by Jodi Brook and Christine Matthias
‘Living the Catechism’ is a new resource designed to introduce your household, family or small group to Martin Luther’s Small Catechism and to help them learn about the teachings of the Christian faith.
Luther felt strongly about the need for a clear explanation of faith and life! His Small Catechism was written to be the family’s Christian handbook. It is an excellent summary of what the Bible teaches us, including subjects such as repentance, faith, prayer, forgiveness, daily prayer and our daily work.
WHAT IS THE SMALL CATECHISM?
Luther’s Small Catechism is a collection of questions and answers on the Ten Commandments, the Apostles’ Creed, the Lord’s Prayer, holy baptism, confession and holy communion.
Also included are daily prayers, a table of duties for Christians in their various life callings, and a guide for Christians to use as they prepare to receive holy communion.
WHY STUDY THE SMALL CATECHISM?
God uses the precious truths of his word to keep us strong and growing in our faith in Jesus. The catechism helps us understand God’s law, which shows us our sin and how we are to live as his people. The catechism beautifully articulates the gospel, the good news of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection for our salvation.
WHAT DOES ‘LIVING THE CATECHISM’ INCLUDE?
Our team has prepared 28 easy-to-use sheets, which teach three topics: the Ten Commandments, the Lord’s Prayer and the Apostles’ Creed.
Each sheet follows a basic framework to help discuss each topic and relate it to everyday life. It consists of the following elements:
- What does this mean? This explanation correlates to Luther’s Small Catechism and explains the specific petition or commandment to discuss.
- Conversations: Hearing each other’s faith story provides an opportunity for openness and relevance to the topics being discussed.
- Bible readings: Our faith shapes the whole of our lives and involves a lifetime of studying the Bible.
- Action response: Serving others together provides an opportunity to see people’s gifts, faith and values in action, and to show practically how the topic relates to everyday life.
- Prayer: Rituals and traditions such as prayers and devotions communicate meaning and relationships that exist between the people of God.
- For further study: Another opportunity to find out more about our faith and each other.
Grow recommends that the resource be used alongside a copy of Luther’s Small Catechism. Households can use a different sheet each week, fortnight or month, depending on how much time they can dedicate to family devotion time.
We pray that this resource provides you and your household, family, or small group with a wonderful opportunity to share and discuss life and faith together.
Jodi Brook is Grow Ministries Director. Christine Matthias is Grow’s Resource Coordinator.
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