The Large Catechism – part 101
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: Luke 5:20–21
What greater words are these, spoken by God himself? The promise, “You are forgiven.” is received by God’s grace through faith alone.
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The Large Catechism – part 100
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: Acts 20:32
God’s word, the gospel, is the very power of salvation. This is how God bequests the eternal inheritance of the saints. He constructs a Christian through the word of his grace—in other words, through the righteousness of Christ.
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The Large Catechism – part 99
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: Luke 4:31–32
Everywhere Jesus traveled, he healed people, and fed them, but also taught them in the synagogues, as well as on the mountains and plains. Never once did he complain that all those people ever wanted out of him was his word.
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The Large Catechism – part 98
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: Luke 4:16
Great blessing awaits those who have developed the practice of going to worship on the Lord’s Day. But if they attend church only to go through the motions, not truly involved in the what is happening...
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The Large Catechism – part 97
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: Luke 4:4
We spend our days working for the food to feed ourselves and our families, struggling for higher position, and trying to keep illness and death at bay. These were the very temptations that faced Jesus in the wilderness.
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The Large Catechism – part 96
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: Acts 18:12–13
Be persuaded by the testimony of Scripture to worship God as he commands, not as the civil law or cultural conscience dictate. In other words, if local, state, or federal law change to the degree of demanding that you must not worship on the Lord’s Day, you have but one option, Christian.
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The Large Catechism – part 95
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: Esther 4:14
Why are you in the kingdom but to be a suitable subject, doing your king’s bidding? But what is his will? you may wonder. He has made this matter obvious, though the details may seem unclear.
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The Large Catechism – part 94
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: Acts 17:10–11
Would you be ignoble? Ignore the Scriptures. Would you be honorable? Attend to the weekly service to hear the word of God read and expounded.
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The Large Catechism – part 93
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: Acts 16:25
Christians worship, not only when commanded, but when there is need. Are you a sinner in need of forgiveness? Worship. Are you thankful? Worship.
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The Large Catechism – part 92
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: Acts 16:22–24
On their way to worship, Paul and Silas were hounded by a slave fortune teller, whom they healed of demonic possession, essentially cutting of a flow of money to her owners. For this, they had Paul and Silas beaten and imprisoned.
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The Large Catechism – part 91
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: Acts 16:13–14
Take a break. Find respite from the hubbub every day, if you can. It is a great way to honor the First Commandment, to put the Lord first in your day. But certainly take a break on the Lord’s Day.
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The Large Catechism – part 90
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: Acts 15:19
What is the aim of the gospel? That question will guide you in determining if something is a matter of the spirit or a religious observance.
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The Large Catechism – part 89
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: Acts 15:10–11
When we read the law, much less try to keep it, we must also hear the word of grace. The commandments do us no good without God’s grace.
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The Large Catechism – part 88
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: Acts 14:21–22
Find a way! Speak their language while proclaiming the word of truth. Teach in different ways. Get through to them, especially as pertains to these first commandments.
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The Large Catechism – part 87
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: Job 29:14
This is what The Small Catechism does; it teaches us to put on the only righteousness that is effective. It instructs us to fear, love, and trust in God, who alone is our righteousness.
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The Large Catechism – part 86
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: John 10:27–29
We do well to entrust ourselves to God. He is faithful to strengthen us and protect us from evil. He is faithful to so in this life and save us for the life to come.
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The Large Catechism – part 85
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: Job 19:25-26
Poor Job was tormented by his friends, shunned by his family, and was of the opinion that God was after him. Did he simply complain about his plight? Was he reduced to whining about his tribulations?
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The Large Catechism – part 84
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: John 9:3
There is no easier way for the works of God to be demonstrated in our lives than by our calling upon the Father. See the different ways we pray it is so. May your name be holy among us.
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The Large Catechism – part 83
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: Acts 12:21–24
In this example of Herod, we may quickly observe what is important to God. Herod was full of himself, wanting people to hear his words.
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The Large Catechism – part 82
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: Job 13:7
Some people, those relying on their own old nature, cannot bear to hear God’s word, let alone understand it. They will not listen, because they are not of God; they do not have a new nature.
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The Large Catechism – part 81
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: John 8:31–32
The disciples of Jesus were first called Christians in Antioch. Some say that this means “little Christs.” If so—if Christians are those who would imitate him—their lying would immediately bring dishonor to the name of the God whom they follow.
