May 4, 2021
Dear friends,
I have two things to write to you about Bible Study.
The first is to let you know that we’re shifting gears starting this Sunday. Since Easter, I’ve spent some time talking about education during the Bible Study hour. Now I’m going to use that Bible Study hour to do something I talked about on Sunday called Adult Catechesis.
The idea here is to teach the parts of the catechism at a level fitting for adults. I’ll cover what we mean when we say that we confess the faith of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, drawn from the Scriptures, and taught in the Small Catechism.
Although I said on Sunday that I might take this class downstairs so that we don’t have to interrupt coffee hour, I’ve heard some feedback that many folks are interested in continuing with Bible Study. So, ignore what I said on Sunday. Plan to stick around for coffee and treats and then Bible Study as usual at 10:30.
Although there’s no Sunday School, the kiddos have plenty of options. They can come to Bible Study, or, since they all play together so well, they can go outside to the playground or play in the basement. Long story short, a new topic for Bible Study, but we’re carrying on just like before.
The second thing has to do with changes to confirmation instruction. I talked about this over the last two weeks in Bible Study, and now I’d like to spend some time putting it down in writing so that you can mull it over and ask me questions. I’ll do this over the course of the next several weeks, so watch for future e-mails/website posts on the subject.
The reason for change comes in part from a pretty common sense that confirmation often feels like graduation. It’s just what happens once you hit 14 years old and finish the eighth grade. It marks a transition to another phase of life and the completion of an obligation, something that you simply have to do.
When that’s what happens, it’s a far cry from what we all really want for our kids. We do not want them simply to go through the motions, but we want them to learn to love hearing God’s Word, receiving his blessings, and growing in their faith.
The best way to teach this love is to start from an early age. That also corresponds to the best time to teach the Catechism: when kids are young, long before they hit 6th grade. When they are younger, they’re wired to learn things by heart. That becomes more and more difficult as time goes by, but young children love memorizing things. They are thrilled when they know the answers and when they remember something they’ve been taught. They delight in imitation, even when they cannot speak clearly on their own. It makes learning a joy for them, and it is simply the best opportunity to teach them the chief parts of the faith: the 10 Commandments, the Lord’s Prayer, the Creed, Baptism, the Lord’s Supper, and Confession.
Luther says that teaching the catechism should be child’s play. It’s not meant to be drudgery or cramming. “If we wish to train children, we must become children with them.” I think he’s right. I think we can do it. And I think it can be a source of profound joy for everyone.
So this is the first part of what I’m working on – some helps for families in teaching the catechism to kids of all ages. I’d like to provide simple and clear guidance so that it is not a chore but a delight.
I’ll write in more detail about that guidance next time.
And then I’ll write about what this means for Confirmation and admission to the Lord’s Supper. The long and the short of it is this: I’m convinced that doing this from early on will mean that kids are ready to be examined at an age younger than 14. Not only that, but I expect that they will express an earnest desire to receive the Lord’s Supper once they have learned what it is and what blessings it gives to them.
It is exactly that desire, that love for receiving God’s good gifts that we are aiming to teach our children. He has given us all the tools we need to do it! So let’s get busy!
God bless and keep you,
Pr. Buchs