Praying Luther's Small Catechism

by John T. Pless

That little book called Luther’s Small Catechism is the one you see stacked in church classrooms and tucked under teenage arms, filled with their scribbles and spiritual growth. Decades later, the same small book is often collecting dust on shelves in Christian homes around the world.

Praying Luther’s Small Catechism: The Pattern of Sound Words invites you, your family, and the church to return to the riches of this treasure. Beyond its purpose as a handbook and outline of Christian teachings, Luther’s Small Catechism is, above all, a prayer book for every age. Not a textbook. A homework assignment. Or a friend for children only.

Far from limiting and restricting your prayer life, Luther’s Small Catechism anchors you in God’s Word where the expansive skies of His mercy in Christ are wide and wonderfully never-ending. The carefully written words of the catechism offer both depth and simplicity for your meditation, accessible to the beginner learning the ABCs and valuable for stirring the hearts and minds of the wisest.

Journey through the Six Chief Parts of Luther’s Small Catechism as well as the Daily Prayers and Table of Duties, and discover how these Scripturally “sound words” (2 Timothy 1:13) shape our praying for a lifetime.

Genres: Christian, Nonfiction, Theology, Prayer

182 pages, Paperback

Published July 5, 2016

About the author

Rev. John T. Pless joined the Concordia Theological Seminary (CTSFW), Fort Wayne, faculty in 2000. He is assistant professor of Pastoral Ministry and Missions and also serves as director of Field Education.

Reviews

[Manuel Marbun · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read for all Lutherans.

[Richard Bicknase · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is extremely successful in what it sets out to do. It has a great deal of substance, but is still easy to read. I think many neglect foundation topics because they deem them simplistic, but this books shows exactly why foundational topics are never outgrown. Rather, they are grown into, renewed, and better appreciated over time as the stability and strength they provide is needed and tested.

[Janet Nicol · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent devotional to use daily. Dr. Pless takes you through the Small Catechism with insightful thoughts of his own and has researched others as well about the meaning and beauty of each of the six chief parts of Christianity. I will be going back to it again and again over the years to come.

[Alfonso · Rating 2 out of 5]

La edición era horrenda y se me ha hecho pesadísimo leer versículos repetidos una y otra vez. Como aspecto positivo, incluía la Confesión de Augsburgo, bastante más llevadera.

[Barbara Ruuska · Rating 5 out of 5]

There was so much packed into this little book. Chapter by chapter the reader walks through Luther's Small Catechism. The Ten Commandments; the Apostles' Creed; the Lord's Prayer; Holy Baptism; Confession, Absolution, the Office of the Keys; the Sacrament of the Altar; Give Us Our Daily Bread (daily prayers); and Table of Duties. These are the main elements that Luther wrote in the Small Catechism and studied daily until his death.

I will reread this with my husband.

One of the best summaries of prayer can be found in the appendices:
"Walther von Loewenich says, 'Prayer is not a little garden of Paradise, where the one weary of the Word of the cross might take a little rest, but prayer is just the battleground where the sign of the cross has been raised.'" (Page 144) From "Luther's Theology of the Cross."

Our prayers are not an escape route, but a battleground and position where we take our stand as soldiers of the cross.

We are reminded that we do good works not to impress God, but to help our neighbor. "God is not in need of our good works, but our neighbor is." (page 156)

Amen.

[Ruth Meyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been working through this book in my own devotional and prayer time, and I recommend it to others as well. Luther always intended for his catechism to be used as a prayer book throughout one’s life, not just relegated to a confirmation textbook. Indeed, his answers are written in such a way as to be easily modified into prayer form by rephrasing them slightly. This is a wonderful tool for my prayer life. By working through one section a day (2-3 pages each), I can focus on a different Commandment, article of the Creed, or petition of the Lord’s Prayer. I encourage you to consider adding this resource to enrich your own prayer life. It is well worth it!

My only criticism of this book is the way it is formatted with the footnotes. To me, they are quite distracting. Some pages have numerous footnotes, and not just for references. There are extra quotes there as well, which breaks up the reading of the main text. I think I’d prefer just inserting those extra quotes into the body of the text, then putting the references into an appendix at the end of the book. Still, the content of the book far outweighs the distraction of the footnotes, and I will be coming back to this book again and again.

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fabulous book! For anyone young or old who wants to know basic doctrine of Christianity. I’ve been a Lutheran for many years of my life but this book was such a great review for me of basic doctrine. It also introduced me to a wonderful way to pray about the 10 commandments, the Apostles Creed, the Lords Prayer and other basic doctrines. It refreshed and delighted my soul. Highly recommend wish we could give a book 10 stars.

[Luke · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful resource. For someone curious about Christianity or Lutheranism, it clearly and concisely shows how the basics of Christianity tie together and provide comfort and guidance. For a longtime Lutheran, it is a great refresher and gives a new appreciation for this treasure. This is another very fine book that I would highly recommend!

[Leon E · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is just an outstanding way to review and keep fresh the basic doctrines of our faith arms Christians. Martin Luther wrote this as a very basic understanding of what any believer needs to consider themselves a Christian. Praying these beliefs is a outstanding way to keep the basics in mind.

[Ned A. Moerbe · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book serves not only as a refresher course on the catechism, but is an excellent devotional guide. I read a few pages a day along with my scripture reading. I found it both insightful and refreshing. This was my second time through the book and I enjoyed it as much now as a few years ago.

[K B · Rating 5 out of 5]

most w0rthwhile reading! Recommended for all Lutherans of every age and for non-Lutherans who have never encountered the Small Catechism and Luther's method of catechizing the Church.