Article: Lutheran Ecclesiology - Jonathan Mumme

Jonathan Mumme's article in the St Andrew's Encyclopedia of Theology is Lutheran Ecclesiology.  

The article covers

Introduction

Late medieval ecclesiological thought

The ecclesiology of the reformers and the confessions

            General characteristics

            Symbolical expression (the Lutheran Confessions)

            Productive theological pairings

                    Invisible and visible

                    Faith and the means of grace

                    Church and marks of the church

                    Ministry (Amt) and congregation (Gemeinde)

                    Internality and externality as ecclesiological diagnostic

Historical unfolding

                   Orthodoxy and Enlightenment

                   The long nineteenth century

                   Recent and contemporary

                   Polities and particular ecclesial trajectories

                          Germany

                          Nordic countries

                          America

                          Amalgamations

                  Lutheran approaches to general ecclesiological concerns

                          Israel and eschatology

                          The church and the state

Current state of play

                 Federations, communions, and associations

                 Ecumenism and post-ecumenism

                 Directions toward the future

Lutheran Ecclesiology by Jonathan Mumme is available at St Andrews Encyclopedia of Theology 

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      

Podcast: Pastor Mike drop

 A straight-from-the-heart weekly conversation with Pastor Mike Householder and the team of Community Church of Hope - West Des Moines about faith, life, and the places where Christ and culture intersect.

Many of the podcasts dive deeper into the biblical texts that Community Church of Hope are exploring in their worship services, from a their relevance for today perspective (just like their sermons)

In Series 1 they explored Faith and Daily life

In Series 5 they explored frequently asked questions about the Christian faith

You can listen to Pastor Mike drop at https://www.youtube.com/@PastorMikeDrop

Video Series: Presence

 'Presence' is a new film series introducing what Lutherans believe. The video below provides an introduction/overview to the series, so start with that one. The films are intended to be conversation starters. 

Watch an Introduction to Presence

The 

Presence Series is available - at https://www.lca.org.au/about-us/lutherans-worldwide/what-lutherans-believe/what-lutherans-believe-video-series/

Book: Lutheran Toolkit

 Lutheran Toolkit

The "Lutheran" in the title doesn't mean The Lutheran Toolkit is just for Lutherans. It's about a Lutheran witness for the whole church and for all sinners with ears to hear. It's a slender book about the big theological ideas the evangelical reformers of the 16th century used as a lens for understanding God's work in Christ.

Starting with Philip Melanchthon's 1530 Augsburg Confession, which was drafted to defend the preaching and teaching of Luther and his colleagues, Ken Sundet Jones sees its primary themes as a set of tools that God uses to build faith in us. He takes the reader beyond scholarly analysis and historical explanations and uses his own experience as a college professor, parish pastor, and sinner looking for mercy, to discover God's handiwork in our lives.

Each chapter takes as its starting point one of the foundational ideas presented to the Holy Roman Emperor and representatives of the church, including Sin, God hidden and revealed, justification, ministry, the Christian life, the church, sacraments, and vocation. These are not simply theological categories for scholars to debate or historians to recount. They're the lived experience of the faithful from the first believers, to big thinkers like Augustine and Luther, to people in the pews, at the supper table, in their careers, and at their deathbeds throughout the ages.

The tools in this kit continually point to Jesus as the one who promises mercy and abundant life - and who has the power to deliver them. This is a word for those who've not yet heard it and for those who desperately need to hear it again.

Book: On Justification through Faith - Theological Commonplaces

Originally published in 1613, On Justification through Faith presents Johann Gerhard’s classic voice on this crucial doctrine. While his theology is, in many respects, nothing new beyond what other Lutherans such as Martin Chemnitz said before him, his perspective is distinctively helpful to modern readers, especially in his dealing of topics not dealt with by previous theologians.

Gerhard’s basic position is that justification is a judicial term, and thus the appropriation of God’s grace through faith alone (justification) is not the transfer of divinity—of the essence of the God-man—or of any qualities (created or divine) from God to the believer, but instead it is a change of status before God. For Gerhard, justification is unthinkable without the real person of Christ being apprehended through faith.

