LESSONS in the Small Catechism of Dr. Martin Luther. For the Senior Department of Lutheran Sunday-Schools and for General Use. By GEO. MEZGER, Professor at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, Mo. St. Louis, Mo. CONCORDIA PUBLISHING HOUSE. 1923. LESSON 1. The Catechism and the Bible. 1. The little book we have before us is called the _Small Catechism._ The word "catechism" means _instruction._ This little book gives us instruction in a brief and simple form, such as even a child can understand. It teaches us what every Christian, as a child of God, should believe, and how every Christian, as a child of God, should live.--This book is called the _Small Catechism_ not only because it is a small book, but mainly because we have also a _Large Catechism_ for older people. 2. The _Small Catechism_ was written by _Dr. Martin Luther, the great Reformer of the Church._ Luther was born at Eisleben, a small town in Germany, November 10, 1483, and died at the same place, February 18, 1546. He published his _Small Catechism in the year 1529,_ for the benefit of the common people and the children, who are most in need of such instruction. 3. Our Catechism is a small book, indeed, but it is a most precious little book. It does not contain Luther's thoughts and doctrines or those of any other wise and learned man; it contains _God's own words_ revealed to us for our salvation. It does not teach us _all_ the doctrines of God's Word, but those that every Christian must know in order _to believe rightly, to lead a godly life, and when his last hour is come to depart in peace._ Our Catechism teaches these doctrines in a short form, in plain and simple words. 4. _Our Catechism teaches God's Word._ How do we prove this? Luther has taken the contents of his Catechism from the Bible, and the Bible is the Word of God.--The Word "Bible" means _book._ We call our Bible "the book" because it really is the Book of books, the book in comparison with which no other book is worthy to be called by that name, the most important and valuable book.--The Bible is also called _the Scriptures,_ or _Scripture,_ which means something written, a written word. The Bible was written by _holy men of God._ These holy men did not write the Bible of their own will. _"Holy men of God spake"_ (and wrote) _"as they were moved by the Holy Ghost."_ 2 Pet. 1,21. God Himself moved His holy men to write the Bible.