Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: Job 13:7
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From the Word: Will you speak unjustly for God, and speak deceitfully for him? (Job 13:7)
From the Confessions: The Large Catechism, The Ten Commandments
The Second Commandment
You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.
Therefore, I counsel and urge, as I have before, that by means of warning and threat, restraint and punishment, children be trained early to shun dishonesty, and especially to avoid the use of God’s name to support a lie. If they are allowed to do as they please, no good will result. It is evident that the world is worse than it has ever been. There is no government, no obedience, no fidelity, and no faith, but only willful, unbridled people, whom teaching and rebuke do not improve. All this is God’s wrath and punishment for such headstrong contempt of this commandment.
Pulling It Together: Some people, those relying on their own old nature, cannot bear to hear God’s word, let alone understand it (John 8:43). They will not listen, because they are not of God; they do not have a new nature. So, they will invent whatever suits their narrative, and often try to make their views more appealing by swearing, or otherwise, wrongly using God’s name. The practice begins at a very young age. So, it must be rooted out early and often. Children must be taught, for it is not in their natures, to use God’s name correctly. This may best be done by not putting words in his mouth. Better to let God speak for himself—and listen to him. I know no better and more objective way to listen to God than to be often in The Holy Bible.
Prayer: Help me to hear you, Father, and obey. Amen.
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The Sola Confirmation Series, written by the Rev. Dr. Steven E. King, is a work-book style Confirmation curriculum. It is designed to serve as a simple and practical resource for teaching the biblical Word of God according to the traditional pattern of Martin Luther’s Small Catechism. Each book in the series can be used as the basis for a “come as you are” small group Bible study, as a student book for home school or independent study programs, or as a classroom tool and homework resource as part of an existing confirmation program.
The Ten Commandments book is a ten-week unit, which includes one session on each of the Commandments. The Scripture focus is on Moses and the Exodus Cycle, with Bible Study lessons taken primarily from the Pentateuch.
Author
Rev. Mark E. Ryman serves as Pastor for St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Salisbury, NC. Previously, Pastor Ryman has served other congregations in North Carolina and Ohio, as well as a call to specialized ministry with Sola Publishing.
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