In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven 

and earth.

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 God, the Father Almighty. From 

thence He will come to judge the living and the dead.

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. Ame

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name, 

Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in 

heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us 

our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against 

us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from 

evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the 

glory forever and ever. Amen.

The Central Thought

Every kingdom or nation on earth is continually 

plagued with problems.

If God has ushered in His kingdom through the life, 

death, and resurrection of Christ, why do we still see 

so many problems in the world today?

Read John 18:33–40. How did Pilate 

misunderstand the nature of Jesus’ kingdom and His 

rule as King?

✠ As Christians, we believe and confess 

that Christ’s present (but hidden) reign as 

King is being extended by the Spirit through 

the Gospel. It will be fully revealed when 

Christ returns in glory.

Since we know that Christ will return to bring an end 

to the devil’s present work of unbelief, sin, and death, 

how should we live today?

OT Deuteronomy 10:12-21

Epistle 1 Corinthians 1:1-9

Holy Gospel Matthew 22:34-46

Father in heaven, give us Your Holy Spirit so that we believe 

Your Holy Word and live as members of Your gracious 

kingdom here in time and finally, by Your mercy, be brought to 

live as partakers of Your everlasting reign; through Jesus 

Christ, our Lord. Amen.

*The Lord’s Prayer, Apostles’ Creed, central thought and 

closing prayer are from the 2017 Luther’s Small Catechism

Luther. (2017). Luther’s Small Catechism with Explanation. St. 

Louis, MO: Concordia Publishing House.