The Rhythm of the Lesson

I am indebted to my current senior editor, Deaconess Pam Nielsen, for many things she has taught me over the years about the practical application of Lutheran theology to Sunday School material. Among other things, she reminded me that every Sunday School will ideally follow a simple rhythm of Law > Gospel.



Note that progression. It is not open to revision.



In some Sunday School lessons I see (all too often in the materials prepared by many publishing outlets that are not overtly Lutheran and committed to our synod doctrinal review process) is the rhythm Law > Law > Law. The entire lesson is Law. God's Word is taught, surely, but not in its fulness. The lesson is all about what God expects of us, how we are to live, moralism, works righteousness. When Jesus Christ is taught at all, He is revealed as an example of perfect living, a model we should aspire to emulate. Or he is held out as the ultimate carrot-on-a-stick; Jesus' love and salvation are offered as the reward for good behavior.


Some Sunday School lessons I see (including a few that I edit) teach in a pattern of Law > Gospel > Law. This starts out right. God's Law must be taught honestly and fully, convicting the student of his or her sin. Without Law in the lesson, the Gospel has no wound to heal, no filth to wash, no terror to relieve, no rescue to provide. So the Law is taught in a way that shows each student the sinfulness that afflicts each of us. Then the Gospel can indeed be taught to bring new life and great joy! If only the lesson had ended there! Instead, the lesson-writer is mysteriously impelled to go on, adding a sort of life application that restores the power of the Law: "Go and do likewise! Since God loves us we ought to love one another." Biblical messages to be sure, but Law. Ended at this point, the lesson leaves that student in slavery to the Law, still a poor, miserable sinner. Don't we want to teach "life application"? Of course we do. But we don't want to leave the student in despair. When the lesson ends with instruction about what God expects us to do, we are in trouble. The sinful nature, this side of heave, can never live up to the standards of the Law.



A good lesson will end with the proclamation of Gospel. Yes, there are standards to which we aspire, but yes we are sinners and are certain to fail if our goal is to live up to those standards. What we, and our students need to hear that God loves us anyway. Because of the faith He has planted in our hearts through the Holy Spirit by His Word, He loves us and forgives us. The Gospel will always follow the Law.



This is not a simple task. I have written and taught lessons that have not adhered to this pattern. But I will leave those confessions for another post.



God's blessing as you teach God's children His Word---Law always followed by Gospel.