Learning the Faith by Heart

Speaking, Praying, and Singing God’s Word Together

The Week of Sept 14 – Sept 21, 2025

Preparing for the Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost

Hymn of the Week: Seek Where You May to Find a Way (557)

GLCA Learn by Heart Hymn: These Are the Holy Ten Commands (581:6)

GLCA Catechism Memory: The Fifth Commandment

Bible Verse Memory: “For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.” – Psalm 139:13-14

Monday: Catechism Bible Story – The Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37)

         As is the case with all of the commandments, the Fifth Commandment is a concrete expression of the First. The fear and love of God above all things is the foundation for both the prohibition of murder and the positive obligation to love the neighbor by providing bodily help and support (Pless, pg. 36).  We care for the body of our neighbors, providing food to the hungry, medical aid to the sick, hospitality to the homeless, etc. as a result of the care and provision, help and support we’ve received from our loving Father in heaven. Who can you love? Who is your neighbor? Who needs your help? 

Tuesday: Old Testament – Amos 8:4–7

         Some might assume that God has “forgotten the poor or needy.” How do we know this is not the case?

Wednesday: Epistle – 1 Timothy 2:1–15

         Our sinful nature is sometimes offended at the unique roles and responsibilities God has given to each sex, causing us to miss the blessings that come with God’s perfect design (“male and female He created them”). How does looking to Jesus’ faithful submission to His assigned role as the man, and the one mediator, change our attitude toward God-given roles?

Thursday: Holy Gospel – Luke 15:1–15

The manager’s shrewdness was realizing that he had a way of getting himself out of the mess he made, but instead knowing that he could count on the mercy of his master to save him. What are you prone to look to get you out of the mess you’ve made, other than God’s mercy?

Friday: Seek Where You May to Find a Way (557)

This hymn exhorts us to locate our trust and hope in Jesus. Where does the author call for us to locate Jesus with certainty?

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.

Verse of the Week 

“For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.” – Psalm 139:13-14

Catechism Memory 

What is the Fifth Commandment

You shall not murder.

What does this mean?

We should fear and love God so that we do not hurt or harm our neighbor in his body, but help and support him in every physical need.

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. 

Apostles’ Creed 

I believe in God the Father Almighty…

Hymn of the Week  

Seek Where You May to Find a Way (557)

Family Prayers 

For___________________, let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy.  

Lord’s Prayer 

Taught by our Lord and trusting in His promises, we are bold to pray:

Our Father, who art in heaven…