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The Large Catechism – part 80
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: Acts 10:43
The worst way to take God’s name in vain, is to say or believe that favor from God is received in one’s own name, his own reputation—in other words, by the merits of what he does.
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The Large Catechism – part 79
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: John 7:17
Jesus uses the Name in a doubly devout manner. Not only does he teach what his Father sent him to teach, he gives God the credit too. Jesus’ teaching depended on the reputation of the one who sent him.
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The Large Catechism – part 78
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: Job 7:21
Jesus taught us in the Fifth Petition of his prayer to trust in God for forgiveness of our sins. Human nature reasons that our suffering is caused by God no longer loving us, and that there must be a reason for the loss of his care.
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The Large Catechism – part 77
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: John 6:63
Why is it that God is so concerned with words, that we speak the truth and use his name, his reputation, with care? Words, true words, create life. They create faith in Christ Jesus, which leads to eternal life.
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The Large Catechism – part 76
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: Acts 9:31
Fear is a good thing. But we say that we do not want our children growing up, fearing the Lord. We want them to fear hot stoves, bad influences, and other harmful things, but not to fear taking the Lord’s name in vain.
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The Large Catechism – part 75
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: John 6:40
Everywhere one turns, there are lies and deception. In the modern age, we call it spinning the truth, and thereby, we even lie about lying. People claim to no longer lie, but to simply spin the truth.
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The Large Catechism – part 74
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: Job 1:20–22
Wickedness exists because people want things their way. They want what belongs to another, or they want but will not work. They want their own will be done, not, “Thy will be done.”
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The Large Catechism – part 73
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: Judges 18:20
Have you ever noticed in the Old Testament the convention of capitalizing the word “Lord,” or sometimes “God”? These indicate a place where the consonantal name of God, YHWH...
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The Large Catechism – part 72
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: Acts 8:1–3
Name-calling, threats, imprisonment, and murder are bad enough but when they are done under the cover of religion, these things are contemptible.
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The Large Catechism – part 71
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: Judges 17:6
Micah stole a great sum of money from his mother, then returned it because he feared her curse. She then dedicated it to the Lord, evidently hoping to amend the curse that ended up being upon her son.
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The Large Catechism – part 70
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: John 4:48
Among the crowds was a royal official who believed Jesus. While he took Jesus at his word, the rest seemed to need a show of it: signs and miracles.
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The Large Catechism – part 69
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: Judges 14:18
As one would imagine, there are stark differences between Samson and Jesus. Samson took whatever his flesh desired. Jesus wanted what his Father willed. Samson killed to get what would not come to him naturally.
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The Large Catechism – part 68
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: John 4:7–10
See how near the Samaritan woman was to missing the grace of God. Old wounds and deep pride kept her from speaking the truth.
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The Large Catechism – part 67
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: Acts 5:41
If the apostles had promised to teach no longer about Jesus, but did so anyway, they would have taken the Lord’s name in vain. They would have lied in the name of God.
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The Large Catechism – part 66
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: John 3:5
The keeping of the commandments, so far as it depends upon us, begins with controlling the tongue. The Apostle James said that the tongue is a restless evil, so we must try to give it a rest.
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The Large Catechism – part 65
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: Judges 8:22–23
Conversely, when the First Commandment is not observed, the other commandments will be broken. See how quickly, even after Gideon says God will rule the people, they put their trust in an object.
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The Large Catechism – part 64
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: Acts 3:16
It needs saying again, that a particular idol is always lurking nearby. We need to be aware of it so that we may give it a good kick behind us.
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The Large Catechism – part 63
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: Acts 3:6
Look to the lowly apostles. None of them was high or mighty in the ways of the world. They were mostly fishermen, but because they put their trust in the Lord, God made them fishers of men.
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The Large Catechism – part 62
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: Judges 6:36–38
If you would trust anything in this life, trust that which has been from the beginning, that truth which continues to flow down to us today.
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The Large Catechism – part 61
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: Acts 2:1–4
Gathering together, likely for prayer and the latest word from the apostles, those earliest disciples were probably considered fools by those in the streets of Jerusalem.
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The Large Catechism – part 60
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: Judges 4:14
Just as Joshua exhorted the Israelites to choose whom they would serve, Deborah pressed Barak to trust the one God, fearing him more than Jaban, the Canaanite king, and his commander Sisera, with all his troops.
