Learning the Faith by Heart
Speaking, Praying, and Singing God’s Word Together
The Week of Oct 20 – Oct 27, 2024
Preparing for Reformation Day (Observed)
Hymn of the Week: Salvation Unto Us Has Come (555)
Psalmody for Matins: Psalm 119:5-10 (Mon); Psalm 46 (Thurs)
GLCA Learn by Heart Hymn: Lord, Keep Us Steadfast in Your Word (655)
Bible Verse Memory (GLCA only): “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” – Acts 2:38-39
Bible Verse Memory (GLCA and Jr Confirmation): “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” – Ephesians 2:8-9
Monday: Holy Gospel – John 8:31-36 (Lord, Keep Us Steadfast in Your Word). Read the Sixth Petition of the Lord’s Prayer and its meaning from the Small Catechism (LSB, p. 324). Name some concrete examples of how “the devil, the world, and our sinful nature” attack a person of faith. What does it mean to “overcome them and win the victory”? Do they no longer touch a person of faith? – LCMS Worship Hymn of the Day Study
Tuesday: First Reading – Revelation 14:6–7. In stanza four of “A Mighty Fortress” we sing, “God’s Word forever shall abide, no thanks to foes who fear it” (LSB 657). Read Rev. 14:7. How does the “’eternal” nature of the Gospel bring strength and courage to Christians in times of difficulty?
Wednesday: Feast of St. James of Jerusalem, Brother of Jesus and Martyr – Matt. 13:54-58. Prayer: Heavenly Father, shepherd of Your people, You raised up James the Just, brother of our Lord, to lead and guide Your Church. Grant that we may follow his example of prayer and reconciliation and be strengthened by the witness of his death; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Thursday: Psalm 46 (A Mighty Fortress Is Our God). Many times during the history of the world, people have forgotten the Bible and the history of God’s plan to save us. The time before and during Martin Luther’s life was one of those times. But God did not forget His people. He worked through Luther and other reformers to once again make the Gospel known in the church. This coming Sunday we will remember the history of the Reformation. Why is it so important to remember the history of our world, of our country, and above all, that of our church?
Friday: Epistle – Romans 3:19-28. The word justified is a courtroom term. Paul describes the Gospel in legal or forensic terms. It is Good News that God “justifies” sinners (that is, He declares them “not guilty”) freely by His grace (vs. 24), through the “redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood to be received by faith.” How does the legal nature of our justification before God bring comfort and consolation to troubled consciences. Hint: faith believes God’s external Word.
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 God the Father Almighty…
GLCA Bible Verse Memory
“Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” – Acts 2:38-39
Jr Confirmation Memory
“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” – Ephesians 2:8-9
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
Salvation Unto Us Has Come (555)
Family Prayers
For___________________, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.