“What does this mean?”
It’s one of the most Lutheran questions one can ask.
Almost 500 years ago, Martin Luther was looking for a way for families to explain and learn the basics of the Christian faith.
He created a resource called the Small Catechism* – a resource that’s still in use today. Though we now have it in pocket booklet form, the earliest versions were created as posters for the wall. Martin knew that young and inquisitive learners (of any age) might ask “but why?” (perhaps several thousand times) and utilized a simple question and answer format for the Catechism with this sort of curious spirit in mind.
He welcomed – expected – questions.
This Lenten guide is created with that same spirit in mind.
There are many words, phrases and concepts that we may hear often but take for granted what they actually mean. Or, we might know the definitions but perhaps haven’t considered what the words might mean for us.
For each day of the forty days of Lent, this guide features a word that you might have heard before and provides you with a definition, a place it can be explained within scripture and some additional reflections about what this word could mean in your daily life.
May your wisdom and faith (and vocabulary!) increase together we ask what these words mean for us and how they might shape the ways we live our lives.
*What does Catechism mean? Find out during week two!
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40 Words in 40 Days: Both And
Both/And A Christian is a perfectly free lord of all, subject to none. A Christian is a perfectly dutiful servant of all, subject of all, subject to all (Martin Luther…
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40 Words in 40 Days: Vocation
Vocation The biblical doctrine of God’s call to God’s people to become instruments of God’s purpose at work in history and to be the recipients of God’s grace and salvation.…
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40 Words in 40 Days: Reconciliation
Reconciliation The coming to agreement of two or more persons after misunderstanding or estrangement. There are many instances of this in the Bible but the dominant theme is the reconciliation…
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40 Words in 40 Days: Stewardship
Stewardship Utilizing and managing all resources God provides for the glory of God and the betterment of God’s creation. (via the Holman Bible Dictionary) 1 Peter 4:10 Like good stewards…
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40 Words in 40 Days: Evangelism
Evangelism As Lutherans, we are committed to telling the good news. Evangelism is sharing God’s love in Jesus, inviting others to trust this grace and join God’s work. We celebrate…
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40 Words in 40 Days: Discipleship
Discipleship Discipleship is a lifelong journey of living out and spreading the good news of Jesus Christ. (via Women of the ELCA) Luke 9:23 Then he said to them all,…
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40 Words in 40 Days: Almsgiving
Almsgiving The act of voluntarily giving to those in need. Hebrews 13:16 Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing…
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40 Words in 40 Days: Adiaphora
Adiaphora The term “adiaphora” is a transliteration of the Greek term (Latin: indifferentia; undifferentiated matters) meaning indifferent things. (via Dictionary of Luther and the Lutheran Traditions) Romans 14:2-3 2 One person’s…
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40 Words in 40 Days: Sanctuary
Sanctuary A holy place where God is present. In the wilderness, that was the tent of meeting; in the time of Solomon, it was the Temple at Jerusalem. In both…
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40 Words in 40 Days: Eucharist
Eucharist (YOO-kuh-rist) A Greek word meaning “thanksgiving” used in reference to the meal of Holy Communion. We call this meal Eucharist because we eat and drink in a spirit of…
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“Words matter. Words are necessary for communication and community. They transform and refresh. They convey meaning and they convey God. Since words have the power both to create and destroy, we attend to them carefully.”
-L. DeAne Lagerquist
Professor at St. Olaf College