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The Large Catechism – part 59
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: Matthew 27:46
It may seem, at first, that God’s offer is not so friendly, for we see readily enough in the commandment, the threat of his wrath if we disobey. And how can we not disobey?
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The Large Catechism – part 58
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: Romans 16:25–27
Because the Israelites lived with the evil in the land, instead of driving it out as God commanded, God allowed to happen what would, of course, transpire. The same thing has happened in our own country.
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The Large Catechism – part 57
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: Joshua 24:23
Because God is a loving Father who cares for those who believe in him, we owe it to him to esteem him above all else. Yet, even those who do not believe are obliged to honor him, simply because he is God.
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The Large Catechism – part 56
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: Joshua 10:3–5
The news had traveled throughout the land, how God had fought Israel’s battles. Country after country, and city after city were terrified of Israel’s approach. Still, the king of Jerusalem dared defy God’s will by asking four other kings to help him with their armies at their sides.
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The Large Catechism – part 55
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: Romans 15:13
First, let us deal with the common misconception that because my father or mother sinned, I and my children and grandchildren and great-grandchildren will pay for their transgression.
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The Large Catechism – part 54
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: Joshua 8:32–35
If you have ever watched someone incise a single letter into slate, you can imagine how long it took Joshua to engrave the whole law on the altar at Mt. Ebal.
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The Large Catechism – part 53
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: Joshua 8:1–2
We want it, and we want it now. Furthermore, we want what we want, not that which is given. This is a depiction of children, but when adults act that way, it is an indictment.
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The Large Catechism – part 52
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: Joshua 7:13
Lest we lose sight of our theme, we are considering how all good gifts come from God. We do not take them; we receive them. Some of the Israelites snatched blessings from Jericho’s dead.
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The Large Catechism – part 51
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: Romans 12:12–13
Of course, the risk is that the First Commandment be turned into a business venture. If you just do this or that, it might be promoted, then God will give you whatever you desire.
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The Large Catechism – part 50
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: Romans 12:3
One cannot think of himself any more highly than to think he is fit to do what only God can do. God helps us in our human weakness, comforts us in our consciences, and saves us, not only from our sins, but also to eternal life.
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The Large Catechism – part 49
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: Romans 11:36
All good is from God, as well as through him, and returning to him. He gets the credit: all the credit. I do not get the glory, nor do you. Government does not get the praise, nor its politicians.
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The Large Catechism – part 48
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: Romans 11:19–20
There is no greater idol, no hollower false god, than self. When we puff ourselves up with religious pride, we should remember that only emptiness may be inflated
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The Large Catechism – part 47
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: Romans 11:8–11
Minerva is the Roman counterpart to the modern idol of work and industry. There is nothing wrong with a day’s work or of being industrious.
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The Large Catechism – part 46
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: Romans 9:16
You may be certain that God will abandon the one who trusts in himself — to himself. If a person takes pleasure in his own striving, if he finds consolation in his devotion, if he is confident in anyone but God, he will discover himself undone.
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The Large Catechism – part 45
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: Romans 8:32
We should, without any difficulty, be able to expect from God alone all good things, for he has given us the greatest gift already. He has provided for us forgiveness, salvation, and eternal life through his Son.
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The Large Catechism – part 44
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: Romans 8:26–27
Where does your help come from; from whom should you expect any assistance? To place your hope and trust in anyone but God is idolatry.
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The Large Catechism – part 43
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: Numbers 24:10–13
Balak is exasperated at the realization that he cannot have his own way. He tried three times to coerce Balaam to curse God’s people, yet God blessed them three times over.
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The Large Catechism – part 42
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: Numbers 23:26
See how unhappy King Balak is, with his godless insecurities. He will only be happy if millions of Israelites are cursed. Balaam also seems less than pleased, if the New Testament commentary has anything to offer.
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The Large Catechism – part 41
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: Numbers 23:7–8
What do you want: Balak’s fortunes, or God’s blessings? We get in trouble when we want more than we need, more than what God has promised to provide.
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The Large Catechism – part 40
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: Numbers 22:31
The story of Balaam can be confusing. We might be tempted to take his side against God, unless we understand that God allows us to pursue those things we truly desire.
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The Large Catechism – part 39
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: Romans 6:17
This is the whole point of the Catechism: to instill a standard of teaching to which our hearts may be conformed and confirmed. Then at all points in life...the Spirit may remind us that there is something—someone—at work within us.
