Martin Luther intended the Small Catechism to be a prayer book for individuals and families and a powerful tool for the Christian life because it provides a brief, clear summary of God's Word on the essentials of the Christian faith. Written in 1529 in question-and-answer format, Luther's Small Catechism explores the Six Chief Parts of Christian Doctrine: the Ten Commandments, the Apostles' Creed, the Lord's Prayer, the Sacrament of Holy Baptism, Confession, and the Sacrament of the Altar. Also included are daily prayers, a table of duties for Christians in their various callings in life, and a guide for Christians to use as they prepare to receive Holy Communion. Scripture references taken from the English Standard Version (ESV) of the Bible.