a missional approach to Forming Lutheran Disciples
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A Ritual Journey: The Rites of Faith Formation
This week I am beginning an ongoing exploration of the rites of faith formation. In order to explore the rites that can be used as a central experience of faith formation, I need to outline the structural process of the catechumenate. So, for those for whom this may be an elementary review, my apologies. As […]
Resources on Luther’s Small Catechism
It’s back. My neighbors have decorated their yards and porches for the “high holy day” of Halloween: Huge spiderwebs with big, scary spiders, orange strings of lights on porches, and ghosts fluttering in tree branches abound. As I observe these decorations on my morning walks during this brisk fall weather, those who encounter me see […]
Seek the Living God
Shortly after I started work on my masters in liturgical studies at St. John’s University, Collegeville, Minnesota, Father Godfrey Diekmann, who had served as a Peritus (theological adviser) at the Second Vatican Council, spoke at a School of Theology convocation. I remember vividly this statement: “At Vatican II we rediscovered Christ”—words that warmed my heart […]
Welcome One Another
I remember well arriving Sunday after Sunday at my new “home church”—where the pastor was my husband—thus I was arriving alone. Many people would greet me, but few made an effort to engage me in meaningful conversation or draw me into the orbit of their family or friends mingling in the narthex. Feeling lonely and […]
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).
The thorough catechetical process advocated by FormingLutherans is absolutely necessary for making disciples who are prepared to answer the challenges that the modern culture presents. This FormingLutherans project has proven invaluable in assisting our congregation, Grace Lutheran, St. Petersburg, FL, in accomplishing that all important task.
Forming Lutherans holistically focuses on evangelization, catechesis, baptism, and the Lord’s Supper. It will help your congregation to be both ancient and postmodern as all the baptized are involved in forming disciples for Jesus Christ by joining them to Christ and his life.
Because effective catechesis shapes a person’s total being, I heartily endorse “Forming Lutherans.” We do believe the Spirit is at work wherever the Gospel is present, don’t we?
All those who are to be baptized, both men and women, sit closely around the bishop … beginning with Genesis he goes through the whole Scripture … [teaching] not only about the Resurrection but also concerning the body of faith. This is called catechetics.
I knew well that visual testimony [of your baptism] is more trustworthy than mere hearsay and therefore I awaited this chance of finding you more amenable to my words, so that out of your personal experience I could lead you into the brighter and more fragrant meadow of Paradise of earth.
