Learning the Faith by Heart
Speaking, Praying, and Singing God’s Word Together
The Week of August 16 – August 23
Preparing for the Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost
Hymn of the Week: Built on the Rock (645)
GLCA Learn by Heart Hymn: The Gifts Christ Freely Gives (602:2)
GLCA Catechism Memory: Review Apostles’ Creed (Second Grade +)
Bible Verse Memory: “Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.” – Colossians 2:6-7 (GLCA Theme Verse for 2026-2027)
Monday: Catechism Bible Story – Hebrews 4:12 – Maybe, instead of thinking of God’s Word as a sword, it might be more helpful to think of it as a scalpel. A scalpel is a very sharp instrument used by doctors, often to cut out something bad from the body. When we listen to God’s Word, it’s like He is doing surgery on us. When we hear His Word of Law, He helps us to see the sin we have so that it can be cut out. When we hear His Word of Gospel, He is working to heal and restore us. – LCMS School Ministry: Rooted in Christ Chapel Talks, pg. 15
Tuesday: Old Testament – Isaiah 51:1-6 – God’s word of forgiveness heals and restores us. His salvation is forever! (vs. 6) Read verse 3. What is the proper response to God’s eternal salvation?
Wednesday: Epistle – Romans 11:33-12:8 – The Church is sometimes called the Body of Christ. All the body parts work together. Some of us are like feet, others like hands, still others like mouths. The point is we all belong to the same body and we need one another! God has given each of us gifts and abilities to work together to serve God and others. How can you use your abilities to serve others tomorrow?
Thursday: Holy Gospel – Matthew 16:13-20 – Jesus gave to His disciples, and to the Church, the keys of the kingdom – the command to forgive and retain sins in His stead. That means that when we hear the pastor say, “in the stead and by the command of my Lord Jesus Christ, I forgive you all of your sins” we can certain that we are truly forgiven. Open up to hymn 602. Which stanza talks about the keys of the kingdom?
Friday: The Gifts Christ Freely Gives (602:2) – Why do we sing that Christ gives His gift of forgiveness from the font? Read Acts 2:38. What promise is attached to the Sacrament of Holy Baptism? Read the last part of stanza 2. What other gift does the Triune God Himself give us at the font?
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.
Bible Verse Memory
“Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.” – Colossians 2:6-7 (GLCA Theme Verse for 2026-2027)
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 – Built on the Rock (645)
Catechism
I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth.
And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died and was buried.
He descended into hell.
The third day He rose again from the dead.
He ascended into heaven
and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty,
From thence He will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
The holy Christian Church,
The communion of saints,
The forgiveness of sins,
The resurrection of the body,
And the life + everlasting. Amen,
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…