Lutheran · 1529
Luther's Small Catechism for Kids
Luther's Small Catechism written for children ages 6–12. Each question and answer uses simple, clear language while faithfully teaching the same truths as the original.
The Ten Commandments
What is the First Commandment?
You shall have no other gods.
What does this mean?
We should fear (stand in awe of), love, and trust in God above all things.
What is the Second Commandment?
You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God.
What does this mean?
We should fear and love God so that we do not curse or swear using his name, or use it to lie or trick others. Instead, we should call on God when we are in trouble, and pray to him, praise him, and thank him.
What is the Third Commandment?
Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.
What does this mean?
We should fear and love God so that we do not look down on preaching and his Word. Instead, we should hold it sacred, and be glad to hear and learn it.
What is the Fourth Commandment?
Honor your father and your mother.
What does this mean?
We should fear and love God so that we do not look down on our parents or make them angry. Instead, we should honor them, help them, obey them, and love them.
What is the Fifth Commandment?
You shall not murder.
What does this mean?
We should fear and love God so that we do not hurt our neighbor in any way. Instead, we should help them and take care of them when they need it.
What is the Sixth Commandment?
You shall not commit adultery.
What does this mean?
We should fear and love God so that we live pure and decent lives in what we say and do, and so that husbands and wives love and honor each other.
What is the Seventh Commandment?
You shall not steal.
What does this mean?
We should fear and love God so that we do not take our neighbor's money or things, or get them by cheating. Instead, we should help our neighbor protect and take care of what is theirs.
What is the Eighth Commandment?
You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.
What does this mean?
We should fear and love God so that we do not tell lies about our neighbor, gossip about them, or hurt their good name. Instead, we should stand up for them, say nice things about them, and try to see the best in what they do.
What is the Ninth Commandment?
You shall not covet your neighbor's house.
What does this mean?
We should fear and love God so that we do not try to trick our neighbor out of their home or property. Instead, we should help them keep what belongs to them.
What is the Tenth Commandment?
You shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his workers, his animals, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.
What does this mean?
We should fear and love God so that we do not try to take away our neighbor's family or workers, or turn them against our neighbor. Instead, we should encourage them to stay and do what is right.
What does God say about all these commandments?
He says: "I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments."
What does this mean?
God warns that he will punish everyone who breaks these commandments. So we should fear his anger and not disobey them. But he also promises grace and every good thing to those who keep them. So we should love him, trust him, and gladly do what he says.
The Creed
What is the First Article of the Creed?
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth.
What does this mean?
I believe that God made me and everything in the world. He gave me my body and mind, my eyes, ears, and everything I have. He still takes care of me every day. He gives me food, clothes, a home, family, and everything I need for life. He protects me from danger and keeps me safe from harm. He does…
What is the Second Article of the Creed?
And in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended into hell. The third day he rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of…
What does this mean?
I believe that Jesus Christ is true God, born of the Father before time began, and also true man, born of the Virgin Mary. He is my Lord. He has rescued me, a lost and condemned person. He bought me and set me free from all sins, from death, and from the power of the devil — not with gold or…
What is the Third Article of the Creed?
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 believe in Jesus Christ my Lord or come to him by my own thinking or effort. Instead, the Holy Spirit has called me through the gospel, enlightened me with his gifts, and made me holy and kept me in the true faith. In the same way, the Holy Spirit calls, gathers, enlightens,…
The Lord's Prayer
What is the Introduction to the Lord's Prayer?
Our Father who is in heaven.
What does this mean?
With these words, God lovingly invites us to believe that he is our true Father and we are his true children. So we can ask him for anything with boldness and trust, just as children ask their loving father.
What is the First Petition?
Hallowed be your name.
What does this mean?
God's name is already holy all on its own. But we pray that it will be kept holy among us too. How? God's name is kept holy when his Word is taught clearly and truthfully, and when we, as God's children, live according to it. Help us to do this, dear Father in heaven! But anyone who teaches or…
What is the Second Petition?
Your kingdom come.
What does this mean?
God's kingdom comes all on its own without our prayer. But we pray that it will come to us too. How does God's kingdom come? It comes when our heavenly Father gives us his Holy Spirit, so that by his grace we believe his holy Word and live godly lives now and forever.
What is the Third Petition?
Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
What does this mean?
God's good and gracious will is done even without our prayer. But we pray that it will be done among us too. How is God's will done? It is done when God stops every evil plan of the devil, the world, and our own sinful nature, which try to keep us from honoring God's name or letting his kingdom…
What is the Fourth Petition?
Give us today our daily bread.
What does this mean?
God gives daily bread to everyone without our prayers, even to people who do wrong. But we pray that God would help us see this and be thankful for it. What is daily bread? Daily bread means everything we need for our bodies and our lives, like food, drink, clothes, shoes, a home, land, animals,…
What is the Fifth Petition?
And forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us.
What does this mean?
We pray that our Father in heaven would not look at our sins or turn away from our prayer because of them. We do not deserve the things we ask for, but we ask God to give them to us by grace, because we sin every day and deserve only punishment. And we also promise to truly forgive and be kind to…
What is the Sixth Petition?
And lead us not into temptation.
What does this mean?
God tempts no one. But we pray that God would protect us so that the devil, the world, and our own sinful nature do not trick us into losing our faith, falling into despair, or doing other terrible things. And even when we are tempted, we pray that we would stand strong and win in the end.
