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Learn how to read God's Word through the lens of Luther's Small Catechism. Looking for the Commandments, the Lord's Prayer, the Apostles' Creed, and the Sacraments on every page of the Bible.

Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions

Scripture Text: Romans 3:23–25a

The justification of sinners is received as God’s gift, not because of religious or moral activity. Justification is a legal term, appropriated by the Apostle Paul to express God’s great gift.

Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions

Scripture Text: Romans 14:19

Luther wanted unity in the Church, but not if it meant sacrificing the very truths that upheld that Church. Three memorable, Latin slogans that came out of the Lutheran reform movement can help us determine when we are parting from Christian truth.

Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions

Scripture Text: John 15:26

With the Nicene Creed, Luther confessed that God the Father is eternal, that the Son is eternally begotten of the Father, and that the Holy Spirit proceeds from both the Father and the Son.

Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions

Scripture Text: John 14:15, 21

We busy ourselves with a kind of mundane yet exuberant piety, the machinations of religion, so that we might deceive ourselves (and others, I suppose) into thinking we are holy and righteous.

Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions

Scripture Text: Matthew 23:24–25

All those things that Luther denounced were outward displays. They ought to be fixed, but dealing with those outer matters neglects the more important things, the inner matters that end up improving the outer.

Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions

Scripture Text: Matthew 9:35–38

It was after Jesus saw the desolate villages, the “sheep without a shepherd,” that he called the twelve disciples. God equips his Church with a variety of vocations...

Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions

Scripture Text: Ephesians 4:11–16

God uses his Word and Sacraments to grow our faith, and increase and unify the Church. Nevertheless, his Word and Sacraments are distributed by the work of his Spirit through people.

Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions

Scripture Text: 1 Corinthians 5:3–5

Luther is still speaking primarily of the fanatics, the schwärmerei, those who used Luther’s words to their own ends. They twisted his teachings, bringing division to the church instead of reform.


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