Looking for an online source of daily devotions and Bible studies?
We've listed a few great sites below. Regardless of your age, gender, or where you are in life, you'll find the refreshment of God's word of love and hope here. These organizations are dedicated to reaching people everywhere with the precious news that Christ is their savior.
Daily devotions and Bible studies are freely available on the LCMS.org website. During Advent and Lent there are special devotions posted, as well as timely devotions based on current events. Check them out.
Bible Reading & Bible Studies
There are many good options for reading the Bible online. Some are listed below.
- In your App Store, search for The Lutheran Study Bible app from Concordia Publishing House.
- Bible Gateway - a free, searchable Bible online, with dozens of translations and languages.
- YouVersion is a free, searchable Bible application for your smartphone
- Want to read the Scripture lessons for this week, or next week? The LCMS website has a great page for this.
Every week, there are many opportunities at Mount Olive to meet in small groups to study God's word and grow together.
- Sunday school is from 9:40-10:20 on Sundays.
- Adult Bible Class is on Sunday mornings from 9:40-10:20 in Mr. Covert's room.
Other Bible studies are listed in the Olive Branch Newsletter each week, including the organizer and contact information. Don't be shy: join one today.
Lutheran Women in Mission (LWML)
All women of Mount Olive are invited! Our local group meets twice per month for Bible Study, and is active in our regional (zone) LWML, as well as the Iowa LWML and the National LWML.
We collect mites (Mark 12) for missions. Pick up a collection box in the gathering area! You can also give online, on the LWML website, where you can see all of the mission projects.
Check our our upcoming events, listed in the News, and in the Calendar sections of our website.
Here's a very short, fun video from YouTube and yet another short, fun video from YouTube, to get you excited about serving the Lord with gladness through the LWML. And visit the website, linked above.
Mount Olive Lutheran Church and School Libraries
Right in our own church library and our school library at Mount Olive you will find a wealth of materials for your spiritual growth.
- Borrow books from the Church Library by signing the library cards and putting them in the checkout card box.
- Mount Olive School students check out books online during school.
Our library has many helpful resources for your Christian growth. Browse the titles and check out a book today.
There are devotionals, special study Bibles, topical studies such as raising Christian children, strengthening relationships, coping with grief and loss, and many others, as well as many Christian novels.
Check our our synodical publisher, Concordia Publishing House, for a vast array of Christian books and resources of all types.
In our sanctuary, at the table by the entry, you will find free copies of the current issue of Portals of Prayer. This daily devotional will give you a renewed sense of God's love for you in Jesus Christ.
Do you need a copy of the scriptures? We have slimline New Testaments. You can have one, free of charge. Just fill out the "contact us" form, and let us know you would like one.
Please use our libraries. They are here for you!
Serving God and Others
Are you fueled up and ready for service? New members are always welcome on our ministry teams. We would love to involve you. Feel free to use the "contact" form to let us know - or mention it to any member at church and they will connect you.
Our regional and national organizations are another great resource for information about our beliefs and practices, as well as devotions, Bible studies, news about our church body, ministry news and opportunities for service.
Lutheran Church Missouri Synod
KFUO Radio (Christ for you, anytime, anywhere)
This website will connect you to Lutheran Public Radio, a source of Christian Lutheran (LCMS) podcasts, syndicated radio talk shows, expert guests, and expansive topics, all while extolling Christ. You can listen online directly from the website, download programs, connect through iTues, Google, Spotify and many other platforms. You can also download their app in your app store.
Be refreshed in the Lord with this excerpt from Portals of Prayer. God bless you in Christ.
"Give me this water, so that I will not be thirsty." John 4:15
There is a thirst in all of us to be loved and cared for. A Samaritan woman wanted men to quench this thirst. The results were disappointing: Five failed marriages and an uncommitted live-in boyfriend. She likely came to the well (where she met Jesus) to draw her water in the heat of the day to avoid the scorn of others.
Like the Samaritan woman, we thirst and work so hard for attention and love that can only be found in God. Jesus says that His love is freely given, without an ounce of human labor involved. He did all the hard work for us in His perfectly obedient life, death, and resurrection. As we abide in Jesus, the Father's love on Him is now on us. The Holy Spirit impresses us with the certainty of God's favor and love. With our thirst quenched, our worship arises wherever we are!
Are you disappointed and tired of laboring for love that is conditional and finite? Be refreshed. The triune Lord has done everything for you so that you can know His love. It is His love that truly quenches the thirsty soul.
"With heav'nly bread He makes the hungry whole.
Gives living waters to the thirsting soul"
(Lutheran Service Book 637 verse 2)
