Learning the Faith by Heart

Speaking, Praying, and Singing God’s Word Together 

The Week of April 19 – April 26, 2026

Preparing for the Fourth Sunday of Easter

Hymn of the Week: The King of Love My Shepherd Is (709)

GLCA Learn by Heart Hymn: Awake My Heart with Gladness (467:6) 

GLCA Catechism Memory: Lord’s Prayer 5th Petition (All) + Explanation (2+)

Bible Verse Memory: “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.” – 1 Peter 5:6-7

Monday: Catechism Bible Story – Genesis 45:1-15

Trespasses are sins. We sin every day and deserve punishment, but Jesus died on the cross to take the punishment for our sins. Joseph’s brothers had treated him badly. They had even sold him as a slave! How would Joseph treat them when they came to him in Egypt many years later? What did Joseph say to his brothers? Why do you think that Joseph was able to forgive his brothers for the terrible things they had done to him? – Luther’s Catechism for Kids, pg. 81

Tuesday: First Reading – Acts 2:42-47

         One way to think of what happens at the Divine Service each Sunday is in terms of the Good Shepherd caring for His sheep. Read Acts 2:42 and think about Jesus as your Good Shepherd. In which part of the service do you hear the voice of your Good Shepherd? In which part does He prepare a table for you? How does He restore your soul? Guide you?  

Wednesday: Epistle – 1 Peter 2:19-25

         Compare 1 Peter 2:24-25 to John 10:11-15. How is it that the straying sheep are returned to the shepherd? 

Thursday: Holy Gospel – John 10:1-10

         Jesus said, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life” (vv. 27-28). How do you determine if someone is worthy of your trust? Is it possible to ever fully trust someone?

Friday: Psalm 23

         The shepherd’s rod was a short club used as a weapon to defend the flock from predators. The staff was a long stick for guiding the flock and retrieving strays. How is God’s Word both a rod to protect the flock of the Good Shepherd and also the staff that sustains the flock?

 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…

Verse of the Week 

“Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.” – 1 Peter 5:6-7

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  

The King of Love My Shepherd Is (709)

Catechism Memory 

The Fifth Petition

And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.      

What does this mean?

We pray in this petition that our Father in heaven would not look at our sins, or deny our prayer because of them. We are neither worthy of the things for which we pray, nor have we deserved them, but we ask that He would give them all to us by grace, for we daily sin much and surely deserve nothing but punishment. So we too will sincerely forgive and gladly do good to those who sin against us.

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…