“Introduced by a prominent pastor of the General Synod, highly commended by a professor of theology in the Philadelphia Lutheran Seminary, said to be undergoing translation in both German and Swedish, – and in this most excellent book ‘for the common people,’ Mr. Gerberding contents himself with the words of the Augsburg Confession and Luther’s Small Catechism….Rev. Gerberding, whose views of the Lord’s Supper we heartily endorse, has shown us the better way, – the way pursued together by Luther and Melanchthon, who were content to affirm the true essential presence of the body and blood of Christ in the Supper, and the reception of the same by the communicant, and desired nothing so much as to be allowed to leave to God all questions of mode and of Christ’s relation to the elements.†-The Lutheran Quarterly
“The supremacy of the Scriptures needs to be recognized with a mightier emphasis, not only of the intellect, but also of the heart. This vital conjunction is maintained in this book. I am certain that a clear view of the way of salvation as taught by the Scriptures and held by the Church will go far not only toward correcting wrong impressions, but will tend to the relief of much mental perplexity, and to the increase of that much-needed spirit of unity throughout our Church, the want of which is not only the greatest reflection on her noble history and holy faith, but the greatest hindrance to her important mission. A kindly Christ-like spirit pervades this book, which is no small testimony to its worth.†-M. Rhodes, St. Louis, March, 1887
INTRODUCTION
PREFATORY SCRIPTURE PASSAGES
CHAPTER I. All are Sinners
CHAPTER II. All that is Born of the Flesh must be Born of the Spirit
CHAPTER III. The Present, a Dispensation of Means
CHAPTER IV. Baptism, a Divinely Instituted Means of Grace
CHAPTER V. The Baptismal Covenant can be kept unbroken—Aim and Responsibility of Parents
CHAPTER VI. Home Influence and Training in their Relation to the Keeping of the Baptismal Covenant
CHAPTER VII. The Sunday School in its Relation to the Baptized Children of Christian Parents
CHAPTER VIII. The Sunday School—Its relation to those in Covenant Relationship with Christ, and also to the Unbaptized and Wandering
CHAPTER IX. Catechisation
CHAPTER X. Contents, Arrangement and Excellence of Luther's Small Catechism
CHAPTER XI. Manner and Object of Teaching Luther's Catechism
CHAPTER XII. Confirmation
CHAPTER XIII. The Lord's Supper—Preliminary Observations
CHAPTER XIV. The Lord's Supper, Continued
CHAPTER XV. The Lord's Supper, Concluded
CHAPTER XVI. The Preparatory Service, Sometimes Called the Confessional Service
CHAPTER XVII. The Word as a Means of Grace
CHAPTER XVIII. Conversion—Its Nature and Necessity
CHAPTER XIX. Conversion—Varied Phenomena or Experiences
CHAPTER XX. Conversion—Human Agency
CHAPTER XXI. Justification
CHAPTER XXII. Sanctification
CHAPTER XXIII. Revivals
CHAPTER XXIV. Modern Revivals
CHAPTER XXV. Modern Revivals, Continued
CHAPTER XXVI. Modern Revivals, Concluded
CHAPTER XXVII. True Revivals
CHAPTER XXVIII. Conclusion
My Church! My Church! My dear Old Church!
