Favorite hymns

“Music,” Martin Luther commented, “is an endowment and a gift of God.”  The reformer loved music and wrote “A Mighty Fortress is Our God” and many hymns that are even today sung and loved by millions. Fittingly, Lutherans still put music and hymns at the center of worship, to glorify God and bring the faithful into the presence of the holy.

Your download includes three pages of exercises and discussion questions, plus a copy of the article from The Lutheran.

Exercise 1: Moving music
Exercise 2: Servant of the gospel
Exercise 3: Your favorite hymn
Exercise 4: Hymn texts
Exercise 5: A different song
Exercise 6: Music styles
Exercise 7: New life for hymns
Exercise 8: Humming hymns

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Catacomb churches

The 21st century has been challenging for mainline denominations, including the ELCA. Rapid changes in political, social and economic realms have diminished the role of the church in our culture, evidenced in declining attendance and giving. Most people agree the model of church needs to be updated, and some are experimenting with new ideas — such as “home churches,” of which Catacomb Church is one.

Your download includes five pages of exercises and discussion questions, plus a copy of the article from The Lutheran.

Exercise 1: The waning church
Exercise 2: Outdated model?
Exercise 3: A new model?
Exercise 4: What is 'church'?
Exercise 5: The 'Lutheran' definition
Exercise 6: Qualified leadership
Exercise 7: Your church's strengths
Exercise 8: Home church advantages
Exercise 9: Church issues

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hymn extras

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A new imagination

How do the things we do, learn and say on Sunday relate to the way we live on Monday — not to mention Tuesday through Saturday? The answer is “not much” for too many of our faith communities. Growing, successful churches are finding ways to help bridge the divide between Sunday living and the rest of the week.

Your download includes four pages of exercises and discussion questions, plus a copy of the article from The Lutheran.

Exercise 1: Who serves whom?
Exercise 2: To be the greatest
Exercise 3: Mission
Exercise 4: A typical week
Exercise 5: Busy lives
Exercise 6: Downton Abbey
Exercise 7: 'Welcoming' assessment
Exercise 8: Rapid change

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Now & forever

The environment may be the top issue facing humanity today, as the world population continues to grow and put stress on the systems that have sustained life for millennia. Wilderness is being consumed, species extinction is accelerating, and oceans are warming and acidifying. Amid mounting evidence of rapid climate change, Christian environmental activist Bill McKibben argues that we are already past the point where serious change can be avoided. What can churches do? We can speak prophetically, teach and model sustainable practices, work to clean up ecosystems and help protect God’s creation.

Your download includes five pages of exercises and discussion questions, plus a copy of the article from The Lutheran.

Exercise 1: God in creation
Exercise 2: Land use
Exercise 3: Building use
Exercise 4: Energy use
Exercise 5: Environment and worship
Exercise 6: Study the issue
Exercise 7: Local issues
Exercise 8: Your eco footprint
Exercise 9: Hottest year
Exercise 10: The home planet

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Pastoral Letter on Violence

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Resurrection wonders

Facing declining membership and tightening budgets, thousands of Lutheran congregations are asking the same question: How do we be God’s church for the 21st century? Fortunately, several congregations have stretched themselves to find renewal through service and transformational ministry. They are blazing a path for the rest of us.

Your download includes four pages of exercises and discussion questions, plus a copy of the article from The Lutheran.

Exercise 1: Stuck in neutral?
Exercise 2: Resurrection churches
Exercise 3: Inspiration
Exercise 4: Asset mapping
Exercise 5: Unmet needs, unserved people
Exercise 6: Community connections
Exercise 7: Mission statement
Exercise 8: Parish partners
Exercise 9: Healing

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Welcome home

They come to the U.S. and other safe-haven countries from far-flung corners of the globe. They speak different languages, worship in different ways, eat different foods. But all have a remarkably similar story to tell: their homelands are in crisis, they are on the run, they can’t return and want a new start. Some of them are finding a new life with help from Lutherans.

Your download includes four pages of exercises and discussion questions, plus a copy of the article from The Lutheran.

Exercise 1: What is a refugee?
Exercise 2: Starting over
Exercise 3: Millions of refugees
Exercise 4: God loves 'aliens'
Exercise 5: 'Love your neighbor'
Exercise 6: What can I/we do?

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Six-Year Plan

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Talking about God

Theology—the study of God—is the lofty name for the practice that all faithful people undertake whenever we try to figure out what it is we think about God and how that determines how we live. Theology is easy to “do” but hard to do in-depth because it requires a comprehensive understanding of the Bible, faith traditions, Christian history, spirituality and human nature. Professional theologians guide us in reaching new insights about God and how to live as God’s people. We can learn from what they say and how they do their craft.

Your download includes four pages of exercises and discussion questions, plus a copy of the article from The Lutheran.

Exercise 1: Your theology
Exercise 2: Your theologians
Exercise 3: Your favorite Scriptures
Exercise 4: Your faith crises
Exercise 5: Lutheran theology
Exercise 6: The creed
Exercise 7: 'Hard' theology
Exercise 8: 'My way or the highway'

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