Faith & criminal justice
More than 2.3 million Americans are incarcerated in local, state or federal jails, making the U.S. the No. 1 nation for imprisonment. An ELCA Draft Social Statement on Criminal Justice questions why this statistic is so high and whether incarceration is the best way to achieve the goals of keeping innocent people safe and encouraging offenders to become law-abiding citizens. The statement calls for Christians to get involved in helping reform the system to reduce the overall inmate population and to institute changes that will make it more effective and humane.
Your download includes five pages of exercises and discussion questions, plus a copy of the article from The Lutheran.
Exercise 1: There but for the grace of God ...
Exercise 2: Prison nation
Exercise 3: Inmates as non-people
Exercise 4: Racial disparity
Exercise 5: Tough on crime, hard on people
Exercise 6: Punishment? Or rehabilitation?
Exercise 7: War on drugs
Exercise 8: Privatizing prisons
Exercise 9: Visit the prisoner
Exercise 10: War on drugs
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Spiritual nomads
Statistics show that traditional, mainline churches, such as Lutheran churches, aren’t meeting the needs of younger adults. This bodes poorly for a church whose membership is aging, and it ought to serve as a wake-up call.
Your download includes four pages of exercises and discussion questions, plus a copy of the article from The Lutheran.
Exercise 1: Young people
Exercise 2: Age of members
Exercise 3: Current leaders
Exercise 4: Future leaders
Exercise 5: What's it about?
Exercise 6: Faith and service
Exercise 7: Not religious
Exercise 8: Fight, not switch
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Beyond technology
Advances in technology have completely changed the way we communicate. We have cell phones, smartphones and personal devices that enable us to text and talk anywhere we go. We have computers that enable us to stay connected the world over. It's never been easier to reach people and preach the gospel. Is your church using these technologies to their full advantage?
Your download includes three pages of exercises and discussion questions, plus a copy of the article from The Lutheran.
Exercise 1: Our changing church
Exercise 2: Where are we?
Exercise 3: The social-media divide
Exercise 4: Who's missing?
Exercise 5: E-vangelism
Exercise 6: Get the kids involved
Exercise 7: A good website
Exercise 8: Get creative
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Poverty: Lutherans ready to help
Lutherans are joining Christians nationwide to help people hurt by the economic downturn. Congregations are finding creative and exciting ways to care for their neighbors in need.
Your download includes four pages of exercises and discussion questions, plus a copy of the article from The Lutheran.
Exercise 1: 'I've been poor'
Exercise 3: Community snapshot
Exercise 4: Community resources
Exercise 5: Asset-based help
Exercise 6: Suddenly poor
Exercise 7: Are churches the answer?
Exercise 8: Why are people poor?
Exercise 9: Rising inequality
Exercise 10: Who are the victims?
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Dollar by dollar: Fundraising
Fundraising is an occasional necessity in every congregation, as special needs arise. When it can be done with creativity and a sense of humor, fundraising becomes less of a chore or obligation and more of an enjoyable challenge for those involved. Our New Orleans-bound participants of the ELCA Youth Gathering really put the fun in fundraising.
Your download includes four pages of exercises and discussion questions, plus a copy of the article from The Lutheran.
Exercise 1: Fundraisers past
Exercise 2: 'God loves a cheerful giver'
Exercise 3: Motivation for giving
Exercise 4: Saying 'thanks'
Exercise 5: The homemade touch
Exercise 6: Service lessons
Exercise 7: Contextualizing efforts
Exercise 8: Imagination
Exercise 9: Guidelines for fundraising
Discussion questions
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Mission trips
Mission trips offer great opportunities for Christians to expand their worldview, experience different cultures and learn how other people live. But it takes planning, thought and prayer to turn a mere trip into a transformational experience.
Your download includes four pages of exercises and discussion questions, plus a copy of the article from The Lutheran.
Exercise 1: Past trips
Exercise 2: Your trip's mission?
Exercise 3: Engagement
Exercise 4: Poverty tourism
Exercise 5: Accompaniment
Exercise 6: Missions nearby
Exercise 7: Transformation
Exercise 8: Friendship
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Discipleship
When you put your feet on the path of Christian discipleship – watch out! No telling where you may end up. Members of Peace Lutheran Church in Charlottesville, Va., found their lives transformed when they began to emphasize discipleship. And in the process, their congregational life was renewed and transformed. Would it work for you and your church?
Your download includes four pages of exercises and discussion questions, plus a copy of the article from The Lutheran.
Exercise 1: What’s a disciple?
Exercise 2: Discipleship and discipline
Exercise 3: Discipleship associations
Exercise 4: Make disciples
Exercise 5: True discipleship
Exercise 6: 6 marks of discipleship
Discussion questions
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1 in 3 is harmed by domestic abuse
Domestic abuse affects primarily women and children in families across the whole economic and social spectrum, experts say. Abuse is often so well hidden that it goes undetected until it's too late. But victims and survivors are everywhere: in church, in Sunday schools and at potlucks. Victims and survivors are baptized and partake of the eucharist. The body of Christ is a victim and a survivor — and needs our attention.
Caution: Some people may be uncomfortable, even distressed, talking about domestic abuse. Give people permission in advance to leave if necessary, but welcome them into a vital discussion in the church. Begin by reinforcing confidentiality rules. Be sensitive to people's reactions.
Your download includes four pages of exercises and discussion questions, plus a copy of the article from The Lutheran.
Exercise 1: The Bible challenge
Exercise 2: God as defender
Exercise 3: Domestic abuse? Here?
Exercise 4: Spiral of abuse
Exercise 5: Power, control and fear
Exercise 6: Verbal abuse
Exercise 7: Financial abuse
Exercise 8: Sexual abuse
Exercise 9: A 'sanctuary' strategy
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Inactive members
Many congregations struggle with whether to remove people who no longer participate in church from membership rolls. On the one hand, it serves little purpose to carry people on the rolls who are absent from church life. On the other hand, how many of these people might return to the fold with a little more encouragement?
Your download includes four pages of exercises and discussion questions, plus a copy of the article from The Lutheran.
Exercise 1: What's in it for you?
Exercise 2: 'Plugging in'
Exercise 3: Gimme a break
Exercise 4: What's a member?
Exercise 5: Attendance
Exercise 6: Strategic planning
Exercise 7: For whose benefit?
Exercise 8: Too busy for church?
Exercise 9: Love your neighbor
Exercise 10: Variety of inactives
Exercise 11: Membership requirements
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Today is the day
Some people seem to get more done in a day than others do in a week. You see them helping everywhere — at church, at schools, with civic organizations and the like. The fruits of their activities are evident throughout the community, and yet they also have time for family and friends. Here’s the thing: They don’t have more hours in a day than anybody else. They just use their time differently.
Your download includes five pages of exercises and discussion questions, plus a copy of the article from The Lutheran.
Exercise 1: Live for today
Exercise 2: Languishing on 'Someday Isle'
Exercise 3: Make a 'bucket list'
Exercise 4: Keep a 'time journal'
Exercise 5: 'Put first things first'
Exercise 6: 'This is the day'
Exercise 7: 'The rich fool' of Luke 12
Exercise 8: Who are the busy bees?
Exercise 9: Scripture for discussion and reflection
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