Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions

Scripture Text: Ephesians 2:19-21

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Ephesians 2:19-21

From the Confessions: The Defense of the Augsburg Confession

Concerning the Church 

We are not dreaming of a Platonic state, as some maliciously assert, but we teach that this Church does exist, comprised of truly believing and righteous people scattered throughout the whole world. And we add the marks: the pure doctrine of the gospel and the sacraments. This Church is properly the pillar of the truth (1 Tim 3:15) because it retains the pure gospel and what Paul calls the “foundation” (1 Cor 3:11), the true knowledge of Christ and faith. There are obviously many weak persons in the Church who build upon the foundation with stubble that will perish, that is, with useless opinions. Nevertheless, because they do not overthrow the foundation, they are both forgiven and also corrected. 

Pulling It Together

You will find the Church wherever two or more are gathered in the name of Jesus (Matt 18:20), that is with faith in him, teaching the gospel, and administering the sacraments. Christ is the cornerstone of the Church, and the teachings of the prophets and the apostles are its foundation (Eph 2:20). The sign in front of the building is not proof, nor are its articles of incorporation. The Holy Scriptures are its charter and constitution. Faithful people are its structure. This holy temple, the Church, is the work of God’s Spirit. Therefore, the Church is primarily spiritual and theological, not physical, organizational, or historical. It is a living temple and all people with faith in Christ are its living stones (1 Pet 2:5).

Prayer: Thank you, Father, for making me a member of your household, through your Son Jesus Christ. Amen.

Introduce young students to the Church through this five-week series titled Welcome to Church. There are no student books necessary; all print resources needed to prepare and run a class session are included and are copy-ready. Each lesson includes background information for the teacher on the session theme and Bible lesson, as well as a step-by-step class session plan, ideas for welcome, prayers, Bible rhymes, activities and projects, as well as reproducible coloring pages and worksheets. The price of the book includes permission to reproduce pages for local use.


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