Christmas is a favorite time of the year for many. Winter break approaches after a few months of classes, parents are thinking about time off with their kids, and churches are planning their Advent and Christmas celebrations—a joyous and busy time for all. But amid all this, you may be wondering how you can emphasize the importance of Christmas and the greatest gift we have, Jesus. Here are some of our favorite kits and tools for preparing the way for baby Jesus.

What is Confession? Confession has two parts. First, that we confess our sins, and second, that we receive absolution, that is, forgiveness from the pastor as from God Himself, not doubting, but firmly believing that by it our sins are forgiven before God in heaven.

Youth are not just the church’s future—they’re also the church’s now. As a leader, volunteer, or church worker, your job is to remind youth that they’re loved by Jesus and their congregation. The following is an excerpt from Connected for Life: Essential Guide to Youth Ministry, which provides guidance, encouragement, and advice on leading a youth ministry that supports young adults in their faith for life.

Continue learning how to teach Holy Baptism with the Third and Fourth Parts on Baptism in Luther’s Small Catechism

What is Baptism? Baptism is not just plain water, but it is the water included in God’s command and combined with God’s word.

The truth of God’s Word never changes, but with each new group of catechumens come different learning needs. How do you tailor your teaching to meet students where they are? This post will explore teaching models for confirmation and help you decide which works best for your setting. 

Vacation Bible School is a blast! The week is filled with fun activities, catchy songs, delicious snacks, and time with friends. For some, VBS can be the turning point in their faith. The volunteer who has been doing this for years walks away with a deeper knowledge of how to share the Good News of Jesus with others; the new volunteer experiences what it’s like to encourage a young one in his or her faith; the older VBS participant looking at his or her last VBS before becoming a volunteer has memories of how impactful this event can be. All these things and more are jam-packed into a five-day VBS. With all those possibilities, the best thing we can do is pray for everyone who gets to be a part of VBS!

The Lord’s Prayer is the next portion of Luther’s Small Catechism we will be thinking through for ideas on how to teach Law and Gospel.

How are your summer Sunday School plans coming along?

If you’re anything like me, it’s possible that you may not be quite as prepared as you’d like to be. Between Easter events, Confirmations, graduation, and summer vacation planning, it can be easy for Sunday School plans to be put on the back burner.

The second article of the Apostles' Creed is all about Jesus. Gather ideas for teaching this section of Luther's Small Catechism with a lens on Law & Gospel.