WhatDoesThisMean?
TheContinuingImportanceofLuther’sSmallCatechism
Lesson1:IntroductionandBackground
WhyDoWeHaveaCatechism?
PrayerandIntroduction.
1. ListthreethingsyourememberaboutLuther’sSmallCatechism?
(IfyouhaveneverhadacopyofLuther’sSmallCatechism,canyoulistthreethings
youknowaboutit?)
a. b. c. 2. Inyourownwords,whydidyoustudyLuther’sCatechism?
(IfyoudidnotstudyLuther’sCatechism,whatmotivatedyoutojointhis
discussion?)
3. WhenwasthelasttimeyoureadanypartoftheCatechism
(excludethosetimesyouspokeorreadportionsinworship)?
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4. Thefollowinglistincludessomeofthepointsofthepresentation.
Usethespaceprovidedtoidentifywhatyoulearnedaboutthemin
thecourseofthenextfewminutes.(Ifyouareworkinginagroup,
designateonepersontoidentifyoneimportantideafromthe
presentation.
PartOne:
Priestsweretopreach4timesayearontheCatechism,theCreedandthe
Lord’sPrayer.TheAveMariawasalsoapartoftheirreaching.
1500:AFruitfulMirrororSmallHandbookforChristiansbyDietrichKolde
Contents:
Penance:
a.
b.
c.
Theologyof“musts”(Theologyofglory)
“Totrustinworks,whichoneoughttodoinfear,isequivalenttogiving
oneselfthehonorandtakingitfromGod,towhomfearisduein
connectionwitheverywork.”(AE31:46)
5. Pausetoreviewthispartofthepresentationandsharewhatyou
learnedwiththeothersinyourgroup.Thepersonchosentoidentify
oneimportantideacanstart,butothersinyourgroupmayaddtothe
discussion.
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PartTwo:
Lutherand1516workinWittenberg
Luther’sPersonalPrayerBook1522
Contents:
“Thesebooksarepuffedupwithpromisesofindulgencesandcomeout
withdecorationsinredinkandprettytitles…Thesebooksneedabasicand
thoroughreformationifnottotalextermination…ButIjustdon’thavethe
timetoundertakesuchareformation:itistoomuchformealone.Sountil
Godgivesmemoretimeandgrace,Iwilllimitmyselftotheexhortationin
thisbook”(AE31:11,12)
TheologyofChrist(TheologyoftheCross)
“Nowitisnotsufficientforanyone,anditdoeshimnogoodtorecognize
Godinhisgloryandmajesty,unlessherecognizedhiminthehumilityand
shameofthecross…truetheologyandrecognitionofGodareinthe
crucifiedChrist”(AE31:52,53)
NicholasHausman(Zwickau)1525
DietofSpeyer1526:Thereligionoftheprinceisthereligionofthe
territory.
Visitations:
LargeandSmallCatechism:1529(LargeCatechismApril;SmallCatechism
May)
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6. Pausetoreviewthispartofthepresentationandsharewhatyou
learnedwiththeothersinyourgroup.Thepersonchosentoidentify
oneimportantideacanstart,butothersinyourgroupmayaddtothe
discussion.
7. Luther’sSmallCatechismrepresentedadramaticshiftinthinking
andtheology.ContrasttheapproachofDietrichKoldeandMartin
Luther.Listatleasttwodifferences.
1.
2.
8. TakingitHome:ReadLuther’sFirstChiefPart:TheTenCommandments.
YoumaysimplyreadwhatLutherwroteoryoumayalsoreadtheexplanationofthe
TenCommandmentsthatwehavealsoincludedinourcatechisms.Usethe
Catechismyouusedinconfirmationinstructions.
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ForQuestion#7Presentationafterexercise.
PersonalPrayerBook(MartinLuther)
ItwasnotunintendedinGod’sparticularorderingofthingsthatlowly
ChristianpeoplewhomightbeabletoreadtheBibleshouldneverthelessbe
obligatedtolearnandknowtheTenCommandments,theCreed,andthe
Lord’sPrayer.Indeed,thetotalcontentofScriptureandpreachingand
everythingChristiansneedtoknowisquitefullyandadequately
comprehendedinthesethreeitems.Theysummarizeeverythingwithsuch
brevityandclaritythatpeoplecancomplainormakeanyexcusethatthe
thingsnecessaryfortheirsalvationaretoocomplicatedordifficultforthemto
remember.
Threethingswemustknowinordertobesaved.Firstwemustknowwhat
todoandwhattoleaveundone.Second,whenwerealizethatwecannot
measureuptowhatweshoulddoorleaveundone,weneedtoknowwhereto
gotofindthestrengthwerequire.Third,wemustknowhowtoseekand
obtainthatstrength.Itisjustlikesickpeoplewhofirsthavetodeterminethe
natureoftheirsickness,thenfindoutwhattodoortoleaveundone.After
thattheyhavetoknowwheretogetthemedicinewhichwillhelpthemdoor
leaveundonewhatisrightforahealthyperson.Thirdwehavetodesireto
searchforthismedicineandtoobtainitorhaveitbroughttous.
Thusthecommandmentsteachalltorecognizetheirsickness,enabling
themtoperceivewhattheymustdoorrefrainfromdoing,consenttoor
refuse,andsotheywillrecognizethemselvestobesinfulandwickedpeople.
TheCreedwillteachandshowthemwheretofindthemedicine—grace—
whichwillhelpthemtobecomedevoutandkeepthecommandments.The
CreedpointsthemtoGodandhismercy,givenandmadeplaintothemin
Christ.Finally,theLord’sPrayerteachesallthis,namelythroughthe
fulfillmentofGod’scommandmentseverythingwillbegiventhem.Inthese
threearetheessentialsoftheentireBible.(AE43,13-14)
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