What is the Seventh Petition?
But deliver us from evil.
What does this mean?
We pray here that our Father in heaven would save us from every kind of evil — evil that hurts our bodies, our souls, our belongings, or our good name. And when the time comes for us to die, we pray that God would give us a blessed end and take us from this valley of sorrow to himself in heaven.
What is the Conclusion to the Lord's Prayer?
For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen.
What does this mean?
This means I can be sure that God hears these prayers and is pleased by them, because he himself told us to pray this way and promised to answer us. Amen, amen means "yes, yes, it shall be so."
Holy Baptism
What is Baptism?
Baptism is not just plain water. It is water used with God's command and joined with God's Word.
Which word of God is this?
Christ our Lord says in the last chapter of Matthew: "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit."
What good things does Baptism give?
Baptism gives forgiveness of sins, rescues us from death and the devil, and gives eternal salvation to all who believe, just as God's words and promises say.
Which are these words and promises of God?
Christ our Lord says in the last chapter of Mark: "Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned."
How can water do such great things?
It is not the water alone that does these things. It is God's Word together with the water, and faith that trusts God's Word. Without God's Word, it is just plain water. But with God's Word, Baptism is a life-giving water, full of grace, and a washing of new birth in the Holy Spirit.
Where is this written?
St. Paul writes in Titus, chapter three: "He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. This is a…
What does baptizing with water mean for our lives?
It means that the Old Adam in us should be drowned by daily contrition and repentance, and that a new man should rise up every day to live before God in goodness and purity forever.
Where is this written?
St. Paul writes in Romans, chapter six: "We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life."
Confession
What is Confession?
Confession has two parts. First, we tell God our sins. Second, we receive absolution — that means forgiveness — from the pastor, who speaks it as from God himself. We should not doubt this, but believe firmly that our sins truly are forgiven by God in heaven.
What sins should we confess?
Before God, we should admit that we are guilty of all sins, even ones we don't know about, just like we do in the Lord's Prayer. But before the pastor, we should confess the sins that we know about and that weigh on our hearts.
Which sins are these?
Think about your life using the Ten Commandments: Are you a son, daughter, student, or friend? Have you disobeyed or been lazy? Have you lost your temper, been rude, or picked fights? Have you hurt someone with your words or actions? Have you taken something that was not yours, been careless, or…
How does the pastor assure someone of forgiveness?
He says: "By the authority of Christ, I forgive you your sins in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen."
The Sacrament of the Altar
What is the Sacrament of the Altar?
It is the true body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, given under the bread and wine. Christ himself set it up for us Christians to eat and to drink.
Where is this written?
The holy writers Matthew, Mark, Luke, and St. Paul write: "Our Lord Jesus Christ, on the night when he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to the disciples and said: Take, eat; this is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me." "In…
What is the benefit of this eating and drinking?
The words "Given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins" show us that through this sacrament we receive forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation. For where there is forgiveness of sins, there is also life and salvation.
How can eating and drinking do such great things?
It is not just the bodily eating and drinking that does these things. It is the words "Given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins." These words, together with the bodily eating and drinking, are the main thing in the sacrament. Whoever believes these words has exactly what they say:…
Who receives this sacrament the right way?
Fasting and other preparation are fine things to do on the outside. But the person who is truly worthy and well prepared is the one who believes these words: "Given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins." Anyone who does not believe these words or doubts them is unworthy and unprepared,…
Daily Prayers
What is the Morning Prayer?
In the morning when you get up, make the sign of the cross and say: In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Then say the Creed and the Lord's Prayer. You may also pray: "I thank you, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, your dear Son, that you kept me safe…
What is the Evening Prayer?
In the evening when you go to bed, make the sign of the cross and say: In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Then say the Creed and the Lord's Prayer. You may also pray: "I thank you, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, your dear Son, that you have kept me…
Table of Duties
What is the duty of pastors and church leaders?
A church leader must live a good life. He should be self-controlled, respectable, welcoming, and able to teach. He must not be violent but gentle, not a lover of money. He must hold firmly to the true message so that he can encourage others with good teaching and correct those who are wrong.
What does Scripture teach people in the church?
Obey your church leaders and respect their authority. They watch over you and must answer to God for how they lead. Obey them so their work is a joy, not a burden. God has also said that those who preach the gospel should be supported by the church.
What does Scripture teach about government?
Everyone should obey the government, because God is the one who puts leaders in place. Anyone who fights against the government is going against what God has set up. Give to the government what belongs to the government, and give to God what belongs to God.
What does Scripture teach husbands and wives?
Husbands, love your wives the way Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her. Be thoughtful and treat your wives with respect. Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord, because the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church.
What does Scripture teach parents and children?
Parents, do not make your children so angry that they give up. Instead, raise them to know and follow the Lord. Children, obey your parents, for this is right. "Honor your father and mother" — this is the first commandment with a promise — "so that it may go well with you and you may have a long…
What does Scripture teach workers and bosses?
Workers, respect your bosses and do your work honestly, as if you were working for the Lord, not just for people. And bosses, treat your workers well. Do not threaten them. Remember that God is the Master of both you and your workers, and he does not play favorites.
What does Scripture say to everyone?
All the commandments can be summed up in one rule: "Love your neighbor as yourself." We should pray for everyone, help everyone, and each person should learn their duties well so that things go well for all.