (“Are you the Coming One?”) Questions for Elementary Age Children How can our church do the same kind of work John the Baptist did? (By pointing people to Jesus, teaching about him, sharing God’s Word.) Name a few miracles Jesus did that showed he is the Savior—the Coming One. (Helping blind people see, lame people walk, sick people get better, calming storms, feeding crowds.) Questions for Middle School and Above Why didn’t Jesus just say, “Yes, I am the Coming One”? Why did he answer the way he did? (He wanted them to see the proof—his miracles matched God’s promises.) How did John the Baptist prepare the hearts of people for Jesus’ arrival? (He told them to repent, be baptized, and look for the Savior.) 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/20251217fam.mp3 Listen to Devotion Read: James 5:7-11 Therefore, brothers, be patient until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the valuable harvest from the ground, patiently waiting for it, until it receives the early and late rain. You be patient too. Strengthen your hearts because the coming of the Lord is near. Do not complain about one another, brothers, so that you will not be judged. Look! The Judge is standing at the doors! Brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord as an example of suffering with patient endurance. James 5:7-10 (EHV) The Hardest Thing to Do is . . . Waaait! The Hardest Thing to Do is . . . Waaaait! The Hardest Thing to Do is Waaaaait! In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. If you have a dog, you know one of the hardest things to teach it is patience. But it can be done! You might’ve seen a video of a dog with a treat on its nose while its owner says, “Wait . . . waaaait . . . waaaaait . . . OKAY!” Then the dog flips the treat into the air and gobbles it up. The dog gets rewarded for waiting! But patience isn’t just hard for dogs, it’s hard for us too. This time of year, we feel it even more. Christmas presents are wrapped already . . . but you can’t open them yet. You might be super excited for grandparents to visit . . . but you have to wait for them to arrive. You might love Christmas Eve church or Christmas Day worship . . . but you have to wait for the day to get here. Our Bible reading for today talks about patience. Being patient is a good thing—but it’s only really worth it when the person making the promise is someone you can trust. Sometimes people make promises they can’t keep, and that makes us sad. But God says, “Be patient until the coming of the Lord.” God promises that one day Jesus will come back in glory, with his angels. He will make a new heaven and a new earth. He promises that everyone who believes in him will live with him forever. But . . . we have to wait. And it’s not time yet. So what do we do while we wait? We keep listening to God’s Word. We keep living as God’s children. We keep fighting against sin. We forgive others—and they forgive us. We keep going, day after day, with Jesus helping us. The prophets in the Bible had to wait too—they waited hundreds of years for Jesus’ first coming! And just like a farmer waits for his crops to grow, we wait for Jesus to return. The world is getting ready, and so are we. Being patient isn’t easy, but we know something important: God ALWAYS keeps his promises. Not one of his promises has ever failed—and they never will. So we wait . . . but we wait with excitement, because we know Jesus really is coming again! Prayer: Lord Jesus, please help us be patient. You promised to come back and make a brand-new heaven and earth where there is no sin or sadness. Help us believe and trust your promises every day and find strength in daily living. 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 does a farmer have to wait for the harvest? (Because plants need time to grow—harvest only happens when the crop is ready!) Are you excited for Christmas? Why do we have to wait for it? (Because Christmas comes at a set time—waiting builds excitement!) Questions for Elementary Age Children What will Jesus do on judgment day? (He will come back in glory, take believers to heaven, and make everything new.) Why shouldn’t we complain about each other? (God wants us to love, forgive, and be patient—just like he is patient with us.) Questions for Middle School and Above Name three things you’re looking forward to when Jesus comes back. (Ideas: No sadness, seeing Jesus, heaven, new earth, no sin, joy forever.) What should we do while we wait for Jesus to return? (Keep believing, keep learning God’s Word, love others, forgive, and trust Jesus.) 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/20251215fam.mp3 Listen to Devotion Read: Isaiah 35:1-10 The wilderness and the desert will be glad. The wasteland of the Arabah will rejoice and blossom like a crocus. It will bloom lavishly, and there will be great joy and singing. The glory of Lebanon will be given to it. It will be excellent like Carmel and Sharon. They will see the glory of the LORD, the majesty of our God. Strengthen the weak hands, and make the shaky knees steady. Do not be afraid. Look! Your God will come with vengeance. With God’s own retribution, he will come and save you. Then the eyes of the blind will be opened, and the ears of the deaf will be unplugged. The crippled will leap like a deer, and the tongue of the mute will sing for joy. Waters will flow in the wilderness, and streams in the wasteland. The burning sand will become a pool, and in the thirsty ground there will be springs of water. There will be grass, reeds, and rushes where the haunts of jackals once lay. A highway will be there, a road that will be called the holy way. The impure will not walk there. It will be reserved for those who walk in that holy way. Isaiah 35:1-8 (EHV) The Great Heart Superbloom In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Have you ever seen a place that looks super green, like a giant forest? The Smoky Mountains are like that—so many greens it looks like someone used every crayon in the box! If you go to a place like Zion National Park, you’ll see tons of browns and tans—still beautiful, just different. But then there’s Death Valley. Most of the time, it looks dry, empty, and kind of plain. It’s like the world’s biggest “nothing-to-see-here” desert. But something amazing happens once in a while. When it finally gets enough rain, everything changes. Suddenly, colorful flowers pop up everywhere—yellow, orange, purple, pink—like the desert got a giant surprise party! This is called a “superbloom.” Sometimes our lives feel a little like that dry desert. We might feel sad, lonely, or worried—like our hearts don’t have much color in them. But Jesus changes everything. The Bible says he’s our “living water,” which means he refreshes our hearts just like rain refreshes a desert. In the book of Isaiah, it talks about things Jesus did. He made blind people see, deaf people hear, and people who couldn’t walk get up and move again! But Jesus didn’t just fix bodies. He made a way for us to get to heaven—a special road for God’s people called the “holy way.” We weren’t always on that road. We were stuck in our “sin desert,” with no way out. But God didn’t leave us there. The Holy Spirit used God’s Word and baptism to plant faith inside us—like tiny seeds that bloom into beautiful flowers. Because of Jesus, we can walk with God now—and someday we’ll go to heaven, a place where sadness runs away and joy and happiness chase us down! May God help our faith grow and bloom forever. Amen. Prayer: Jesus, thank you for being our living water. You make our hearts come alive—like a big, beautiful superbloom. Help us remember that all our joy and faith come from you. Thank you for saving us and redeeming 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 gets to go to heaven? (Help kids focus on: “Everyone who believes in Jesus as their Savior.”) Who helps us believe in Jesus by working through God’s Word and baptism? (The Holy Spirit!) Questions for Elementary Age Children The Bible says there will be no more crying or sadness in heaven. What happy things will “overtake us”? (Talk about joy, laughter, peace, excitement.) As believers in Jesus, why don’t we need to be scared about the future? (Jesus is with us, loves us, and already knows the way.) Questions for Middle School and Above How is having faith in Jesus like a “superbloom”? (Faith makes our hearts full of color, life, and joy—just like rain brings flowers to the desert.) What does it mean to be “ransomed” by the Lord? (Jesus paid the price for our sins so we could belong to him forever.) 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.