Lutheran Essentials meets in the undercroft of the church on Wednesday evenings at 7pm. You can reach the undercroft by going around to the back parking lot of the church and descending the staircase to the kitchen. Knock on the door if it is closed and some one will let you in. You can also join us remotely via our livestream. Our current study is on the Augsburg Confession. We are providing hard copies of the Book of Concord for free, as well as copies of the Lutheran Service Book.
We will open class with Psalm 119:137-144 (Tsadhe) and our catechism lesson will be on the Third Commandment. We will continue our study of Article XXVII on Monastic Vows. We will talk about the various abuses of monasticism and the vows monks and nuns were forced to make. The Confutation rejects this article so we will read a part of the Apology’s response which makes it clear that living in our vocation is what is pleasing to God, not superspiritual works. We will then sing the hymn “Jesus, Priceless Treasure” (LSB 743).
We will then read Article XXVIII on Church Authority. We will discuss a proper division between the power of the church and the power of the state. We will also discuss what authority ecclesiastical rulers have, and that the primary job of the church is to proclaim the Gospel. The Confutation disagrees with this article so we will look at the Apology’s response. We will then sing the hymn One Thing’s Needful (LSB 536).
We will close our study of the Augsburg Confession by reading the Conclusion. We will talk about the boldness of these princes to stand before the Holy Roman Emperor and make this confession of faith. We will close with singing the hymn “A Mighty Fortress is Our God” (LSB 656).
Our next study will be on the Heidelberg Disputation which will start on April 11th. As always new people are always welcome to this study at any point during the class. Please talk to the Pastor, Elders or Paul Edmon if you have any questions.