Table of Contents
Commonplace XIX: On Justification through Faith
Chapter I: On the efficient cause of justification
Chapter II: The meritorious cause of justification
Chapter III: On the instrumental cause of justification
       Section I: On justifying faith and its parts. 
       Section II: On the various divisions of faith.
       Section III: The principal efficient cause of faith is the Holy Spirit, 
       Section V: The effect of faith, which is justification.
       Section VI: On the properties of justifying faith, that is, Whether they can be separated from love and the other virtues.
Chapter IV: On the formal cause of justification. 
Chapter V: On the final cause of justification. 
Chapter VI: On the use of the doctrine of justification and on its definition.

LWF - Online Theological Course - Exploring Lutheran Theology

This course was originally aimed at undergraduate students, pastors and church workers who are interested in reflecting on different aspects of Lutheran theology. It is divided into eight week-long modules that included video lectures, compulsory readings and online and video tutorials.
The course is now available online to everyone.

The course covers:
Module 1:   What is Lutheran Theology  by Rev Dr Chad Rimmer
LWF Study secretary for Lutheran Theology and Practice

Module 2:  Luther, Lutheranism and Justification  by Dr Pekka Kärkkäinen
University Lecturer of Ecumenics, University of Helsinki, Finland

Module 3:   Transformative Readings of Scripture  by Rev Dr Kenneth Mtata
General Secretary of Zimbabwe Council of Churches, Zimbabwe

Module 4: Feminist Reading of Scriptures. Bible study Is. 55  by Rev Dr Mercedes Garcia Bachman
Lutheran Church of Theology in Chicago, US/Argentina

Module 5:  Creation   by Dr Eneida Jacobsen
Lecturer, Villanova University, US/Brazil

Module 6:  Ecclesiology. Church and churches  by Prof. Dr Jennifer Wasmuth
Institute for Ecumenical Research, Strasbourg, France/Germany

Module 7:  Two Kingdoms and Two Regiments by Dr Guillermo Hansen
Associate Professor, Luther Seminary, US/Argentina

Module 8;  Faith and Serving your neighbor. Diakonia  by Prof. Dr Sylvester Kahakwa
Tumaini University Makumira, Tanzania

Module 9:  Lutheran Theology and Inter-religious Relations  by Rev. Dr Andar Parlindungan
Executive Secretary for Training and Empowerment, United Evangelical Mission, Germany/Indonesia


To access this course and download the course visit:   https://www.lutheranworld.org/content/resource-online-theology-course

Book: The State of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

In The State of the ELCA, J. Russell Crabtree examines of the perspectives, experiences, and aspirations of a large cross section of members in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. In his reflection on the responses of nearly 60,000 members to a variety of questions, he addresses a number of topics including:
• How does the experience of Lutherans compare with other mainline denominations? 
• Which groups feel most positive and which groups feel less positive about their experience in the Lutheran church? 
• What are some of the factors that make the difference between Lutheran churches that are experiencing vitality and those that are struggling? 
• How are Lutherans experiencing life in their congregations over their lifecycle ranging from the teenage years through child bearing, child rearing, empty nest, and retirement?
• As they think about the future, what are the aspirations of Lutherans for their churches and how do these vary from Boomlets up through Boomers and the GI Generation? 
• What are the motivating factors for giving among Lutherans and how do these differ from one congregation to another? 
Get ready for a few surprises as you read the answers to these questions, but also discover Lutheran perspectives on Scripture, spiritual practices, pastoral transitions, and Synods. 

The State of the ELCA ends on a positive note by summarizing interviews with the pastors of four transformational Lutheran churches, one large, one small, one more conservative, and one more progressive. 

What others think
Once again, Russell Crabtree has challenged us with a call to base our planning and practice on evidence rather than pre-conceptions or anecdotal biases. This book is a must-read for congregational leaders, synod staffs, and synod councils. For those who have ears to hear it will guide us into more effective and faithful leadership." BISHOP WAYNE N. MILLER, METROPOLITAN CHICAGO SYNOD

Book: The Honeycomb Scroll: Philipp Melanchthon at the Dawn of the Reformation

Long overshadowed by Luther and Calvin, Philipp Melanchthon (1497–1560) is one of the most important figures in the Protestant Reformation and had profound effect on Western church history. This book gives the most detailed English-language biographical treatment of Melanchthon to date, moving from his historical context and personal origins, through his childhood, education, and early career at Wittenberg during the dramatic events at the dawn of the Reformation (1497–1524).

