Catechesis

Catechesis at Messiah

Catechesis is the lifelong learning of the basics of the Christian Faith. Lutherans traditionally embrace Luther's Small Catechism, along with Holy Scripture, as our primary sources for this instruction.

While parents are responsible for the catechesis of children, Messiah offers the following formal tracks of instruction to help prepare our young people:

Pre-Confirmation: A parent-led course which prepares the child with basics needed to succeed in Confirmation Instruction. (Should be completed prior to Confirmation)

A Parent-Taught, designed as a 1-year course, but can be completed at the student's own pace
Prepares the student for the Confirmation entrance exam
A student may begin any time, but we recommend around age 8

First Communion Instruction: A shorter study of the Small Catechism, with an emphasis toward preparing to receive the Lord's Supper. (May be completed prior to Confirmation)

An 11-week course to be completed in either the Fall or Spring
Recommended for children of around 10 years old or older
Students may skip this and simply wait until they complete Confirmation to receive Communion

Confirmation Instruction: A two year, in-depth study of the Small Catechism, culminating in the "Rite of Confirmation" on the First Sunday in May.

Taught by a pastor or lay instructor at Messiah, usually on Tuesday evenings
Traditionally has been for 7-8th graders but is open to any student who is "ready"
Memory Work, Sermon Notes and Elder Reviews are recommended, but optional, and tracked by the parent.

Please use the Table of Contents below to access resources designed to help you as a parent be successful in training your child in the Faith.

Family Resources

Note: When hovering the mouse pointer over the text and a small hand appears, this means the text is a clickable link. Links will navigate this webpage, download files or open new webpages.

Preparing Your Child
Training up Your Child in the Faith
Teaching Aids
First Communion
Pre-Confirmation
Confirmation

Catechesis Class Registration Form

Catechesis Class Opt-in Teaching Aids Request Form

Preparing Your Child for Pre-Confirmation and Confirmation:

Invest in your child’s Faith and make time for God's Word. It is a fact that young children can memorize facts and content very easily when compared to adults. The easiest time to memorize anything is when you are a child.

Attend Worship and Sunday School with your child regularly and as early as possible.

Ideas Encouragement (from the Lutheran Witness)

Confirmation - More Than a Graduation (LCMS Reporter)

Resources for Purchase:

Bible Stories (sets up a basic search for Arch books)

Resources for Children 8 years old Younger

My Treasury of Faith (preschool)

My First Hymnal (up to 10 years old)

My First Catechism (early childhood)

One Hundred Bible Stories (3rd Grade, 4th Grade, 5th Grade, 6th Grade)

Lutheranism 101 for Kids (4th - 6th grades)

Luther's Small Catechism for Kids (older elementary)

Portals of Prayer for Kids (ages 5 -11)

Table of Contents

Training up Your Child in the Faith:

"And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise." (Deuteronomy 6:6–7)

While we encourage you to get a catechism (2017 ESV edition) from Concordia Publishing House here is a free version from a LCMS Partner Church The Evangelical Lutheran Church of England (ELCE). Note their translation is not American English. You are free to share.

5 Great Tools to Memorize Luther's Small Catechism

Catechism Flashcards

Luther's Small Catechism (17 pages) (Click here for Source Page)

Lutheran Service Book (pages 321 - 330)

Small Catechism 2017 ESV edition Materials:

50 Day Reading Plan

Devotional Reading Plan

Android Phone, Chromebook iPhone

Go to CPH.org, search for "Luther's Small Catechism app" and install.

The Lutheran Study Bible App - Concordia Publishing House (cph.org) has a free basic version. Just click the line above for more information.

Attend Worship and Sunday School regularly

Table of Contents

Instructional Resources:

Teaching Aids

Sermon Notes are not just Confirmation busywork, but is a valuable tool in training a child in lifelong skills. Actively using Sermon Notes helps focus a child's attention, retain key points of the sermon, connects the dots to one's daily life and ties in what is being taught in the Confirmation program. Increase its effectiveness by regularly discussing a completed form with your child.

Sermon Notes

Practical Ideas for Home

How to Use the Lutheran Service Book in Your Home

Divine Service Guide - an explanation of the Worship Service

What About . . . Lutheran Worship - an explanation

Memory Work Repetition Concept

Repetition supports the retention of information. This is important to training a child up in the Faith. The entire Catechesis Program is built on this. The documents below show the repetition within a class but repetition is also across the classes. Look between the documents to see the repetition across classes.