The Bible study leader’s greatest fear: empty seats. Nothing is quite as intimidating as cold folding chairs and uneaten cookies.

This Sunday’s devotion focuses on the Old Testament Reading and comes from a sermon Luther preached on May 31, 1545, as printed in Luther’s Works, Volume 58 (Sermons V).

Today, we focus on the Gospel text and take our devotion from Portals of Prayer.

Today we read about the impact Muhlenberg made on American hymnody, and we take our devotion from God’s Song in a New Land: Lutheran Hymnals in America.

We focus today on the Gospel text and read a devotion from Proclaiming the Parables.

I am prone to fits.

Not giant fits of rage, but tiny little fits that come like little storm squalls, all thunder and lightning and then nothing, silence, all done.

Except they’re not all done. These little fits stack up, and my husband and family get the worst end of it.

When I was a little girl, our family had a children’s book about Martin Luther. I think it was called Little Martin Luther.

Our devotion today focuses on the Psalm and is from LifeLight: Selected Psalms—Leaders Guide.

Churches and small groups are gearing up to start their fall Bible studies (or maybe yours has already started!).

Today, we remember the prophet Jonah, and we read a devotion from Concordia Commentary: Jonah.