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. Our current study is on “The Fire and the Staff” by Klemet Preus and the Historic Liturgy. If you do not have a copy of the “The Fire and the Staff” or the Book of Concord we are providing them for free.
The Psalm for this week is Psalm 54. The Small Catechism lesson is the Third Part of Baptism.
The first half of the class we will be reading through “The Fire and the Staff”. We will begin reading Chapter 7: The Fire is Doused (pg. 213-241). We will pick up with The American Idol (pg. 228). We will discuss how choice is one of the most common idols in America and how it has infected Christian theology in America. We then talk about how synergism comes out of this infection and creates doctrine and practices that are harmful to the Christian.
If we have time we will start Chapter 8: The Staff is Bent (pg. 243-275). We will discuss how in American Evangelicalism doctrine and the means of grace are replaced by experience and excitement. We will discuss how this obsession with experience has lead to the distinction between a village church (one that is an institution) and a camp church (one that is revivalist).
For the second half of the class we will continue our study of the Divine Service Setting III in Lutheran Service Book with a discussion about the Preface (LSB 194). We will talk about how the Preface brings us in to the Service of the Sacrament and begins to prepare us for the Lord’s Supper. We will also talk about the Eucharist, namely the giving of thanks that surrounds the Sacrament. We will close by singing “Lord Jesus Christ, Life-Giving Bread” (LSB 625).
We will then study the Proper Preface (LSB 194). We will discuss the formula of the Proper Preface and its declaration that the whole church catholic is celebrating the Divine Service with the congregation. We will finish by singing “Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence” (LSB 621).
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.
