Lutheran History & Catechism- Adiaphora

Background Information: (Taken from Colaborate Leader Handbook)
In it's infancy, the Christian church had to formulate the central beliefs of our faith. Leaders argued, prayed, and studied, coming up with what we now have in the Bible, as well as unifying statements such as the Apostles' and Nicene Creeds.

In the centuries that followed, the church picked up many practices, teachings, and beliefs that harmed people's faith more than they helped it. Reformation leaders discarded doctrines that pointed away from Christ and toward the idea that human action was necessary for salvation.
They were left with the essentials of the Christian faith, which we still rely on to define it today. The essentials are that we are bound and broken by sin, and that through Christ crucified, God has saved us. Christ needs no help from us. Every other doctrine of the church was considered adiaphora--things we could take or leave.

Despite being nonessential, adiaphora are often the points of tension that continue to divide the church. Adiaphora in the church today includes whether to use grape juice or wine for the Lord's Supper, which music styles and instruments should be used in worship, the proper position of our bodies while we pray, whether to sprinkle or dunk in baptism, and countless other practices. In other words, Christians continue to wrestle with figuring out what's truly essential in calling ourselves the body of Christ.

Share a high from the past week.
Share a low from the past week.
Parents/Guardians be sure to share as well!

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1 Corinthians 10:23-11:1New RevisedStandard Version (NRSV)
Do All to the Glory of God
​23 “All things are lawful,” but not all things are beneficial. “All things are lawful,” but not all things build up. 24 Do not seek your own advantage, but that of the other. 25 Eat whatever is sold in the meat market without raising any question on the ground of conscience, 26 for “the earth and its fullness are the Lord’s.”27 If an unbeliever invites you to a meal and you are disposed to go, eat whatever is set before you without raising any question on the ground of conscience. 28 But if someone says to you, “This has been offered in sacrifice,” then do not eat it, out of consideration for the one who informed you, and for the sake of conscience— 29 I mean the other’s conscience, not your own. For why should my liberty be subject to the judgment of someone else’s conscience? 30 If I partake with thankfulness, why should I be denounced because of that for which I give thanks?
31 So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God. 32 Give no offense to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God, 33 just as I try to please everyone in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, so that they may be saved. 11 1 Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.

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What's the difference between something being lawful and that same thing being beneficial?
Can you think of something that's legal but not necessarily good for people?
How can we discern the difference between something that we can do and something we should do?

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Pray a simple prayer for your highs and lows. Spend time quietly saying your prayers out loud or to yourself.

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End your time together with the following blessing, marking the cross of Christ on your forehead as a reminder of your baptism. Parents/Guardians be sure to have your child mark your forehead as well!
(Name), you are a Child of God! 

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