Week of Holy Cross Day - September 14-20

Theme: Jesus Is the Blessed Tree of Life

Learn by Heart

Verse: Deuteronomy 6:6-7

And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.

Hymn: “Hark! The Voice of Jesus Crying” | ELH #191:1-3

Listen to the hymn here.

The Catechism: The 3rd and 4th Commandments

The Third Commandment

You shall keep the day of rest holy.

What does this mean?

We should fear and love God, so that we do not despise preaching and His Word, but regard it as sacred and gladly hear and learn it.

The Fourth Commandment

Honor your father and your mother, that it may be well with you, and that you may live long on the earth.

What does this mean?

We should fear and love God, so that we do not despise our parents and superiors, nor provoke them to anger, but honor, serve, obey, love and esteem them.

Week of Trinity 12 - September 7-13

Theme: Those Who Seek God Rejoice and Are Glad in Him

Learn by Heart

Verse: Deuteronomy 6:4-5

Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.

Hymn: “All People That on Earth Do Dwell” | ELH #51:1, 2, 5

Listen to the hymn here.

The Catechism: The 1st and 2nd Commandments

The First Commandment

You shall have no other gods.

What does this mean?

We should fear, love and trust in God above all things.

The Second Commandment

You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God.

What does this mean?

We should fear and love God, so that we do not curse, swear, practice witchcraft, lie or deceive by His name, but call upon Him in every trouble, pray, praise and give thanks.

Week of Trinity 11 - August 31-September 6

Theme: The Lord Has Led Captivity Captive

Learn by Heart

Verse: Matthew 7:7-8

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.”

Hymn: “Our Father, Thou in Heaven Above” | ELH #383:8-9

Listen to the hymn here.

The Catechism: The 7th Petition of the Lord’s Prayer & the Conclusion

The Seventh Petition

But deliver us from evil.

What does this mean?

We pray in this petition, as the sum of all, that our Father in heaven would deliver us from every evil of body and soul, property and honor; and at last, when the hour of death shall come, grant us a blessed end, and graciously take us from this valley of sorrow to Himself in heaven.

The Conclusion

For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for­ever and ever. Amen.

What does “Amen” mean?

Amen means that we should be sure that these petitions are acceptable to our Father in heaven and are heard by Him; for He himself has commanded us to pray in this way and has promised to hear us. Amen, Amen: that is, Yes, Yes, it shall be so.

Week of Trinity 10 - August 24-30

Theme: God Keeps Our Tears in His Bottle

Learn by Heart

Verse: Galatians 5:17

For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.

Hymn: “Our Father, Thou in Heaven Above” | ELH #383:7

Listen to the hymn here.

The Catechism: The 6th Petition of the Lord’s Prayer

The Sixth Petition

And lead us not into temptation.

What does this mean?

God certainly tempts no one to sin, but we pray in this petition that God would guard and keep us so that the devil, the world and our own flesh may not deceive us nor lead us into false belief, despair and other shameful sin and vice; and though we are tempted by them, that we may still in the end overcome and retain the victory.

Week of Trinity 8 - August 10-16

Theme: The New Jerusalem is a Christians heavenly home

Learn by Heart

Verse: 1 Timothy 6:8, 10a

But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content.... For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils.

Hymn: “Our Father, Thou in Heaven Above” | ELH #383:5

Listen to the hymn here.

The Catechism: The 4th Petition of the Lord’s Prayer

The Fourth Petition

Give us this day our daily bread.

What does this mean?

God certainly gives daily bread without our prayer, even to all the wicked; but we pray in this petition that He would lead us to acknowledge this and to receive our daily bread with thanksgiving.

What is meant by daily bread?

Daily bread includes everything needed for this life, such as food, drink, clothing, shoes, house, home, fields, cattle, money, goods, God-fearing spouse and children, faithful workers and rulers, good government, good weather, peace, health, order, honor, true friends, good neighbors, and the like.