Lutheran Essentials meets in the undercroft of the church on Wednesday evenings at 7pm. This week we are beginning a new study on the Canon of Scripture. The book we are using is F. F. Bruce’s “The Canon of Scripture”. If you do not have a copy we are providing them for free. We are also continuing to provide the Book of Concord for free.
The Psalm for this session is Psalm 119:153-160 (Resh). The Small Catechism lesson is the Fifth Petition of the Lord’s Prayer.
This week we will be starting our study of the Canon of Scripture with what our view as of Scripture is as the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod. We will first take a look at the Formula of Concord Solid Declaration Rule and Norm. We will discuss why the Scriptures are the norming norm of all doctrine and the Book of Concord in relation to Scripture. We will also read the first three articles on the Holy Scriptures from the 1932 Brief Statement of the Doctrinal Position of the Missouri Synod. We will discuss the inspiration, infallibility, inerrancy and the fact that the Scriptures are the very Word of God. We will finish this discussion by singing the hymn “Lord, Keep Us Steadfast in Your Word” (LSB 655).
Time permitting we will move on to start on the Introduction: Holy Scripture from the book “The Canon of Scripture”. We will read the section of The Word ‘Canon’ (pg. 17-18), discuss the meaning of that word, and its relation to the Lutheran Confessions. We will also read the section on the People of the Book (pg. 18-19) and discuss the fact that Judaism, Christianity and Islam are the only world religions that have authoritative texts which are believed to have come from God. We will also discuss the Christian perspective on Judaism and Islam, namely that they are both incorrect regarding their interpretation of the Holy Bible and condemned to hell for denying the Trinity, the Person of Christ and Justification.
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 5th week of Easter.
