Grieving is something everyone experiences.
At lutheranfunerals.blogspot.com you will find some resources that will help you when you grieve, and also help you help others as they grieve in a way that connects them to God.
Saturday, June 30, 2012
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Lutherans in Australia according to the Census
In 2011 the Australian Bureau of Statistics undertook a census of the entire Australian population.
Those indicating that their religion is Lutheran is as follows.
What do this figures tell us?
Are we still the rural church?
How doe these figure correspond to out membership records and worship attendance?
What do these figures mean for mission and ministry?
Those indicating that their religion is Lutheran is as follows.
| State | 2011 | 2006 | Change | % change | Capital City | % | Country | % |
| SA | 71427 | 71249 | 178 | 0.25% | 38533 | 53.95% | 32894 | 46.05% |
| Vic | 41498 | 42420 | -922 | -2.17% | 23703 | 57.12% | 17795 | 42.88% |
| WA | 13135 | 11948 | 1187 | 9.93% | 9465 | 72.06% | 3670 | 27.94% |
| NT | 7900 | 7505 | 395 | 5.26% | 1652 | 20.91% | 6248 | 79.09% |
| Qld | 79179 | 76694 | 2485 | 3.24% | 34120 | 43.09% | 45059 | 56.91% |
| NSW | 33091 | 35344 | -2253 | -6.37% | 16966 | 51.27% | 16125 | 48.73% |
| ACT | 3480 | 3746 | -266 | -7.10% | 3480 | 100.00% | 0 | 0.00% |
| TAS | 2210 | 2188 | 22 | 1.01% | 952 | 43.08% | 1258 | 56.92% |
| Australia | 251920 | 251094 | 826 | 0.33% | 128871 | 51.16% | 123049 | 48.84% |
Are we still the rural church?
How doe these figure correspond to out membership records and worship attendance?
What do these figures mean for mission and ministry?
Christian views and responses to Gay marriage
The topic of Same Sex/Gay/Homosexual marriage has become one the hottest discussion points not only in Australia, but in various other places around the world. Below is a collection of resources that may help you as a Christian or Christian Lutheran to form an opinion, defend a position and hear the various voices for and against homosexual marriage so you gain a greater understanding of where Christian pastoral care is needed.
If you have some other suitable resources that you believe will help others feel free to send them to me at richardschwedes@gmail.com
Lutheran Church of Australia's position
Press release
Doctrinal Statement on Marriage
Theological opinions
Denominational perspectives on homosexuality
Centre for Public Christianity - John Dickson's thoughtful discussion on Gay Marriage
Gay Marriage? from CPX on Vimeo.
Australian Christian Lobby webcast recording of Defining Marriage
http://www.acl.org.au/2012/06/marriage-webcast/
Statement by 19 churches in Australia
From bible.org
a discussion on the biblical view of homosexuality including homosexual marriage
From ChristianAnswers God's plan for sexuality
Gay Marriage - one Christian's perspective
From the Gay Christian Network
Ron's view that gay people should remain celibant
Justin's view that God blesses gay marriage
Lutheran (LCMS) view of Gay Marriage
from Higher Things
Lutheran Church Missouri Synod
What does the bible say about homosexuality?
Views on Marriage and Human sexuality?
Should we support Gay Marriage? NO Wolfgart Pannenberg
What does the theology of the cross say about gay marriage ban
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America support of Same Sex Marriage news report
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America report on Human Sexuality
Real Marriage by Peter Jensen from the Anglican Church Sydney Diocese
Andrew Corbett discussion on same sex marriage in the context of family
Gay Marriage in the bible - bible study from Christian Gays
Biblical arguments against Gay Marriage
Neil Hart - A pastor of the Lutheran Church of Australia, thoughts and reflections
If you have some other suitable resources that you believe will help others feel free to send them to me at richardschwedes@gmail.com
Lutheran Church of Australia's position
Press release
Doctrinal Statement on Marriage
Theological opinions
Denominational perspectives on homosexuality
Centre for Public Christianity - John Dickson's thoughtful discussion on Gay Marriage
Gay Marriage? from CPX on Vimeo.
