Learning the Faith by Heart
Speaking, Praying, and Singing God’s Word Together
The Week of Feb 9 – Feb 16
Preparing for the Sixth Sunday after the Epiphany
Hymn of the Week: Songs of Thankfulness and Praise (394)
Psalmody for Matins: Psalm 113 (Mon); Psalm 1 (Thurs)
GLCA Learn by Heart Hymn: What Is This Bread (629)
Catechism/Bible Verse Memory: Sacrament of the Altar: How can bodily eating and drinking do this?
Monday: Catechism Bible Story – Mark 4:35-41
Many people scoff at the Doctrine of the Real Presence. That’s what we call Jesus’ teaching that He is really, truly present in the bread and wine of Holy Communion, giving us His true body and blood for the forgiveness of our sins. Why should we believe that the bread is truly His body? And the wine truly His blood? What does the miracle in Mark 4 reveal about the power of Jesus’ words?
Tuesday: Epistle – 1 Corinthians 15:12–20
We believe what Jesus says about the bread and wine in Holy Communion for the same reason we believe anything Jesus says: He rose from the dead! St. Paul reasons that if Christ has not been raised from the dead, “our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. We are even found to be misrepresenting God…” (vv. 14-15a). Apply this reasoning to Holy Communion. How does the resurrection of Jesus prove the Real Presence?
Wednesday: Old Testament – Jeremiah 17:5–8
Read Jeremiah 17:5-8. Now read the Explanation to the First Commandment. How does one help you understand the other?
Thursday: Holy Gospel – Luke 6:17–26
Like the people who came to Jesus, we come to Him powerless in our sin. We can do nothing to save ourselves. Where do we see the power of God’s Word to save us from our sins and heal us from our spiritual sickness today? (Hint: look at the answer to the question, “How can bodily eating and drinking do this?” in your catechism).
Friday: Commemoration of St. Valentine, Martyr – LSB 706
On this day, the Church remembers St. Valentine. The day that he was to face his martyrdom for confessing Christ (ca. AD 270 under Emperor Claudius II in Rome), Valentine is said to have brought consolation to the daughter of his jailor by writing her a small note. The young girl had come to love this godly man and was saddened by his death. What are some ways that you can mirror St. Valentine’s Christ-centered, Gospel motivated love this year?
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…
Catechism Memory/Bible Verse Memory: Sacrament of the Altar (LSB pg. 327)
How can bodily eating and drinking do this?
Certainly not just eating and drinking do these things, but the words written here: “Given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins.” These words, along with the bodily eating and drinking, are the main thing in the Sacrament. Whoever believes these words has exactly what they say: “forgiveness of sins.”
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
Songs of Thankfulness and Praise (394)
Family Prayers
For___________________, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
Collect of the Day for Epiphany 6 – O Lord, graciously hear the prayers of Your people that we who justly suffer the consequence of our sin may be mercifully delivered by Your goodness to the glory of Your name; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.