More thoughts on the Ten Commandments

As we grappled with The Ten Commandments in confirmation I could not help to think how amazing God's grace is. God knew we needed Jesus, because we would always (and continue) to always fall short of perfection.


Luther spent quite a bit of  time talking about the uses of The Law (The Ten Commandments are arguably the most famous Biblical laws in scripture) : two uses Luther highlights are first: The Law reminds us of our need for Jesus. The law convicts us and reminds us we need a savior, because without Jesus and forgiveness we would be in big trouble. Second, the law gives us an example (the best example) oh how to live a full, healthy, and faithful life. It provides guidelines for us Christians to live by-it teaches us how to "Love God and Love others".


Look at the Ten Commandments with your family. Talk through them-how are we living them out in our lives and families? Which are hardest? How are you experiencing God's grace and forgiveness?

The Ten Commandments

We have started to wrestle with The Ten Commandments. Below to get your thinking started I have posted The Ten Commandments and Martin Luther's explanation of it found in Luther's Small Catechism. We will write more in the coming weeks about our journey with these 10 laws.     THE FIRST COMMANDMENT You shall have no other gods. What does this mean for us? We are to fear, love, and trust God above anything else. THE SECOND COMMANDMENTYou shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain. What does this mean for us? We are to fear and love God so that we do not use his name superstitiously, or use it to curse, swear, lie, or deceive, but call on him in prayer, praise and thanksgiving. THE THIRD COMMANDMENT Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.What does this mean for us? We are to fear and love God so that we do not neglect his Word and the preaching of it, but regard it as holy and gladly hear and learn it. THE FOURTH COMMANDMENT Honor your father and your mother. What does this mean for us? We are to fear and love God so that we do not despise or anger our parents and others in authority, but respect, obey, love and serve them. THE FIFTH COMMANDMENT You shall not kill. What does this mean for us? We are to fear and love God so that we do not hurt our neighbor in any way, but help him in all his physical needs.

THE SIXTH COMMANDMENT You shall not commit adultery. What does this mean for us? We are to fear, love, and trust God so that in matters of sex our words and conduct are pure and honorable, and husband and wife love and respect each other. THE SEVENTH COMMANDMENT You shall not steal. What does this mean for us? We are to fear and love God so that we do not take our neighbor's money or property, or get them in any dishonest way, but help him to improve and protect his property and means of making a living. THE EIGHTH COMMANDMENT You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. What does this mean for us? We are to fear and love God so that we do not betray, slander, or lie about our neighbor, but defend him, speak well of him, and explain his actions in the kindest way. THE NINTH COMMANDMENT You shall not covet your neighbor's house. What does this mean for us? We are to fear and love God so that we do not desire to get our neighbor's possessions by scheming, or by pretending to have a right to them, but always help him keep what is his. THE TENTH COMMANDMENT You shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his manservant, or his maidservant, or his cattle, or anything that is your neighbor's. What does this mean for us? We are to fear and love God so that we do not tempt or coax away from our neighbor his wife or his workers, but encourage them to remain loyal.

Saved By Grace!

We spent October learning about Martin Luther and the Reformation. Martin Luther was the "Father" of the Protestant Reformation-a catholic monk and scholar he was concerned with some of the teachings of the Catholic church at the time. Particularly, he was very concerned that The Church was selling indulgences, or selling God's forgiveness and mercy. You could go to heaven...for a cost. Luther felt this was contrary to what he read in Scripture. He stood by his conviction that "It is by Grace we have been saved through faith and faith is a gift from God.". Lutheran got himself excommunicated from The Church and people started to follow him and his theology and hundreds of years later here we are as The Evangelical Lutheran Church of America. For more info check this page out: Martin Luther.

What is Grace? How does your family practice this radical thing called Grace? If we don't earn salvation (because it is a gift from God) then how do we live a life of gratitude to God for doing so much for us?



 

The 1st Article of the Apostles Creed

We spent two weeks thinking about what it means that God, is our Creator and the Creator of the universe.

The first article of the Apostle's Creed says, "I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth."

When we think of creation we often think of Genesis chapters 1 and 2. Genesis 1 is the first of the creation texts and describes God creating the universe in 6 days. Genesis 2 is the narrative of Adam and Eve and the creation of humans. Both, of these texts are rich with meaning, questions, and glimpses of God's grace and provision for all of creation.

This video above tells the Genesis 1 story through pictures and The Message  paraphrase of the text. It reminds us at the end that we, all of God's people, are created in the image of God.

Last week we grappled with what difference does it make that we are created in the Image of God. How does the effect the way we think of ourselves, how we treat others, how we approach strangers and those we don't know?

Continue to ask these hard questions. Parent, think about them yourself-how do you treat others? Do we love until it hurts? Do we talk about ourselves in loving way? How do our kids see us do these things?

The Trinity!

So sorry this is a week late! On September 11th we struggled and grappled with The Trinity. The Trinity is one of the theological doctrines we follow as Lutherans. Basically, we believe God is 3 in 1! Remember we're talking God's math here...not ours! So God is: Father, Son, Holy Spirit, our Creator, our Redeemer, and our Sustainer. Three beings...yet ONE GOD!

Understand it yet? :)

For many, many, many years Christians have tried to use human understanding and words to explain the Trinity. Water is one often used: Water, Ice, and Vapor...all water but three forms of water...it kind of works, but is not perfect. In confirmation we used other examples too-and even made punch to try and think through the mystery of The Trinity.

Though, I think the best way we understand it is through keeping our eyes and hearts open as we live our lives-to watch and dare to see God (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) at work!

We're Trinitarian-which is AWESOME because we believe God is beyond our reason and transformative and transcendent and yet is intimate and close and full of love and grace.

Keep your eyes open for the work of God-Father, Son, and Holy Spirit!

Confirmation Sept. 11, 2013                                                                                               

Today, the youth got into their small groups for the first time this year and began the confirmation journey for 2013-2014! I simply love this day and try to take lots of mental snapshots of it, so I can revisit them when the same kids are 9th graders...It's fun (and quite holy) to see the growth and maturity...physically for sure, but more importantly spiritually.

We began to grapple with "Who God is"...such light and easy conversation for a Wednesday afternoon.  :)

How do we picture God? What does God look like? Is God male...female...or neither!? How did we form our image of God? Is there anything troubling for you about how some people picture God? What are some of the ways the Bible describes God. What are names people throughout scripture have used for God.

So, confirmation families I invite you to think about those same questions!

Godspeed! Jen