Lessons in the Small Catechism of Dr. Martin Luther / For the Senior Department of Lutheran Sunday-Schools and for General Use

by George Mezger; Martin Luther

Blessed are they that hear the Word of God and keep it. Luke 11,28.

QUESTIONS.

1. What does the word "catechism" mean? 2. What does the Catechism teach us? 3. By whom was our Catechism written? 4. Who was Dr. Martin Luther? 5. When was our Catechism published? 6. From what other book are the doctrines of our Catechism taken? 7. What does the word "Bible" mean? 8. Why do we call this book the Bible? 9. How is the Bible also called? 10. By whom was the Bible, or Holy Scripture, written? Whose word is the Bible? 11. How is the Bible God's Word, though it was written by men? 12. What are the chief parts of the Scriptures? 13. Of whom do both parts testify? 14. In what respect do they differ? 15. For what purpose did God give us His Word? 16. Unto what does the Bible make wise? 17. How do we obtain salvation? 18. How should we use the Bible? 19. What does the Psalmist say about God's Word? 20. Why should we also diligently learn our Catechism?

LESSON 2.
The First Commandment.

Which is the First Commandment?

Thou shalt have no other gods before Me.

What does this mean?

We should fear, love, and trust in God above all things.

1. We all have been baptized. In Holy Baptism God has received us as His children. God is our heavenly Father. A father gives his children his commands. He tells them what they should do and not do, how they should live to please him. So our heavenly Father has given us, His children, His commandments. He tells us what, according to His will, we should do and not do, how we should live and walk in His sight. As His obedient children we will gladly hear and learn His will and try, with His gracious help, to lead such lives as will please Him. It should be our pleasure to fulfil His commandments, for they are the will of our Father, who loves us so dearly.—The Ten Commandments are our heavenly Father's will; they tell us what we should do and not do.

2. "Thou shalt have no other gods before Me," that is the first of the Ten Commandments. That is the will of God, our Lord and Father, that we are to have no other gods before or besides Him. He who is the only true God should be our God. Him alone, and nobody and nothing besides Him, we are to have and regard as our God. "I am, the Lord, that is My name; and My glory will I not give to another" Is. 42,8. When do we regard God as our God? When is He our God indeed? Our Catechism says: "We should fear, love, and trust in God above all things." When we fear God, and love Him, and trust in Him above all things, then He is truly our God.