Learning the Faith by Heart
Speaking, Praying, and Singing God’s Word Together
The Week of Aug 18 – Aug 25, 2024
Preparing for the Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost
Hymn of the Week: Lord, Help Us Ever To Retain (865)
GLCA Learn by Heart Hymn: Now Thank We All Our God (895)
Catechism Memory: Daily Prayers (Asking a Blessing) – LSB pg. 327
Bible Verse Memory: Philippians 4:8
Monday: Catechism Bible Story – Exodus 16:1-16
We pray before and after meals that we might learn to trust in our heavenly Father as the giver of daily bread and everything that we need to support us in this daily life. Look at the Psalms included in the Catechism’s mealtime prayers and think about them as promises made by God. What do those Psalms teach you about God? How does saying those prayers strengthen your faith in Him?
Tuesday: Saint and Sinner: Samuel –
Samuel is remembered by the Church as a man of prayer who was always praying for the people of God. He is remembered above all for his statement “to obey is better than sacrifice.” This would be a theme that the later prophets would constantly repeat. Almighty God, in Your mercy You gave Samuel courage to call Israel to repentance and to renew their dedication to the Lord. Keep us and all Your people in the grace of repentance, that by the blood of Jesus, the Son of David, we may continually receive and rejoice in the forgiveness of all our sins, through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen. – Celebrating the Saints, Pastor Weeden
Wednesday: Old Testament – Isaiah 29:11–19
Our prayers are not meant to be empty words that we repeat without thinking about them. It makes God sad when His people draw near to Him “with their mouth” and to honor Him “with their lips,” while their hearts are far removed from Him (Is. 29:13). God doesn’t just command us to pray, but He also promises to listen! He invites us to pray to teach us to believe that He is our true Father and that we are His true children, and we can trust Him with anything. Pick just one petition of the Lord’s Prayer. Now think of 3 different things to pray for based on that petition.
Thursday: Holy Gospel – Mark 7:1–13
There are three kinds of laws in the Old Testament: the moral law, which tells all people their duty toward God and other people; the ceremonial law, which regulated the religious practices in the Old Testament; and the political law, which was the state law of the Israelites” (2017 Explanation, p. 55). Which one of the three kinds of laws are the Pharisees and scribes concerned with? How do they go beyond that? Which kind of law does Jesus bring to bear on the Pharisees and the scribes? If the Pharisees and scribes would realize that it is not the defiling of their hands they should be concerned with but the defiling of their hearts, what tough question would they then have to answer? Which kind of law does Jesus keep for you? Answer: all of them!
Friday: Epistle – Ephesians 5:22–33
The Six Chief Parts of the Small Catechism provide the Christian with a worldview, a way of making sense of life according to the Word of God. Each part serves as a “hook” to hang your life on. Read Eph. 5:22–33. St. Paul packs an amazing amount of theology into a few verses. How many parts of the Small Catechism do you find reflected in these verses? – LCMS Worship Hymn of the Day Bible Study, pg. 31
The Order of Meditation and Prayer
The sign of the cross + may be made by all in remembrance of their Baptism
Invocation
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Apostles’ Creed
I believe in the God the Father Almighty…
Bible Verse Memory
“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” – Philippians 4:8
Catechism Memory: Daily Prayers (Asking a Blessing)
The eyes of all look to You, [O Lord,] and You give them their food at the proper time. You open Your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing. Psalm 145:15-16
Then shall be said the Lord’s Prayer and the following:
Lord God, heavenly Father, bless us and these Your gifts which we receive from Your bountiful goodness, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
Bible Reading for the Day (From Upcoming Readings for Sun, Portals of Prayer, or other Daily meditation)
This is the Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Hymn of the Week
Lord, Help Us Ever To Retain (865)
Family Prayers
For___________________, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
Lord’s Prayer