Establishing the deep geopolitical and religious context of Melanchthon's early life, the volume then follows Melanchthon to the great halls of humanist learning at Heidelberg and Tubingen, where his studies and teaching career began and his faith was richly fostered. The pivotal moment comes in his appointment to the chair of Greek in Wittenberg where Melanchthon became a great ally and supporter of Martin Luther. Melanchthon's role as key player in the advocacy for reform expanded through his involvement in the Leipzig Disputation, his visible representation of the evangelical cause in Wittenberg during Luther's absence at Worms and the Wartburg, and his struggle with the radical wing. The volume closes by looking ahead to Melanchthon's contribution to the Augsburg Confession of 1530.

Contents
Wars and Rumors of Wars 
The Armorer  1459–1493
A Bride from Bretten  1493–1508
The Passing of the Age  1493–1508
A Time to Mourn  1493–1508
Pforzheim 1508–1509
Heidelberg  1509–1512
Tübingen  1512–1518
Wittenberg  1518–1519
All In. The Wittenberg Movement  1519–1520
Wedding Bells and Papal Bulls  1520–1521
Taking a Stand  1521
Bounding the Fire  1521–1522
Old Testament Dreams 1522
Homecoming 1522–1524

Magazine: EKD The magazine for the anniversary of the Reformation in 2017

The Evangelical Church in Germany has produced a magazine for the anniversary of the Reformation in 2017.
The magazine is available at http://www.gott-neu-vertrauen.de/sites/default/files/downloads/FINAL%20-neu-%20Reformation2017_English.pdf

Articles inside the magazine include:

EXPERIENCING GOD IN NEW WAYS
“THE TIMES ARE OUT OF JOINT”
The Crisis of Culture and the Recollection of the Reformation
INDIVIDUALISATION O R SECULARISATION? PLURALISATI N!
Church in the Context of the Present Times
THE EXPERIENCE OF GOD
God as Mystery behind Creation
EXPERIENCING GOD IN NEW WAYS
A Practical Instruction Guide for Encounters with God
THE MYSTICAL EXPERIENCE OF GOD IN MEISTER ECKHART’S WRITINGS
The Birth of God in the “Fortress” of the Soul
MY REFOR M ATION
INSPIR ATION FOR A SERMON Psalm 78:3–4

THINKING GOD IN NEW WAYS
A MYSTERY WHICH GROWS EVER MORE INTENSE
HOW HUM ANKIND EXPERIENCES GOD
Schleiermacher’s Response to Ideas about God Which Were Prevalent in the Enlightenment
THE PROVOCATION THAT WAS KARL BARTH’S
The Starting Point of Thinking about God
GOD IS KNOWN IN OUR LOVE FOR OUR NEIGHBOURS
Only Our Hearts Can Know God
THINKING. GOD. I N NEW WAYS:
The Academic Way
AS FAR AS I AM CONCERNED, IT IS ENOUGH
Summer School: In Dialogue with Science, Church and Society
THE REFORMATION AS A CITIZEN OF THE WORLD
The Appeal of the Reformation in Predominantly Non-Christian Societies
INTER JECTION BY MARTIN LUTHER
INSPIR ATION FOR A SERMON Romans 11:33

PETITIONING GOD IN NEW WAYS
HEALING OF MEMORIES
Successfully Dealing with Distressing Memories
WHAT AND HOW WE WILL CELEBRATE IN 2017
2017 AS A FESTIVAL OF CHRIST
Praying Together for Unity With Greater Regularity
HEALING OF MEMORIES
The Evangelical Free Churches in Germany
M ARTIN LUTHER AND THE JEWS
A Necessary Reminder on the Occasion of the Reformation Anniversary
EKD DECLARATION
FREEDOM TO SIN
At Once Righteous and a Sinner
NEITHER CHURCH NOR HERETIC
Gottfried Arnold’s “Nonpartisan History of the Church and of Heretics”
INTER JECTION BY PHILIP MELANCHTHON
MY REFOR M ATION
INSPIR ATION FOR A SERMON Psalm 51:3

