Learning the Faith by Heart

Speaking, Praying, and Singing God’s Word Together  

The Week of September 13 – September 20  

Preparing for the Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost

Hymn of the Week: Salvation unto Us Has Come (555)

GLCA Learn by Heart Hymn: The Gifts Christ Freely Gives (602:6)

GLCA Catechism Memory: What benefits does Baptism give? (Grade 3+)   

Jr. Confirmation Memory: Apostles’ Creed (without Explanation)

Bible Verse Memory: “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.” – Mark 16:16

Monday: Holy Cross Day – 1 Corinthians 1:18  

This day is historically set aside as a special day to meditate on Jesus’ cross. Because we often see the cross depicted in art or hanging around people’s necks as jewelry, it’s easy to romanticize the image of the cross. Read 1 Corinthians 1:18. Talk about how a New Testament Jew or Early Christian would have viewed the cross.

Tuesday: Holy Gospel – Matthew 20:1–16

Serving in the Lord’s kingdom is a privilege and labor of love, not something undertaken to gain a reward. When we begin to think that God’s kingdom needs or depends on us, we get it completely backward (Lutheran Study Bible Note). Instead, we help and support our neighbor in his body, knowing that our Lord is always just and always generous. How does understanding the Gospel of God’s generous dealings with us on account of Christ change how we view the needs of others? 

Wednesday: Old Testament – Isaiah 55:6–9

The foreman’s generosity to pay the workers who only worked an hour is foolishness to the world. The other workers couldn’t understand why the foreman would show them such undeserved favor. Read vs. 7. What action of God toward sinners, in particular, is hard for us to understand?

Thursday: Catechism Bible Story – 2 Peter 3:18

All of us start out as babies, but little by little we grow up and we become bigger and stronger and smarter. Peter knew about growing up, but in today’s reading he’s not concerned with physically growing up but growing in grace. How do we grow in God’s grace? How did Peter grow in God’s grace? – LCMS School Ministry: Rooted in Christ Chapel Talks, pg. 18

Friday: Epistle – Philippians 1:12-14, 19-30

What does Paul mean when he says, “To me to live is Christ, and to die is gain?” What good comes from living on this earth as a believer in Christ? What good comes from dying as a believer in Christ? – Enduring Grace: A Church Year Journal for Kids, pg. 136

 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

“Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.” – Mark 16:16

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

Salvation unto Us Has Come (555)

Catechism

 What benefits does Baptism give?   

 It works forgiveness of sins, rescues from death and the devil, and gives eternal salvation to all who believe this, as the words and promises of God declare.

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…