The Three Outposts, part 10 – Conflicts between Church and Home (cont.)

Steadfast Throwdown Radio Show

We continue discussing the conflicts between the estates of church and home with Pr. Joe Abrahamson. Why do pastors solemnize marriages as “agents of the state”? What place or interest does the church have in weddings and marriage? How does forgiveness take place in the home? What some cautions to hearing the confession of other people?





Read Pr. Abrahamson’s Bible study: “The Three Outposts, Your Mission: Study 6 – Church and Home”

The Three Outposts, part 9 – Conflicts between Church & Home

Steadfast Throwdown Radio Show

In this installment of our series with Pr. Joe Abrahamson, we begin discussing areas of overlap and conflict between the three estates. Here we discuss the very real and timely overlaps and conflicts between the estate of the home (family) and the estate of the church.



Read Pr. Abrahamson’s Bible study: “The Three Outposts, Your Mission: Study 6 – Church and Home”

The Three Outposts, part 4 – The Home

Steadfast Throwdown Radio Show- Round 37

In part four of our series on “The Three Outposts: Your Mission,” Pr. Joe Abrahamson takes us deeper into the God-given estate of “The Home,” that is, domestic governance. Listen as we discuss God’s design for husbands and wives as well as parents and children. How can we Christians bear witness to Jesus in our homes and thus be a counter-culture?

The Catechism and the Home: Wilhelm Löhe

Luther emphasized that the Catechisms are meant not just for study by pastors, Church and school, but primarily for the Home. Fathers are to instruct their children and daily to pray the Catechism at home. The Church today cannot make the parents carry out this loving work. The Church can encourage, entreat, portray the value of this teaching. But as the cares and pleasures, the schedules and the concerns of this life take priority, the teaching of the young in the way of truth falters. And the young are taught to enjoy the good of this worldly life but loose hold on sin, repentance, and the forgiveness won by Christ, given to them in Word and Sacrament.

This is not a new problem. It is a persistent and old problem. And through the centuries the teachers of the Church have encouraged fathers, families to take up the Catechism for the benefit of the faith and salvation of their own households.

 In 1845 Wilhelm Löhe wrote:

How many, who are acquainted with the Small Catechism, know its preface which together with the introduction to the Large Catechism offers an incomparable, simple, yet truly religious method of catechetical instruction? And again, how many know both prefaces without having observed that the Catechism was written not only for the Church or school, but also for the home?

Home, school and Church become One Church through the dear Catechism. Why is the very important factor of the home omitted? That is the reason why the Catechism is memorized so miserably, and sounds so wooden and flat, because it is not considered as something intended for the home, nor for daily life, nor as a life philosophy, but as a lesson for children and the school room. As a watch-word belongs on the lips of all who are united in one camp, thus the Catechism as a spiritual watch-word should be on the lips of all.

The father, the children, the servants should use it; pray, learn, appreciate it. Thus it will become the cruse of oil of the woman of Zaraphath that does not fail. Yes, when the Catechism again becomes a book for the home, then the people will realize what a flood of strength proceeds from it for the Church and for all her undertakings. 

Johann Konrad Wilhelm Löhe 1808-1872 in his Drei Bücher von der Kirche (1845)

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Found in:
Reu, M. 1929 Luther's Small Catechism: A History of Its Origin, Its Distribution and Its Use. Wartburg Press, Chicago. Page 251f

[I added paragraphing and typographic styles to make the text easier to read]

The Three Outposts, Your Mission: Study 7

State and Home

Prayer: Lord Jesus, abide with us. Make our homes the dwelling places of Your continual presence, and keep us faithful to You and Your Word. Let the joy of the Gospel dwell in our hearts. Let our daily conversations be hallowed and pleasing and acceptable to You. Preserve us from sin. Be with us in the hour of temptation. Keep us unworried and untroubled. Remove from our lives all unbelief and indifference. Strengthen our faith, deepen our love to You, and make us consecrated people who day after day bring all our cares, concerns, joys, and sins to You in prayer. Let your blessing be upon our families and our nation. Grant our nation peace, and safety. Give our president, governors, representatives, judges, and all officers of the civil state Your spirit of wisdom and fear, that we may live our lives in quiet godliness for the glory of Christ and the benefit of Your Church. In Christ's holy Name we ask this. Amen.

How are these outposts confused?

These outposts are confused when the responsibilities and authority of one outpost are mixed with or usurped by another.

Review the kinds of authority God gave to each of these outposts.

Some questions for discussion:

Does being a father and husband mean that a man has the divine responsibility to ensure that his neighbor is giving his kids enough exercise?

The Three Outposts, Your Mission: Study 6

Church and Home

Prayer: Almighty God, You have given us grace at this time with one accord to make our supplications to You, and have promised that wherever two or three are gathered together in Your name, you will grant their requests: Fulfill now, O Lord, the desires and petitions of Your servants, as may be most expedient for them; grant us in this world knowledge of Your truth, and in the world to come life everlasting. Amen.

How are these outposts confused?

These outposts are confused when the responsibilities and authority of one outpost are mixed with or usurped by another.

Review the kinds of authority God gave to each of these outposts.

Some questions for discussion:

Can a man, simply because he is a husband and a father and therefore God's representative, decide that he can preach to the congregation at their regular worship?

The Three Outposts, Your Mission: Study 3

The First Outpost: The Home (Domestic Governance)

Prayer: Lord God, heavenly Father, we thank You, that by Your grace you have instituted holy matrimony, in which You keep us from unchastity, and other offenses: We beseech You to send Your blessing upon every husband and wife, that they may not provoke each other to anger and strife, but live peaceably together in love and godliness, receive Your gracious help in all temptations, and raise their children in accordance with your will. Grant that we all might walk before You in purity and holiness, put our trust in You, and lead such lives on earth, that in the world to come we may have everlasting life, through your beloved Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one true God, now and forever. Amen.

Review The First Article of the Creed and its Meaning, refer to chapter 16 in the Catechism Explanation.

The Household Estate, or the Family is the first relationship with other people that God created.

Why did God establish the Household estate?

Genesis 1:26-31, notice the emphasis on the complete image of God in parallel with the fact that he made humans as male and female for each other. As God is the Creator and Ruler of Heaven and Earth, what abilities and responsibilities did He give to humans that reflect His image?