Commandments 1-6
We do not make mischief with God's name.
What is the second commandment?
State the full commandment broken in these examples: Trusted money managers make off with clients' life savings. Struggling youth rob a convenience store of snacks and few dollars. Young adults walk out of stores and boutiques and "forget to pay". Employees pocket office suppliers for use at home. We download copyrighted material without paying or "forget" to return a library book.
What is "You shall not steal" or "Do not steal"?
State the full command that prevents betrayal and erosion of personal and institutional trust. This command originally dealt with community survival through what we call perjury today because God knew there must be a legal system, a bedrock of truth and honesty, for a community to stand together through trusting each other.
What is "you shall not bear false witness against your neighbor" or "do not testify falsely against your neighbor"?
State the full command that invites us to embrace our lives as they are -- to look at who are and not just who are not, not look at what we have and not just what do not have. This command is about embracing ourselves, our families, our living space, our spheres of influence, our accomplishments, and our bodies as "enough".
What is "You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife. You shall not set your desire on your neighbor’s house or land, his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.” OR "Do not desire and try to take your neighbor’s wife. Do not crave your neighbor’s house, field, male or female servant, ox, donkey, or anything else that belongs to your neighbor."?
means “to repeat back”
What is catechism?
God alone is ours. We don't wave other loves in God's face.
What is the first commandment?
The choices we make either take from others or give to others in large and small ways. When we take the easy way to get what we want at the expense of others, use people to suit our needs, or ______ when we think that some people are worthy and others are not, we are...
What is "steal" or "stealing"?
While the Old Testament does not prohibit all lying -- there is freedom to lie in order to save a life, to avoid injury, to make peace, to maintain modesty, to protect someone from being taken advantage of, or to keep harmony in the family -- the issues at heart is how the well-being of others is affected by our words. This command is about the importance of trustworthy judicial system and the necessity of basic _________ for the stability of community. Giving false instead of _____ witness can set in motion dynamics that cut to the heart of relationships, community, and the fabric that holds society together.
What is "honest" or "honesty" or "truth" or "truthful"?
The first command declares God as our one and only. Circling back, these final commands call us to see ourselves and our lives differently as a result. Our human tendency toward greed and comparing ourselves to others affects our lives and communities. If God is our one and only, then we can focus on what we have and who we are without _________ things we do not have and often do not need.
What is "coveting"?
writer of the Small Catechism
Who is Martin Luther?
In a busy world, we regularly set aside time to rest as a loving act of community protest and resistance, in solidarity with all.
What is "honoring the sabbath" or the third commandment?
This command requires the _________ to address structures for the support of the economic needs of all, to fail to do so, or to exploit some for the benefit of others is seen as theft. This also includes passive inaction in the presence of economic hardship. __________ is responsible for the economic welfare of all people because God does not want poverty.
What is "the community"?
Which example is which -- false witness or false testimony? 1) Telling the teacher "Your dog ate your homework" when you didn't do your homework. 2) You did your homework, put in your backpack but when you reached to turn it in, you remember you say your dog acting funny near your bag and tell your teacher "your dog ate your homework".
1) What is "false testimony" because you lied to your teacher and blamed your dog. 2) What is "false witness" because you didn't actually see the act of your dog chewing on it and maybe your little brother was the one who actually did it.
Our houses are places we keep our stuff while we go out to get more stuff. In American culture, the economy is based on manipulating our _____for more, but _____ without boundaries, when acted upon, destroys life.
What is "desire" or "want / wanting"?
“minimum of knowledge a Christian should have"
What is Luther's definition of the small catechism?
Interrupt harm. Do not physically, verbally or emotionally harm someone beyond repair.
What is "do not murder" or the fifth commandment?
The ancestors understood everything belongs to God, was a gift from God, and to be used to further God's ends. Wealth was to be used for the good of the community as a whole. The poor are seen as God's agents to remind the wealthy that what they _____ does not really belong to them. This command limits economic activity because everything belongs to God. Everything entrusted to us carries responsibility not _________.
What is "own" or ownership"?
The Hebrew phrase, in Deuteronomy, eid shav means "empty, vain or lying" and includes speech that is outright lie and also speech that is deceptive, frivolous or designed to make one look better. The Hebrew word in Exodus, eid sheker means "fraudulent or wrongfully injurious words or witness". This command warns against using our _____ to damage the reputation or livelihood of our neighbors.
What is "words" or "speech" or "what we say"?
In Exodus, the Hebrew word chemdah refers to the desire to possess something that is physically lovely, close at hand, and irresistible. It is oblivious to consequences. In Deuteronomy, the Hebrew word ta'avah describes a more subtle interior experience like a pining for something. It could simply be a yearning for something else rather than something specific. In extreme cases, ta'avah becomes the lens through which we see all of life and its value that results in restless and dissatisfaction and seeks to fill holes in life with things or experiences. When ta'avah or chemdah take root, people (or communities and nations) are willing to trade long-term happiness and stability for immediate gratification. These two words translated into English are...
What is "covet"?
1500s
When was the Small Catechism written?
Do not throw the community into chaos by being selfish in relationships or watering down boundaries.
What is "do not commit adultery" or the 6th commandment?
This command is given as an action without a specific object -- you shall not steal.... what? We are not to steal personal property, money or goods. We are not to steal people and sell them into slavery, treat people as property, or oppress them and grow wealthy off exploiting their labor. This social sin always has a punishment in the Old Testament that includes...
What is "restitution and restoration"? Restitution is the act of compensating for loss or injury, often by returning or paying back the equivalent of what was wrongfully taken. Restoration is the broader act of returning something to its original or improved state or well-being, which can include making restitution as a part of the process.
This motivation for this command to protect the innocent, poor and most vulnerable in society. Those who have no recourse or ability to negotiate the power structures, especially widows, orphans and immigrants are mentioned for protection repeatedly in the Bible. We live in a time when words are manipulated and people in power choose a narrative and repeat it over and over again until others accept it as truth --whether or not the narrative is in any way factual. Society itself collapses when _____ are accepted as truth and facts become relative and engineered in order to manipulate. When half-truths are spun to deceive, it becomes a _____ and much destruction follows.
What is "lie", "lies" or "lying"?
Throughout the Bible, covetousness is seen as a problem of the _____. Desire for sustainability, fair dealing and equitable treatment isn't covetousness so the poor are exempt. Problems come when those who have enough want more and more. When _____ becomes itself an end and not a means for blessing others, gaining and maintaining _____ can become predatory and the whole community suffers.
What is "wealthy/wealth" or "the rich / riches"?
"what does this mean"
What is the question Martin Luther asks about everything in the Small Catechism?