Lutheran Essentials meets in the undercroft of the church on Wednesday evenings at 7pm. Currently we are studying the Augsburg Confession using the 2nd Edition of the Readers Edition of the Book of Concord. If you do not have a copy we are providing them for free.
The Psalm for this session is Psalm 119:65-72 (Teth). The Small Catechism lesson is the 9th Commandment. Last week we covered the articles on the Use of the Sacraments (XIII) and Order in the Church (XIV).
This week we will be covering Church Ceremonies (XV). We will discuss church tradition, ceremonies, worship, the liturgy, and adiaphora. Since the Confutation partially disagrees with this article we will also read the Apology of the Augsburg Confession XV (VIII) 1-5, 18-24, and 38-48. The hymn for this article is “Not All the Blood of Beasts” (LSB 431).
Next we will cover Civil Government (XVI). We will discuss the role of government, Two Kingdoms theology, whether Christians can be soldiers or politicians and when Christians can disobey the government. The Confutation agrees with this article as well but for added depth on the topic we will also read from the Apology XVI. The hymn for this article is “Before You, Lord, We Bow” (LSB 966).
Given the importance of these two topics it is unlikely that we will make it to Article XVII and XVIII on Christ’s Return for Judgment and Free Will.
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. Have a blessed 6th week of Epiphany.