SPEAKING ABOUT GOD IN NEW WAYS
JESUS RECOUNTS PARABLES
People Feel God Entering Their Lives
GODPARENTS OF A EUROPE OF SOLIDARIT Y
The European Roadmap Links Together 68 Cities
THE RECIPE OF A GOOD STORY
To Enjoy Telling Stories
BEHOLD, I A M M AKING ALL THINGS NEW!
Meditation on Revelation 21:5
REFORMATION TODAY –
WHERE GROUNDBREAKING IDEAS ARE FORMED
“I DO NOT BELIEVE IN GOD – BUT I MISS HIM”
Contemporary Literature Longs for a God
MY REFOR M ATION
INSPIRATION FOR A SERMON
Psalm 145:6

CELEBRATING GOD IN NEW WAYS
WHY DO WE CELEBRATE?
In a Field of Tension between Anarchy, Order and Compulsion
CELEBR ATING THE FESTIVAL OF FAITH TOGETHER
CROSS-ROADS IN LIFE
In Occasional Services, We Share Our Most Significant Life Events
PROTESTANT AND HUMOROUS
Faith and Humour are not Opposites
INTER JECTION BY MARTIN LUTHER
MY REFOR M ATION
INSPIRATION FOR A SERMON
Luke 14:17

DISCOVERING GOD IN NEW WAYS
GATES OF FREEDOM – WORLD EXHIBITION REFORMATION
GATES INTO THE WORLD
Important Questions about our Present Times Are Addressed in the Seven Gates of Wittenberg
YOUNG, PROTESTANT, INTERNATIONAL
FROM THE RIGHTS ESTABLISHED IN CONSEQUENCE OF THE REFORMATION TO THE
MODEL OF THE FUTURE
The Liberal Constitutional Law Concerning Religion in Germany
LUTH E R, PAUL , GOD –
Discovering the Discoverers in New Ways
”IT WOULD NOT BE HELPFUL IF WE COULD SEE GOD”
Theologising with Children
MY REFOR M ATION
INSPIRATION FOR A SERMON 2 Corinthians 3:18

 TRUSTING GOD IN NEW WAYS
TRUST AS A FOUNDATION OF CHRISTIAN RESPONSIBILITY
Trusting God means taking on Responsibility for Creation and for our Fellows
EVERY-DAY-LIFE AS WORSHIP
The Reformation Discovery of the “World” as a Location in which Faith can Prove itself
CHURCH AND MONEY – A CONTRADICTION IN TERMS?
Social Responsibility and Financial Investment in Line with Ethical Principles
LEAVING THE CHURCH IN THE CENTRE OF THE VILLAGE
Speaking about the World and about God always means speaking also about Jesus Christ
INTER JECTION BY JOHN CALVIN
MY REFORMATION
INSPIRATION FOR A SERMON  Psalm 125:1

REFORM CENTRES
HELPING TO BIRTH CHANGE
The EKD-Centre Mission in the Region
QUALITY IN WORSHIP SERVICES
The EKD-Centre for Quality Development in Worship Services
NEW WAYS TO PREACH
Wittenberg Institute of Preaching and Homiletics
A PLACE FOR ORIENTATION AND A SPACE FOR DEVELOPMENT
The EKD-Centre for Leadership and Management

OUTLOOK
2017 AND BEYOND
Broadening the Outlook to Include the European Dimension of the Reformation
THE TIME HAS COME TO PROCLAIM OUR THESES
Theses which could Influence the World in New Ways

Book: New Life New Love by Noel Due

New Life New Love will enable you to encounter the God who offers new life to all people. 
You will appreciate who you are as you discover who God is. 
The significance of the Bible for your life will become apparent. 
New possibilities will emerge for greater peace of mind and well-being.
It will draw you deeper into an understanding of God’s forgiveness and love. 
Life affirming relationships with God and others will be experienced.
New Life New Love will enable you to encounter the God who offers new life to all people

New Life New Love is two books in one, with 16 chapters altogether. 

Highly recommended for one-on-one or small group dialogue, each chapter is summarised in a brief video interview with the author, Dr Noel Due.

 

What others are saying...

