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 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 15. The Small Catechism lesson is the Eighth Commandment.
This week we will begin wrapping up our study on the canon with the twenty second chapter Conclusion: A Canon Within the Canon? We will read the section on The ‘Inner Canon’ (pg. 270-272) wherein we will discuss how different denominations focus on different books in the canon. We will then read the section Many Witnesses, One Church, One Lord (pg. 272-275) and we will discuss the central theme of Scripture, Jesus Christ. We will then read the section Criteria Today (pg. 275-278) and discuss what criteria we use today to establish canon and why it is important. We will read the section What If…? (pg. 278-279) and explore what would happen if another document was found today that was authentically from one of the Apostles. We will read the section on Orthodoxy (pg. 279-280) and talk about how orthodoxy is defined. We will then read the section Inspiration (pg. 280-283) and discuss theological realities of the authorship of Scripture which is a work of love for us by the Holy Spirit. We will finish this chapter by singing the hymn “Come, Holy Ghost, God and Lord” (LSB 497).
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.
