For the parent: Read each part aloud and work through the questions together. Your answers are printed in blue italics, so no preparation is needed. Your child uses the Student Edition.
Step 1 · Understand the Collect
A collect is a short prayer the pastor prays for the whole church. Here is today's collect:
Almighty and gracious Lord, pour out Your Holy Spirit on Your faithful people. Keep us steadfast in Your grace and truth, protect and deliver us in times of temptation, defend us against all enemies, and grant to Your Church Your saving peace; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Words to know. Steadfast: standing firm and not moving. Grace: God's love that we do not deserve. Deliver: rescue. Dirge (in the Gospel): a sad funeral song. Glutton: someone who eats too much. Justified (in Romans): declared not guilty by God.
1. We ask God to pour out His Holy ______________. Answer: Spirit.
2. We ask God to keep us steadfast in His ______________ and truth. Answer: Grace.
3. We ask God to grant His Church His saving ______________. Answer: Peace.
Step 2 · Understand the Gospel
Matthew 11:12-19
12 From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force. 13 For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John, 14 and if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah who is to come. 15 He who has ears to hear, let him hear.
16 "But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to their playmates, 17 'We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.' 18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, 'He has a demon.' 19 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, 'Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!' Yet wisdom is justified by her deeds."
Also read. "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus." (Romans 3:23-24)
1. Whom does Jesus call the Elijah who was to come? Answer: John the Baptist (verse 14).
2. In Jesus' picture, what did the children in the marketplace complain about? Answer: They played the flute and no one danced; they sang a sad song and no one mourned (verse 17).
3. What did people say about John? Answer: "He has a demon" (verse 18).
4. What did people call Jesus? Answer: "A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners" (verse 19).
Step 3 · Find the Collect in the Gospel
Say to your child: Our prayer asks God to keep His people standing firm in His grace when enemies attack. In the Gospel, people attack John and Jesus, but Jesus stays the friend of sinners. Let's find our prayer in the story.
1. The collect asks God to defend us against all enemies. Read verse 12. What does Jesus say the kingdom has suffered? Answer: Violence.
2. The collect asks God to keep us in His grace. People insulted Jesus as "a friend of tax collectors and sinners." Why is that good news for us? Answer: It is true. Jesus really is the friend of sinners, and He came for sinners like us.
3. Read Romans 3:24 in the box. How are sinners made right with God? Answer: "By his grace as a gift."
Parent note. Martin Luther found this good news in the Bible: God declares sinners righteous as a gift, for Jesus' sake. Reformation Day is not a contest between churches. It celebrates the Gospel that Jesus is the friend of sinners.
Step 4 · The Small Catechism
The Third Article. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen. What does this mean? I believe that I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to Him; but the Holy Spirit has called me by the Gospel, enlightened me with His gifts, sanctified and kept me in the true faith. In the same way He calls, gathers, enlightens, and sanctifies the whole Christian church on earth, and keeps it with Jesus Christ in the one true faith. In this Christian church He daily and richly forgives all my sins and the sins of all believers. On the Last Day He will raise me and all the dead, and give eternal life to me and all believers in Christ. This is most certainly true.
1. Find the line in Luther's meaning about forgiveness. Answer: "In this Christian church He daily and richly forgives all my sins and the sins of all believers."
2. Luther says, "I cannot by my own reason or strength believe." Who brings us to faith? Answer: The Holy Spirit, through the Gospel.
Step 5 · Wrap It All Up
Pray today's collect together one more time. Then ask:
1. What does Jesus do for you as the friend of sinners? Answer: He welcomes me, forgives all my sins as a gift, and keeps me in His grace.
Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible. Small Catechism quotation from Luther’s Small Catechism with Explanation, © Concordia Publishing House.