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 119:73-80 (Yodh). The Small Catechism lesson is the 10th Commandment. Last week we covered the articles on Church Ceremonies (XV) and Civil Government (XVI).
This week we will be covering Christ’s Return for Judgment (XVII). We will discuss the End Times, Resurrection of the Dead, the Last Judgment, the New Heavens and New Earth, and Hell. Since the Confutation agrees with this article we will not read from the Apology of the Augsburg Confession. The hymn for this article is “The Day is Surely Drawing Near” (LSB 508).
Next we will cover Free Will (XVIII). We will discuss the Bondage of the Will, conversion, decision theology, and Arminianism. The Confutation agrees with this article as well but Melancthon points out that they really do not agree so we will read the Apology XVIII. The hymn for this article is “Dear Christians, One and All, Rejoice” (LSB 556), Martin Luther’s great hymn on the state of man and our salvation.
Given the importance of these two topics it is unlikely that we will make it to Article XIX and XX on the Cause of Sin and Good Works.
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 7th week of Epiphany.
