Celebrating the Gospel of Jesus - Augsburg Confession

An early copy of the Augsburg Confession is currently listed for sale at 45,000 Euros (about AUD $73,730). According to the seller, its value comes from its provenance—originally owned by Lazarus Spengler, a close friend and supporter of Luther—its age (printed in 1530), and the fact that it is an authorised early edition (the fourth edition).

Yet the true value of the Augsburg Confession is not found in its price tag, its rarity, or its historical owners. Its real worth lies in what it proclaims: a clear witness that being a Christian is entirely the result of the saving work of Jesus, and that the Church exists to live from and share this Gospel. That is why many Lutheran churches set aside 25 June each year to commemorate the presentation of the Augsburg Confession.

On 25 June 1530, the Lutheran reformers publicly presented the Confession in Augsburg to clarify what it means to be a Biblical, Gospel centred church and Christian. It addresses:

•       Who God is (Articles 1–3)
• How God communicates His saving love (Articles 4–6)
• What is essential for Gospel ministry (Article 5)
• How faith and good works relate (Articles 6, 18–20)
• How the Church lives in unity and diversity (Articles 7–15)
• How Christians live in the secular world (Article 16)
• Christ’s return (Article 17)
• The biblical understanding of saints (Article 21)
• Practical issues that needed/needing attention (Articles 22–28)

The purpose of these articles was never to create more rules about God or the Christian life. Instead, they were written to help the Church see more clearly—through Scripture—that Christian faith is about what God is doing for us and through us in Christ.

As Paul writes in Romans 1:16:

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.”

So, commemorate the presentation of the Augsburg Confession, by focussing on Jesus and God’s saving Gospel, because this is why those who compiled and presented the Augsburg Confession 

Bishop Richard Schwedes     June 2026      

2026 June Lutheran Fellowship Gatherings Weekly resource

 

June weekly resources

Click on the weekly links below to access the weekly resources

June week 1: Pentecost 2 - Proper 5 Matthew 9:9-26 

June  week 2: Pentecost 3- Proper 6 Matthew 9:35-10:33

June week 3: Pentecost 4- Proper 7 Matthew 10:34-39 

June week 4:  Pentecost 5 - Proper 8 Matthew 10:40-42 

 

The Lutheran Fellowship Gathering weekly resource is for small groups or small worshipping communities to help them connect with God and each other focussing on the Gospel reading of the Revised Common Lectionary  

I have made this resource available is to support people who wish to gather around God’s Word, focus on Jesus and to grow as part of God’s church.  

You may want to use it to help you start a small group in your church community, or to gather people in a community where a Lutheran church currently is not present.  

This resource is offered free of charge to non-commercial situations, on the understanding that you will not charge for copies or its use.   

This resource has been developed by Pastor Richard Schwedes, richardschwedes@gmail.com 

If you have feedback, suggestions or improvements feel free to email me

Missional Thoughts - Pentecost

Every year at Pentecost we have this great reminder of at least three things about the church (the community who follows Jesus).

1. The life of the church, its shape and its direction is dependent on God's Holy Spirit.   
2. The church is and will be consist of people of all nations who are dependent of God's Holy Sprit for who they are.
3. The main purpose of the church is to be a community witnessing to what God has done, God is doing and God will do through Jesus.

Take a moment to read and reflect on 

Acts 1:1-11

In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach  until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen.  After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God.  On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about.  For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” 

Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” 

He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority.  But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” 

After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. 

They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them.  “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.” 

Acts 2:1-12

When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place.  Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting.  They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues x as the Spirit enabled them. 

Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven.  When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. Utterly amazed, they asked: “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language?  Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!” Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?” 

Question to ponder:    How has and is God's Holy Spirit shaping your church community?

Prepared by Bishop Richard Schwedes LCA NSWACT and NZ for congregations and their members who are part of God's church to use and share, 

2026 May Lutheran Fellowship Gatherings weekly resource

May weekly resources

Click on the weekly links below to access the weekly resources

May week 1:  Easter 5 - John 14:1–14

May  week 2:  Easter 6- John 14:15–21

May week 3:  Easter 7 - John 17:1-11

May week 4:  Pentecost - John 20:19-23

May week 5: Holy Trinity - Matthew 28:16–20

 

The Lutheran Fellowship Gathering weekly resource is for small groups or small worshipping communities to help them connect with God and each other focussing on the Gospel reading of the Revised Common Lectionary  

I have made this resource available is to support people who wish to gather around God’s Word, focus on Jesus and to grow as part of God’s church.  

You may want to use it to help you start a small group in your church community, or to gather people in a community where a Lutheran church currently is not present.  

This resource is offered free of charge to non-commercial situations, on the understanding that you will not charge for copies or its use.   

This resource has been developed by Pastor Richard Schwedes, richardschwedes@gmail.com 

If you have feedback, suggestions or improvements feel free to email me

Small group or worship resource - Lutheran Fellowship Gatherings weekly resource

 

The Lutheran Fellowship Gathering weekly resource is for small groups or small worshipping communities to help them connect with God and each other focussing on the Gospel reading of the Revised Common Lectionary  

One of the reasons for making this resource available is to support people who wish to gather around God’s Word, focus on Jesus and to grow as part of God’s church.  

You may want to use it to help you start a small group in your church community, or to gather people in a community where a Lutheran church currently is not present.  

This resource is offered free of charge to non-commercial situations, on the understanding that you will not charge for copies or its use.   

This resource has been developed by Pastor Richard Schwedes, richardschwedes@gmail.com 

Click on the weekly links below to access the weekly resources

2026 

January weekly resources

January week 2:  Baptism of Jesus - Matthew 3:13-17

January week 3:  Epiphany 2 - John 1:29-42

January week 4:   Epiphany 3 - Matthew 4:12-23

February weekly resources

February week 1:  Epiphany 4 - Matthew 5:1-12

February week 2:  Epiphany 5 - Matthew 5:13-20

February week 3:  Transfiguration - Matthew 17:1-9

February week 4:  Lent 1 - Matthew 4:1-11

March weekly resources

March week 1:  Lent 2 - John 3:1-17

March week 2:  Lent 3 - John 4:5-42

March week 3:  Lent 4 - John 9:1-41

March week 4:  Lent 5 - John 11:1-45

March week 5:  Palm and Passion Sunday - Matthew 21:1-11, 26:14-27:66

April weekly resources

April week 1:  Easter Sunday - John 20:1-18

April  week 2:  Easter 2- John 20:19-31

April week 3:  Easter 3 - Luke 24:13-35

April week 4:  Easter 4 - John 10:1-10

May weekly resources

2026 May weeks 1 to 5 are available here 

June Weekly resources

2026 June weeks 1 to 4 are available here