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The Large Catechism – part 38
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: Romans 5:20
The Catechism is meant to accomplish two things: expose our sins, and reveal God’s grace. These very things may be easily overlooked if we view Catechism as a class one takes to memorize a little booklet.
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The Large Catechism – part 37
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: Romans 5:1–2
Have you ever tried to help your child with algebra homework? First, you have to learn it yourself. Second, you dare not help today but then, not help again until weeks later.
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The Large Catechism – part 36
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: Matthew 18:14
If left to themselves, it is obvious enough, that we leave our children to the world and the rulers of the darkness of this time. So, we must teach our children to take up the armor of God.
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The Large Catechism – part 35
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: Matthew 18:2–4
My grandchildren help themselves to our pantry and refrigerator. They understand that Nana and Papa do not want them to be hungry. We encourage them to take and eat.
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The Large Catechism – part 34
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: Romans 1:16-17
The power of Baptism is faith in the Baptizer, in God. Without faith in God’s word of promise, baptism is a ceremonial cleansing at best. But when the word of God is spoken through the water, and is received in faith, there is divine, salvific power.
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The Large Catechism – part 33
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: Romans 1:1–6
Why do we teach this condensed summary of the Holy Bible? We do so because Christ Jesus said, “Go.” Jesus tells his church to make disciples by baptizing them in the name of God and teaching them to obey his commandments.
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The Large Catechism – part 32
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: Ecclesiastes 12:13
James is correct: faith must be shown in deeds (James 2:18). In other words, we are to love our neighbor. Yet, duty is learned; keeping the commandments does not happen naturally.
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The Large Catechism – part 31
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: Matthew 16:15–18
Luther’s words seem extreme and even cruel to us. Yet there is nothing so cruel as to abandon one’s children at the gates of Hell. Our children, and all for whom we bear responsibility, should be taught the Scriptures.
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The Large Catechism – part 30
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: Matthew 16:1–4
These lessons are primary and, therefore, necessary because they point beyond us. They direct us to God, instead of to ourselves, with our limited grasping. There is so much uproar surrounding us, demanding our attention, approval, and finally, allegiance.
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The Large Catechism – part 29
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: Matthew 15:37
God wants us to ask him for all good things. In other words, he wants us to ask him for those things that he knows are best for us. So, being the knowing child of the Father, God’s Son teaches us how to pray.
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The Large Catechism – part 28
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: Galatians 4:19
"We don’t believe in creeds." I have heard people proudly recite that statement many times too. "We only believe in the Bible," they usually continue.
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The Large Catechism – part 27
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: Galatians 3:21–22
I don’t have to keep the law. I’m a Christian and we don’t have to do that anymore. I have heard plenty of people, even pastors, say similar words. Vehemently.
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The Large Catechism – part 26
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: Matthew 14:19–21
The Small Catechism is aptly named; it is a little book of instruction on the Christian faith. It may not seem like much, and perhaps one is thinking, Why not read the entire Bible? Indeed; why not?
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The Large Catechism – part 25
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: Galatians 2:15–16
There are those who are members of a church, yet not members of the Church of Christ, Christ’s body. Perhaps they were raised in the church or had a moment when they thought joining would be a good idea.
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The Large Catechism – part 24
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: Ecclesiastes 2:18–19
One may find much to do, if staying busy is the plan. Or, if making money is the idea, again, there is no end to work. At the end of a life, what will be said of such people?
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The Large Catechism – part 23
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: Galatians 1:6–7
Having spent the weekend with my grandchildren, I wonder if I might still be a child. I have the same question when I read the Bible and study the Catechism. There is so much to understand better.
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The Large Catechism – part 22
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: Matthew 13:33
When Luther was praised for the great work he had accomplished, he gave the praise to God. He replied, “I did nothing; the Word did everything.”
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The Large Catechism – part 21
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: 1 Timothy 4:7–8
When I was in elementary school, I was always the fastest kid in my class. Although sometimes, Melony or Raymond gave me a run for my money. Mrs. Allen, our fourth grade teacher, tested us throughout the year, to determine the swiftest.
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The Large Catechism – part 20
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: Proverbs 17:3
A neighbor told me yesterday that she thinks, “this is a wake-up call for America.” Then she added, “I hope we're listening." She was referring to...
