March 18, 2010 by admin.

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

Posted in Small Catechism.org Blog | No Comments »

March 18, 2010 by admin.

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

Posted in Small Catechism.org Blog | No Comments »

March 18, 2010 by admin.

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

Posted in Small Catechism.org Blog | No Comments »

March 18, 2010 by admin.

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

Posted in Small Catechism.org Blog | No Comments »