Www.SmallCatechism.org is committed to constantly improving our quality resources. Thanks to your feedback, the site continues to be improved. Even as existing materials are being improved, new Series 3 materials are in the making and will be ready in mid-Summer 2010.
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TF
www.Smallcatechism.org is a division of Inkrist Resources at www.Inkrist.com . Among the growing number of resources are numerous original hymns. Organized by Liturgical Season/use, I invite you to visit this website for enhancing your Lent, Holy Week, Easter et al. worship. For a complete list of the original songs, many of which are to familiar public domain hymntunes, go to www.creativehymns.com
God bless you this Lent!
TF
Those who begin Confirmation in the Fall (mid-September) will find that the Small Catechism.org curriculum is designed to give an opportunity to teach the Apostles’ Creed (specifically the Second Article) during Lent.
This is intended to help the students gain a greater awareness and understanding of Jesus’ suffering and death for us…as well as the victorious joy of His resurrection.
God bless your catechesis!
TF
SmallCatechism.org’s materials on the Eight Commandment offers the opportunity to cover a lot of territory with this all-important command of God. Bible verses, quotes from Luther and other insights help to provide flexibility of materials for instructors and students alike.
One of the prohibitions in the first part of the outline is “triangling.” This simply means, “to talk ABOUT each other (to others), NOT to each other.” I specifically use this term because the emphasis and clear teaching on this is an important key to healthy families, relationships and congregations. For more information, see Thrivent’s “Healthy Congregations Workshop.”
God bless your catechesis.
TF
Be sure to take the opportunity to teach Biblical Stewardship as part of the Seventh Commandment Lesson.
Several points I make in these lessons include:
1) We steal from God by not faithfully managing God’s possessions which He has entrusted to us.
2) Our response of stewardship is ALWAYS the response of the grace-converted heart which loves God “hilariously”…because they have given themselves first to the Lord.
I recall a student in my very first confirmation class. He was a 7th grader and bragged how his Father always gave $4 everytime they came to church, $1 for each family member (Dad, Mom, little Sister and the student). Since they only went to church 1x/month, I did a little example demonstrating God’s priority. I suggested Dad made $50K per year. Mom also worked, $30K per year. Then I took the total income and divided it up by 12 months. Doing the math, they grossed $6666.00/month. What percent is that?
Adding to the story, the eager-to-spill-the-beans 7th grader also said they went out to breakfast every Sunday, even if they didn’t go to church. I asked how much they paid for breakfast and how much they tipped the server. “My father’s a good tipper,” the student said. “He gives her $5 each time we eat breakfast.”
The point of the lesson is to show that God received less in a month than the waitress did in one hour. In my experience, this becomes a good Law/Gospel context for Biblical Stewardship and our response to God’s undeserved grace.
TF
Because of the importance of the Sacraments to the Christian Faith, each year I have a “Communion Workshop.” This is generally a 3 hour workshop that I hold immediately after church.
It begins with lunch with parents. Then it goes into the special materials related to the Sacraments, especially Holy Communion. There are several breaks offered.
Of course, a Communion workshop can be included in a lock-in, retreat or other opportunity suited to your ministry.
And, yes, I require it for those being confirmed this year (8th Graders) as well as those who will be confirmed the next year (7th Graders). It’s an excellent review–and an important way to provide an indepth understanding of the “Real Presence” of Christ “in, with and under” the bread and wine.
God bless!
TF
At two-months prior to the end of each Confirmation Year, I make sure that I urge completion of assignments. For my program, completion of these assignments is required for successful completion of the year’s program.
I urge you to encourage your students to complete…
1) New Testament Bible Summaries: Many will procrastinate. Now’s a good time to encourage completion.
2) Series II Online Quiz/Lessons: If this is a requirement for your curriculum, be sure to encourage it now.
May God bless Your Catechesis!
TF
I always strongly encourage parents to attend catechism with their youth. Because of the sensitity some parents have to Sixth Commandment issues, I require parents to attend.
Given the prevalence of cohabitation without marriage, premarital sex, sex education in the schools and the easy access to immorality on the internet, I want parents to be there so that there can be a common understand of God’s calling in the Sixth Commandment.
Parents have ALWAYS appreciated my “Special” invitation to this session. It also helps to build the trust required for pastoral ministry.
TF
The Ten Commandments are a fundamental basis for teaching Christian living. Last week I was teaching the Sixth Commandment.
The flexibility of Series I Materials allows for a variety of creative learning experiences. For example, whenever I teach the Sixth Commandment, I always take the students (youth or adult) on a “Field Trip”…the the church kitchen to illustrate what “adultery” is (i.e. “to make impure”).
Here’s how I do the “Field Trip”.
First, I get a clear glass out of the kitchen cupboard. I fill it with clean, clear water. As I show it to the students I ask, “Would anyone like to drink this?” I then give it to a student to take a sip. “Nice, clean water, right?” I ask.
Second, I scrounge around the kitchen and add whatever I can find–coffee grounds, salt, pepper, ketchup, mustard, etc.–and mix it into the glass. The students usually demonstrate their distaste for what I’m doing with questioning looks on their face. After stirring it well I again ask, “Who would like a drink?” Of course, no one wants one. “Why not?” I ask. “Because it’s dirty!” they reply.
Application #1: Then I share how all our bodies are like the glass of clean water. God, in the Sixth Commandment, calls us to be clean. He doesn’t want us to pollute our bodies and lives by immorality, pre-marital sex, unclean thoughts, etc. It’s a good opportunity to review Luther’s meaning to the Sixth Commandment.
Application #2: Of course the other application relates to grace. “What does God do when we make our bodies dirty and defile His temple (i.e. our bodies)?” To demonstrate this, I dump the dirty glass, thoroughly washing down all the dirt. Then I thoroughlly clean the glass, dry it off, and fill it up again asking, “Would anyone like to drink this?” For all who say, “Yes,” they affirm what God’s forgiveness is: Thoroughly washing and cleansing us from all sin. This applies not only to the Sixth Commandment, but to ALL Commandments.
That’s what Law and Gospel are all about: Showing Our Sins and Showing Our Savior.
TF
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God bless!
Thomas F. Fischer,
SmallCatechism.org