Forth Sunday in Epiphany

Romans 8:38-39 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.

1. Since faith comes through __________ the word of Christ, Satan seeks to ______________ Jesus.

2. Jesus ____________ the devil with His ____________ Word.

3. We should expect the devil's ____________, but he cannot drown out Christ's _______________ and ____________ Word.

Scripture Readings
Deuteronomy 18:15-20
1 Corinthians 8:1-13
Mark 1:21-28

Take It With You!

As we follow Christ from His baptism to His cross and empty tomb, it will be helpful for everyone to be reading through the Gospel of Mark daily. Here helpful tools will be offered to aid in your study.

[A]lthough we have received forgiveness and a good conscience and are entirely acquitted, yet is our life of such a nature that one stands today and tomorrow falls. Therefore, even though we be godly now and stand before God with a good conscience, we must pray again that He would not suffer us to relapse and yield to trials and temptations...

Temptation, however is of three kinds, namely, of the flesh, of the world, and of the devil....

Therefore we Christians must be armed and daily expect to be incessantly attacked, in order that no one may go on in security and heedlessly, as though the devil were far from us, but at all times expect and parry his blows. For though I am now chaste, patient, kind, and in firm faith, the devil will this very hour send such an arrow into my heart that I can scarcely stand. For he is an enemy that never desists nor becomes tired, so that when one temptation ceases, there always arise others and fresh ones.

Accordingly, there is no help or comfort except to run hither and to take hold of the Lord's Prayer, and thus speak to God from the heart: Dear Father, Thou hast bidden me pray; let me not relapse because of temptations. Then you will see that they must desist, and finally acknowledge themselves conquered. Else if you venture to help yourself by your own thoughts and counsel, you will only make the matter worse and give the devil more space. For he has a serpent's head, which if it gain an opening into which he can slip, the whole body will follow without check. But prayer can prevent him and drive him back.

The Large Catechism: The Sixth Petition of the Lord's Prayer (Lead us not into temptation)