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The Large Catechism – part 19
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: Proverbs 15:30
When I was in high school, my grandma tried everything to fatten me up, as we say. I think skinny me was a slight on her good cooking.
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The Large Catechism – part 18
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: 1 Timothy 1:3–4
The Revised Standard Version may not be the most literal English translation of 1 Timothy 1:4, but the idea of “divine training” has its appeal. Training does not seem too tempting, at first glance.
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The Large Catechism – part 17
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: 2 John 8–9
It is too easy to become a heretic. It is easier to stop believing. Perhaps the easiest thing is to be lazy. Church membership rolls are filled with all three, but probably more of the third class.
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The Large Catechism – part 16
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: Matthew 11:25–26
There are those who take no thought of the Bible, or even the Word in brief, speaking of the Catechism. They are either too dull or too brilliant.
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The Large Catechism – part 15
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: 1 John 5:3
I bless the Lord who gives me counsel; in the night also my heart instructs me. I have set the Lord always before me (Psa 16:7–8). How can we keep God’s commandments if we do not know them, or worse, forget them?
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The Large Catechism – part 14
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: 1 John 4:15–16
The Catechism is a short discourse, packed with God’s Word. In it, the law accuses us, yet as we read on, we are reminded of the gospel, of God’s great love for us in Jesus Christ.
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The Large Catechism – part 13
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: 1 John 3:23–24
When we work in the Catechism, we are essentially learning one thing in different ways. And what is it that the Catechism, in all its parts, teaches us but the greatest commandment which is the sum of all of God’s commandments?
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The Large Catechism – part 12
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: 1 John 3:4–6
In many cases, Greek is difficult to translate into English in a way that makes sense. Today’s New Testament lection is such a case. Many English translations makes it sound like Christians do not sin.
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The Large Catechism – part 11
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: 1 John 2:24–25
What goes for the pastors and theologians, goes, of course, for the whole church. None of us should presume that we have learned the Catechism, the basics of the Christian faith.
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The Large Catechism – part 10
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: Ezekiel 34:7
Who calls pastors and teachers? God, of course. He should be able to expect of those he has employed that they do their work as he intends. Yet, in our churches, too many have ignored the basic teachings of Scripture.
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The Large Catechism – part 9
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: 1 John 2:3
When I was a boy, I would walk down to Jeff’s house and he would join me on the walk to school. We would stop a few houses down the street to get Chris. Many mornings we had to wait on him to finish writing out the 50 states and their capital cities, before we could walk on together.
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The Large Catechism – part 8
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: 1 John 1:8
There are plenty of know-it-alls out there. They have all the answers for you, and are happy to let you know what they call “truth.” Sadly, some of these gasbags are in our congregations.
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The Large Catechism – part 7
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: Jeremiah 31:33
When my wife and I were dating, we would spend hours on the telephone. We did not have anything to say to each other for long stretches of time, but we would not hang up. We just wanted to be together, if only silently.
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The Large Catechism – part 6
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: Ephesians 4:20–24
We need not lay this at the doorstep of the past. Let us look to ourselves. One has to wonder how much fruitless babbling occurs on Sunday mornings.
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The Large Catechism – part 5
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: Ephesians 4:11–15
God provides everything we need for the ministry of his church. Now, we must use what he has provided. For example, if he has granted that one is a teacher of some kind, that person must teach truly, so that others may grow correctly.
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The Large Catechism – part 4
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: Ephesians 3:14–19
What does it mean for Christ to dwell in our hearts through faith? It means that you have cast off all moorings to what you imagine brings security. You no longer depend upon those things; you trust in Christ alone.
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The Large Catechism – part 3
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: Ephesians 3:8–9
Notice how the Catechism deals with both Law and Gospel. We see readily enough, how the Ten Commandments deal with God’s law, telling us what we must do and must not do. These are commands, or law. In the Lord’s Prayer, the Creed, and the Sacraments, we hear the word of grace, the Gospel.
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The Large Catechism – part 2
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: 1 Samuel 2:2–3
God knows us through and through. He comprehends the underlying reasons for all our actions, even before we have performed them. Further, he understands our inaction too, our sloth, our interest in things other than his will.
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The Large Catechism – part 1
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: Matthew 28:19–20
How are we to go, unless we go with the whole Word of God: both his moral Law and his gracious Gospel? How are we to teach that Word of God, unless we know it? And how would we know it well and properly, unless we have a guide?
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