Teaching Posted in September 2025

 

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 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: Revelation 3:1–3

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 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. 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 4:23

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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