Australian Christian Lobby webcast recording of Defining Marriage
http://www.acl.org.au/2012/06/marriage-webcast/
Statement by 19 churches in Australia
From bible.org
a discussion on the biblical view of homosexuality including homosexual marriage
From ChristianAnswers God's plan for sexuality
Gay Marriage - one Christian's perspective
From the Gay Christian Network
Ron's view that gay people should remain celibant
Justin's view that God blesses gay marriage
Lutheran (LCMS) view of Gay Marriage
from Higher Things
Lutheran Church Missouri Synod
What does the bible say about homosexuality?
Views on Marriage and Human sexuality?
Should we support Gay Marriage? NO Wolfgart Pannenberg
What does the theology of the cross say about gay marriage ban
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America support of Same Sex Marriage news report
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America report on Human Sexuality
Real Marriage by Peter Jensen from the Anglican Church Sydney Diocese
Andrew Corbett discussion on same sex marriage in the context of family
Gay Marriage in the bible - bible study from Christian Gays
Biblical arguments against Gay Marriage
Neil Hart - A pastor of the Lutheran Church of Australia, thoughts and reflections
Sunday, June 24, 2012
Video resource: Father's love letter
What is Father's Love Letter?
Father's Love Letter is a compilation of Bible verses from both the Old & New Testaments that are presented in the form of a love letter from God to you. Each line in the Father's Love Letter message is paraphrased, which means we have taken each Scripture's overall message and summarized it as a single phrase to best express it's meaning. We have heard testimonies from thousands of people all over the world who have had a life-changing encounter with God while experiencing the message found in Father's Love Letter. Since 1999, this message has been downloaded from our website in 99 languages from people in almost every nation. It has also appeared as full page newspaper ads and has even been delivered home to home in entire countries .
Visit http://fathersloveletter.com/index.html to look at this video and other resources.
Father's Love Letter is a compilation of Bible verses from both the Old & New Testaments that are presented in the form of a love letter from God to you. Each line in the Father's Love Letter message is paraphrased, which means we have taken each Scripture's overall message and summarized it as a single phrase to best express it's meaning. We have heard testimonies from thousands of people all over the world who have had a life-changing encounter with God while experiencing the message found in Father's Love Letter. Since 1999, this message has been downloaded from our website in 99 languages from people in almost every nation. It has also appeared as full page newspaper ads and has even been delivered home to home in entire countries .
Visit http://fathersloveletter.com/index.html to look at this video and other resources.
Saturday, June 23, 2012
Book: The Church Comes from All Nations: Luther Texts on Mission
The Church comes from all nations: Luther's texts on mission is a collection of key excerpts from the writings of Martin Luther on Christian missions.
• Steadfastness in faith leads toward a missionary expansion of faith
• Abraham was effective as a missionary in Egypt
• Jacob preaches to the Gentiles
• Mary and Joseph were missionaries in Egypt like the Wise Men were in their land. Persecution leads to the expansion of the church.
