Lutheran History & Catechism- Martin Luther

Background Info:
Martin Luther lived in Germany more than five hundred years ago. He was a friar in a monastery and worked as a Bible professor at the University of Wittenberg. Luther's preaching and teaching led to conflict with the church in his day (the only Western denomination was the Roman Catholic Church), to the point where he was excommunicated.

Luther's teaching and preaching always begins with Christ, with what his death and resurrection mean for us:

• We can't help ourselves and need a savior.
• God comes to us in the flesh and person of Jesus.
• Christ's death on the cross alone frees us from sin.
• The resurrection is God's promise of eternal grace, mercy and love.

Luther spent the rest of his life teaching, preaching and working to understand how to lead the churches that were becoming "Lutheran"--committing themselves to his theology of grace.

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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Ephesians 2:8-10 (NRSV)
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God— 9 not the result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life.

1 Corinthians 1:11-13 (NRSV)
11 For it has been reported to me by Chloe’s people that there are quarrels among you, my brothers and sisters.
12 What I mean is that each of you says, “I belong to Paul,” or “I belong to Apollos,” or “I belong to Cephas,” or “I belong to Christ.” 13 Has Christ been divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?

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We can use the words faith and belief interchangeably. In worship, when we read the creeds, we say, "I believe..." or "We believe..." Is that kind of belief the same as this faith that Paul is talking about, or is it different? What does the word faith really mean, anyway?

According to Paul, is our salvation the result of doing good works, or is it something else? What is the purpose of good works, then?

It's easy to name the separations in the body of Christ--different congregations, different denominations, and so on. Where do we see Christians coming together?

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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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