Beginning in the month of September the sermon focus on Sunday morning will be on the parts of the Small Catechism. I would like to take some time here to consider a question that may rest at the front of your mind, “Why do I need to take time to reflect on something I already learned many years ago when I was in middle school?”
I want to approach an answer to this question by considering a tree nursery:
I want to approach an answer to this question by considering a tree nursery:
Seeds are planted in pots of soil. The pots are placed in a greenhouse where they receive water and light. Soon, the seeds come alive, germinate, and sprout from the soil. They draw on the rich, organic nutrients within the soil. Still fragile, the tender seedlings grow inch by inch and become stronger by the day. After awhile, the seedlings are moved outside the greenhouse. There they continue to grow in the pot along with other seedlings beneath the blue sky and bright sun. Once the seedlings grow tall enough and strong enough, they are planted in the ground among other trees in a grove or perhaps a new forest. There they continue to grow among the other trees. There they continue to draw upon he rich nutrients in the soil. There they grow and weather the changing seasons: fall, winter, spring, and summer. There they may experience drought, rain, and wind. But as they grow along with the other trees, they form a community of trees, a forest. As part of a forest, they provide food and shelter for countless numbers of other creatures. As part of a forest, they prevent erosion, purify groundwater, and provide wind barriers. [1]
This picture of a seed growing into a tree gives us a picture of the Christian life. With Baptism, the seed of faith is planted within the soil of God’s Word where the Gospel brings it to life and nourishes it. Faith springs to life from the Gospel nutrients within the soil of God’s story. But just as seedlings need to be nurtured and cultivated in the protective arms of the nursery, so also Christians need the “milk” of the Word. Our roots in the faith need the rich nutrients of the Gospel.
The six chief parts of the Small Catechism gives the shape of our life of faith: the Ten Commandments, the Apostles’ Creed, the Lord’s Prayer, Baptism, Confession, and the Lord’s Supper. These six teachings, drawn from the Holy Scriptures, are the richest of nutrients that we receive as Christians. These teachings provide the structure for our lives, the DNA of our faith.
Continuing with the analogy of a tree being planted in the soil, the Ten Commandments, the Apostles’ Creed, and the Lord’s Prayer is like the humus, or organic material of the soil that provides the structure and the nutrients that the roots of the tree need (12). These three teachings provide the structure for all the teaching of Scripture. They summarize and organize Scripture for us (13).
Baptism, Confession and Absolution, and the Lord’s Supper are the nutrients from the humus or organic material of the soil that awaken, nourish, and strengthen our faith. They deliver to us the Gospel of Christ that awakens faith in Christ. Together they sustain our faith from cradle to grave (13).
The six chief parts of the Small Catechism gives the shape of our life of faith: the Ten Commandments, the Apostles’ Creed, the Lord’s Prayer, Baptism, Confession, and the Lord’s Supper. These six teachings, drawn from the Holy Scriptures, are the richest of nutrients that we receive as Christians. These teachings provide the structure for our lives, the DNA of our faith.
Continuing with the analogy of a tree being planted in the soil, the Ten Commandments, the Apostles’ Creed, and the Lord’s Prayer is like the humus, or organic material of the soil that provides the structure and the nutrients that the roots of the tree need (12). These three teachings provide the structure for all the teaching of Scripture. They summarize and organize Scripture for us (13).
Baptism, Confession and Absolution, and the Lord’s Supper are the nutrients from the humus or organic material of the soil that awaken, nourish, and strengthen our faith. They deliver to us the Gospel of Christ that awakens faith in Christ. Together they sustain our faith from cradle to grave (13).
Like a tree, we keep growing. As we grow in the Christian faith we also, like a healthy tree, bear fruit—the fruit of the Spirit that we share with others (Gal 5:22-23). We continue learning and growing in the teachings of the Christian faith and in the conviction that God’s promises are true (11). When we grow in our faith we are more deeply anchored in the Word and prepared to weather the storms of false teachings, persecutions, and trials that blow our way (11).
What is the benefit of relearning and reflecting on the chief teachings of the Christian faith? Well, the relearning and the reflecting encourage growth in our Christian faith and in the conviction that God’s promises are true. Just as trees grow from sunlight for photosynthesis and from water that brings nutrients of the soil to the roots of the tree, so also continual learning, studying, and reflecting on God’s Word and the teachings of the Christian Faith helps the Christian grow. And as individual Christians grow, our Lord’s Church grows!
In Christ,
Pastor Josh
[1] The following analogy is taken from the book, Rooted in the Faith—Preparation for Church Membership by Dr. Charles Arand (2010), pp. 6-13. It will be adapted for use in this article. Continual references will be parenthetical.
What is the benefit of relearning and reflecting on the chief teachings of the Christian faith? Well, the relearning and the reflecting encourage growth in our Christian faith and in the conviction that God’s promises are true. Just as trees grow from sunlight for photosynthesis and from water that brings nutrients of the soil to the roots of the tree, so also continual learning, studying, and reflecting on God’s Word and the teachings of the Christian Faith helps the Christian grow. And as individual Christians grow, our Lord’s Church grows!
In Christ,
Pastor Josh
[1] The following analogy is taken from the book, Rooted in the Faith—Preparation for Church Membership by Dr. Charles Arand (2010), pp. 6-13. It will be adapted for use in this article. Continual references will be parenthetical.
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