• On the missionary effectiveness of the treasurer in Africa
• A Christian lives for the sake of proclamation
• Every Christian is bound by duty to give a missionary witness
• The missionary witness is linked to prayer
• The movement that began with the apostles continues until Judgment Day
• As a stone that falls in the water
• The kingdom of Christ is a constant happening
• We are still calling today
• The preaching of Christ is God’s blessing for all people—as preaching of Law and Gospel
• The whole of theology is therein summarized
• The preaching of repentance and forgiveness of sins addresses all people
• Reformation of mission practice
• Missionary forms of liturgy
• Catechetical instruction as preparation for missionary witness
• The singing of Christian songs as Gospel witness
• Hymns
• Mission prayers
• Your kingdom come
• Lord, convert
• The missionary witness toward the Jews
• Biblical teaching and Christian life must come together
• Common hearing of the witness of the Bible
• The missionary conversation must not demand too much of our Jewish partners
• Luther reports on his conversations with Jews
• The meaning of the Reformation for the Jewish mission
• Instructions on the Baptism of a Jewish maiden
• Conversion or banishment
• The missionary witness toward the Turks
• The missionary responsibility of the pastoral office
• How righteous Christians should confront the Turks
• It is chiefly a spiritual confrontation
• The Qur’an is to be tested by the witness to Christ
• Prisoners of war as missionaries
• From the beginning of the world, Christ has been preached and believed
• The different religions must be derived from the one true religion
• Only the preaching of Christ actually makes God known
• The movement of the Gospel through the world before the coming of the end
• The end of the preaching of the Gospel is near
• The church of God must resist the church of Satan
• Mission and reformation are very closely connected. This is already demonstrated by the biblical example of Egypt.
• The church always lives in severe tribulation
• The last confrontation between church and antichurch
• The worldwide gathering of the people of God
• How Christianity spread through the world
• The gathering of a people of God from all peoples
• Now there are still many islands and lands that have been newly discovered
• God fulfills his promise in the history of mission
Drawing from Martin Luther's lectures, sermons, treatises, hymns, and devotional writings, the author presents the excerpts according to themes and provides commentary on the reformer's understanding of mission in the world.
Contents include:
I. Biblical Foundation for Mission
• All Christians from the patriarchs to us ourselves are called to mission• Steadfastness in faith leads toward a missionary expansion of faith
• Abraham was effective as a missionary in Egypt
• Jacob preaches to the Gentiles
• Mary and Joseph were missionaries in Egypt like the Wise Men were in their land. Persecution leads to the expansion of the church.
• On the missionary effectiveness of the treasurer in Africa
• A Christian lives for the sake of proclamation
• Every Christian is bound by duty to give a missionary witness
• The missionary witness is linked to prayer
• The movement that began with the apostles continues until Judgment Day
• As a stone that falls in the water
• The kingdom of Christ is a constant happening
• We are still calling today
• The preaching of Christ is God’s blessing for all people—as preaching of Law and Gospel
• The whole of theology is therein summarized
• The preaching of repentance and forgiveness of sins addresses all people
• Reformation of mission practice
II. Practical Realization of Mission
• Congregational work with missionary orientation• Missionary forms of liturgy
• Catechetical instruction as preparation for missionary witness
• The singing of Christian songs as Gospel witness
• Hymns
• Mission prayers
• Your kingdom come
• Lord, convert
• The missionary witness toward the Jews
• Biblical teaching and Christian life must come together
• Common hearing of the witness of the Bible
• The missionary conversation must not demand too much of our Jewish partners
• Luther reports on his conversations with Jews
• The meaning of the Reformation for the Jewish mission
• Instructions on the Baptism of a Jewish maiden
• Conversion or banishment
• The missionary witness toward the Turks
• The missionary responsibility of the pastoral office
• How righteous Christians should confront the Turks
• It is chiefly a spiritual confrontation
• The Qur’an is to be tested by the witness to Christ
• Prisoners of war as missionaries
III. The History of Mission
• The mission stretches through all time from the beginning to the end of the world• From the beginning of the world, Christ has been preached and believed
• The different religions must be derived from the one true religion
• Only the preaching of Christ actually makes God known
• The movement of the Gospel through the world before the coming of the end
• The end of the preaching of the Gospel is near
• The church of God must resist the church of Satan
• Mission and reformation are very closely connected. This is already demonstrated by the biblical example of Egypt.
• The church always lives in severe tribulation
• The last confrontation between church and antichurch
• The worldwide gathering of the people of God
• How Christianity spread through the world
• The gathering of a people of God from all peoples
• Now there are still many islands and lands that have been newly discovered
• God fulfills his promise in the history of mission
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