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.

Week of Trinity 6 - July 27-August 2

Theme: The Works of the Lord Are to Save Forever

Learn by Heart

Verse: John 3:2

This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.”

Hymn: “Our Father, Thou in Heaven Above” | ELH #383:1-2

Listen to the hymn here.

The Catechism: The Introduction & 1st Petition of the Lord’s Prayer

The Introduction to the Lord’s Prayer

Our Father, Who art in heaven.

What does this mean?

With these words God tenderly invites us to believe that He is our true Father, and that we are His true children, so that we may ask Him with all boldness and confidence, as children ask their dear father.

The First Petition

Hallowed be Thy name.

What does this mean?

God’s name is certainly holy in itself, but we pray in this petition that it may be holy among us also.

How is God’s name hallowed?

God’s name is kept holy when His Word is taught in its truth and purity, and we as the children of God live holy lives according to it. This grant us, dear Father in heaven! But he who teaches and lives contrary to the Word of God dishonors God’s name among us. From this preserve us, heavenly Father!