Learning the Faith by Heart

Speaking, Praying, and Singing God’s Word Together 

The Week of March 15 – March 22, 2026

Preparing for the Fifth Sunday in Lent 

Hymn of the Week: My Song Is Love Unknown (430)

GLCA Learn by Heart Hymn: Awake My Heart with Gladness (467:2)  

GLCA Catechism Memory: Lord’s Prayer 2nd Petition (All) + Explanation (2+)

Bible Verse Memory:

“Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.” – John 3:5

Monday: Catechism Bible Study – John 18:33-40 Pilate did not understand that Jesus’ kingdom was not an earthly kingdom. What question did Pilate ask Jesus, and what was Jesus’ answer? What kind of King is Jesus?

Tuesday: Commemoration of St. Patrick, Missionary to Ireland  Prayer: “Almighty God, You chose Your servant Patrick to be a missionary to the Irish people who were wandering in darkness and error. You bound unto them the trinitarian name through Baptism and faith that they might dwell in the light of Christ. Bind unto us this same strong name of the Trinity as we remember our Baptism and walk in His light, that we may come to dwell at last in the eternal light of the presence of Your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Tuesday: Old Testament – Ezekiel 37:1-14 Through the power of God’s Word preached, the dry bones come back together (vs. 7). In order to come fully alive, however, Ezekiel must preach to the four winds to blow “the breath of life” into the inert bodies (vs. 10). How is this reminiscent of the original creation of Adam, when God first shaped his flesh from the dust, and then blew the breath of life into him?

Wednesday: “Book of Job: Blessed be the Name of the Lord” Lenten Sermon Series – Job 23:1–17Job 23:10 states, “When he has tested me, I will come forth as gold.” Why does God test his people? What is your current test? What qualities does gold have that God wants for you? How does God redeem suffering and pain in your life?

Thursday: Feast of St. Joseph, Guardian of Jesus – Matthew 2:13-15, 19-23

         Prayer: Almighty God, from the house of Your servant David You raised up Joseph to be the guardian of Your incarnate Son and the husband of His mother, Mary. Grant us grace to follow the example of this faithful workman in heeding Your counsel and obeying Your commands; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Friday: Holy Gospel – John 11:17-27, 38-53  As Jesus called Lazarus from the tomb and commanded others to “unbind him, and let him go” (v. 44), He also calls us and releases us from the bondage of sin and death through the Gospel. How does Holy Absolution give us a glimpse of the resurrection of the dead (when God’s Word will breathe His Spirit into our lifeless bones)?

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…

Verse of the Week 

“Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.” – John 3:5

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  

My Song Is Love Unknown (430)

Catechism Memory 

Lord’s Prayer 2nd Petition (All) + Explanation (2+)

The Second Petition

Thy kingdom come.

What does this mean?

The kingdom of God certainly comes by itself without our prayer, but we pray in this petition that it may come to us also.

How does God’s kingdom come?

God’s kingdom comes when our heavenly Father gives us His Holy Spirit, so that by His grace we believe His holy Word and lead godly lives here in time and there in eternity.

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