a missional approach to Forming Lutheran Disciples
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When many Christian congregations are asking, “How can we draw new members into our midst?” the authors reframe the question: “How can congregations make new disciples and deepen the faith of long-time Christians?” Rediscovery of the early church catechumenate provides a means to form new disciples in today’s culture. Inspiring case studies of four congregations emphasize the contextual flexibility of adult faith formation. Interviews with catechumenal leaders and participants in adult faith formation reveal how a catechumenate that is central to congregational life can energize and orient the people of God toward the mission of God. Opening windows into congregational life, especially at worship, those who had journeyed through the adult faith formation process describe their experiences and the profound changes that took place in them. Adult faith formation is a journey—not a program—of belonging, believing, and behaving that draws people into Christ’s orbit for life. As one participant said, “For the first time I understood what it meant to be a Christian.” Through the adult catechumenate she heard the voice of Christ, calling her to new life and a rich baptismal identity.
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Latest News
The Virtues of St. Stephen
As Alan Kreider and others have adequately demonstrated, the early church catechumenate facilitated the creation of new Christians by focusing on matters of believing, belonging, and behaving. And as Kreider showed in The Patient Ferment of the Early Church, one of the focal points of distinct Christian behavior was the virtue of patience. According to […]
Two Primary Thoughts on Catechetical Preaching
When preaching or teaching Luther’s Small Catechism, I did so with two primary thoughts. Interrelationship First, I tried to illustrate the interrelationships of the parts of the Small Catechism. To understand what sin is and what should be confessed in preparation for coming to Holy Communion, one needs to learn the Commandments so that sin […]
Catechetical Series III – The Lord’s Supper and The Lord’s Prayer
I offer these comments about the selection of the Scripture readings and hymns to help the reader understand how I arrived at the scripture readings, hymns, and sermon texts and titles that were chosen for this part of the sermon series. Sermons on the Sacrament of the Altar The four passages that are the biblical […]
Feast of St. Nicholas
Shrouded in legend, Bishop Nicholas of Myra (270-343) evolved over the centuries into the patron saint of children (in the West) and sailors (in the East). According to one Roman Catholic source, this devolution—my word, not that of my source—of a fourth-century saint revered for acts of mercy and charity into the King of consumerism […]
Events
We have been privileged to present information about the adult catechumenate in a variety of settings.
This list includes upcoming and past events.
We welcome conversations with church leaders interested in organizing a workshop or presentation on the topic.
“Journey to Jesus” Book Event
Prof. Rhoda Schuler in the library with her book–no, it’s not the solution to the board game Clue, it’s a gathering to learn more about the book as a resource for the church. Dr. Schuler will give brief remarks at 3:15 about the research process the informs the book and thank people and organizations who […]
Festival of Nations, Salem Lutheran Church
In February 2025 Kent and Rhoda were invited by Pastors Gless and Martin to visit and study the multiethnic ministry of Salem Lutheran Church. In September they will return and present their findings to congregational leaders and attend the Festival of Nations, a major annual event of the congregation. The bilingual worship service begins at […]
What makes churches work today?
Dr. Schuler will be visiting St. John on September 14, 2025. She will be available in The Commons to chat, sell, and sign books before, between, and after the Liturgies that day. Do take the time on September 14 to greet and thank her for her long and faithful service to the Church! “JOURNEY TO […]
What people say about FormingLutherans.org
The church knows ritual shapes its life. Yet, ongoing changes in worship compel us to better understand how. Forming Lutherans provides answers through ethnographic and qualitative research, testing the power of ritual in real-life congregations, leaders, and individuals.
The research, reflection, speaking, and writing of Drs. Schuler and Burreson provide keen insights and practical applications to pastors and congregations as they seek to teach the baptized to hold fast to all our Heavenly Father has given us through, Jesus, the Word of Truth (John 17:17).
