"Do You Know a Good Book for...?"

 

Matthew 28:19–20a (ESV)

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.

I have had my little blue Small Catechism since I was in 7^th grade.  I inherited it from my sister Kathy. I know it was hers because it has her notes all over the inside cover of the book, including the name of at least one boy who must have been in her confirmation class.  Think about that.  After kindergarten, after 12 years of elementary school, middle school and High school this is the only textbook from my childhood, that I still have.  Now, obviously the Bible is the main book in my life – the source of all that I know, believe and teach about God.  I own many Bibles, but I really don’t have any in my position from my childhood. (Oh, I have some old German Bibles that come from my Grandmother Braun.  But I don’t really read German very well.)  And just as with the Bible, I have many newer editions of the Small Catechism.  There is this one published in 1986.  This one comes in either blue (to match the Lutheran Worship Hymnal) or in Maroon one (to match The Lutheran Service Book hymnal).  And then there is this newest version published in 2017.  Yet still I hold on to this old blue version, published in 1943, the version of Luther’s Small Catechism I used when Pastor Miles taught me in confirmation back in 1971 and 72.   

Why?   Why do I hold on to this old edition?  Why do I have so many copies of different editions of Luther’s Small Catechism?  Why do I own so many different translations of the Bible?  The answer seems obvious.  I am a Pastor.  I now teach the faith to young and old. Of course, I need Bibles and the Catechism to do that work.   I preach the Word of God every Sunday.  In that work I always preach from the Bible for it is God’s word.  I also, quite often use and quote from Luther’s Small Catechism.  Just as obvious, I hold on to this edition that I used when I was confirmed because it has sentimental value for me. 

Those are the easy answers to the question why.  However, there are other equally important reasons – reasons why I believe this is a great book for every Lutheran believer, indeed for every believer.  

First, the Catechism is a great discipleship tool.  Jesus told us to “Go and make disciples of all nations… teaching them all that I have commanded you.”  The Catechism is an excellent tool for doing just that.  In Luther’s day “the Catechism” in a general way was used to describe the basics of the Christian faith – the Ten Commandments, the Apostle’s Creed and the Lord’s Prayer.  These were the things that every disciple of Christ should know and understand.  In his Small Catechism, Martin Luther has given us brief and simple explanations of all three.  He also added three more – Holy Baptism, Confession and Absolution and the Sacrament of the Altar.

People ask me all the time, “Do you know a good book for teaching the faith to my children?”  Yes!  It’s right here – Luther’s Small Catechism.  I wish I had understood that when my children were little.  I always thought of the Small Catechism as something Pastors use, at church, when teaching 7^th and 8^th graders.  And it is true, we Pastors do use it that way.  But our teaching would be so much more effective if parents started teaching the Catechism at home from the time their kids were young.  I would urge each of you to keep a copy of Luther’s Small Catechism close to your dinner table – along with a Bible and a devotion book.  As part of your family devotions, reach a small section and talk about it together.  That was Dr. Luther’s intention.  Luther headlines each of the six chief parts with these words – “As the head of the household should teach them in a simple way to his household.”

That “simple” nature of the Catechism is a second reason for having this book close at hand in your life.  The Small Catechism is written in such a simple way that the basics of the faith are easily remembered.  Indeed, in my life I have been led by God to memorize the six chief parts and their meanings on five different occasions.  Committing these words to heart has been a tool of the Holy Spirit in shaping my walk as a disciple of Christ.  The words of faith contained here have become the heart language of faith for me.  In times of guilt or loneliness I am reminded that “he has redeemed me a lost and condemned person, purchased and won me from all sin and evil desire.”  From these pages I have learned that God invites me to pray to Him as “children ask their dear father.”   I am reminded that because of God’s work in me at baptism that daily He desires that the old Adam in me should be drowned and die, along with all sin and evil desire that daily a new many might emerge and arise to live before God…” 

 Let me share one other reason for keeping this book close at hand at home.  Here is a great resource of faith. There are daily prayers here, a table of duties describing how God would have us live in the various roles we have in life, as well as questions and answers for using in preparation for going to the Lord’s Supper.  In the back our church body has added a deeper explanation of the Small Catechism.  Here you will find various issues such as abortion, divorce, lying, prayer and more addressed.  If  you have a question on any number of different issues in life, there is a good chance you will find Scripture verse back here that will assist you.

 I could go on.  The point is this – Yes, I know a good book for you, indeed a couple of good books to always have close at hand.  First and foremost, there is the Holy Scripture, the Bible which “is able to make you wise unto salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.”  The other is Luther’s Small Catechism, entirely based on the Bible- a great discipleship tool for you and your family.