Pastor Clayton ~ September

I must still read and study the catechism daily, and yet I cannot master it as I wish, but must remain a child and pupil of the catechism—and I also do so gladly.”

Martin Luther

Having a child at home has brought us back to the basics. Teaching a young one how to brush her teeth, the names of items around the house, or the noises different animals make, makes us realize how much we take for granted. I know what right and left means, but she doesn’t. I know what shoe goes on what foot, but she doesn’t. Raising and teaching a child has made us slow down. Raising her makes us see that the basics are important.

This is true even more so when it comes to the faith. We can’t teach her what to pray if we first don’t teach her how to pray. We can’t teach her about what Jesus has done for her if she doesn’t hear who Jesus is in the first place. We can’t teach her how to do good if we don’t teach her what is good. The basics are important.

Martin Luther, the 16th century reformer and pastor, saw the importance of the basics. Despite all he taught and wrote about God’s Word, he found himself always needing to go back to the catechism. Now he doesn’t mean the book you may have studied during Confirmation classes. Instead he is speaking about the basics of the faith; he is speaking about things like the Ten Commandments, the Lord’s Prayer, and the Apostles’ Creed. Even with all of his experience, he knew that the basics are important.

On Sunday, September 7, a new Bible study will begin to help us focus on the basics. Each week we will take on different topics to explore what God has said and help us return to some things we might take for granted. Our topics for September will include, ‘Who is God?’, ‘What is sin?’, and ‘Who is Jesus?’.

This Bible study is meant for all different people, from those who have been at Immanuel for 40 years, to those who just started joining us. It is meant for those whose children have children, and for those who are just entering high school. I hope you can join us as we work through the Christian basics, learning and refreshing ourselves with the foundations of the faith.

Blessings,

Pastor Bryce