Are you curious about Christianity? Are you interested in finding out about what Christians believe? Then New Life New Love is the book for you. Noel Due has managed to achieve what many attempt to do and fail. He has distilled into two texts a great snapshot of what it means to be a Christian. And the book (well it’s actually two books for the price of one!) presents the key themes and ideas of the Christian faith in a logical and engaging manner. What a joy it is to read that ‘You are more wonderful than you realise’ in chapter one, and what a challenge it is to come to grips with ‘You are more dangerous than you imagine’ in chapter two. Grab the book and grab a Christian who can support you through the book.   The journey will bring new life and new love.  Dr Tania Nelson Executive Officer Local Mission, Lutheran Church of Australia

‘New Life, New Love’ is an excellent, biblically based discussion resource which explores God’s invitation to individuals to participate in new life and new love in Christ as the Holy Spirit creates faith and helps that faith to grow. ‘New Life, New Love’ leads the reader deeply into the biblical texts in language, metaphors and imagery which speak simply and clearly to our current generation. The book anticipates important questions which may be asked by participants and then addresses them directly in clarifying metaphors and examples. It also provides space for reflecting personally on the text, sharing in discussion and then, most importantly, praying together. Valuable footnotes explain some of the information which may be unfamiliar to readers. Interesting and very helpful insights from the writings of Martin Luther are also included. In all of this, the emphasis is on the action of God in the life of faith and love of the participant.  ‘New Life, New Love’ is also an excellent resource for those who may have drifted away from their relationship with God, or for practicing Christians who may gain important new insights into what the Bible says about a life of faith in Christ as they are led by the Spirit. Rev Dr Malcolm Bartsch Emeritus lecturer and former Head of the School of Educational Theology, Lutheran Church of Australia.

When an esteemed biblical scholar and teacher like the Rev. Dr Noel Due decides to write a biblical study on the invitation and implications of the Gospel for unchurched or dechurched people living in the 21st Century, what you get is his new two part book New Life and New Love.  This one snuck up on me. It leads you to the edge of a vast ocean and tempts you to do more that pick up shells on the shore. On my first reading of it I experienced that most rare of emotions these days - fresh hope - as I was immersed by the author in a new sense of self-discovery through seeing who God really is. Then as I reflected upon it with others, I started to realise its incredible implications; the adventure and possibilities that only a new life in God can bring. Highly recommended for one-on-one or small group study. Dean Eaton Mission Facilitator and Church Planting Mentor, Lutheran Church of Australia, author of Sent Seeking the Orphans of God.

Free pdf copies are available at https://www.lca.org.au/services-resources-training/study-guides/new-life-new-love/

Wittenberg confessions: Testimonies of converts to confessional Lutheranism

The institutional church is drifting further and further from the historic liturgy and the proclamation of the pure Gospel. It is devolving into a pop culture version of the faith and emphasizes "feel good" worship over the historic liturgy and tolerance over the the truth of the pure Gospel. But all is not lost. Internet blogs like the Brothers of John the Steadfast and radio programs like Issues, Etc. and Pirate Christian Radio are being used by God to raise up a new generation of committed believers.

Wittenberg Confessions presents the testimony of eight of these new converts to Confessional Lutheranism. Reading these testimonials of what God has done in these lives will give you hope that Christ continues to build His Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church, despite man's foibles and propensity to create programs which lack neither hope nor give growth to Christ's Holy Body on Earth.

The editor, Jim Pierce, is a layman from Seattle, Washington. He wrote the introduction and conclusion for Wittenberg Confessions and also organized the other essayists and edited their work. He leads off the collection of essays with his own odyssey of faith. He voyaged away from Pentecostalism into atheism and is now at peace as a Confessional Lutheran attending Messiah Lutheran Church in a north Seattle neighborhood.

Book: One in the Gospel 2016 edition

One in the Gospel - the Formula of Concord for our day is more than a commentary about the Formula of Concord, it explores how the Formula of Concord speaks to some of today's basic questions that we face throughout our life, including:

• What are we here for? 
• Where are we heading? 
• Is there a God who cares?
• What is expected of me?

This is a newly revised and updated edition of a book that first appeared in 1979 under the same title. The first edition, which gained a large readership, was particularly appreciated by lay people and was widely studied in church groups. The book helped many readers understand - sometimes for the first time in their life - what the gospel, the central message of the Christian faith, really is.

To order your copy go to Australian Church Resources

Contents include:

• Discovering our identity
• Dialogue with the Gospel
• We are beggars - Is it true?
• How do I find faith?
• No strings attached!!
• Fruits on a Good tree
• Sinners and Saints
• For Christ's sake, yes!!
• Jesus only
• Blueprint for action
• Louder than words
• And there's no other God
• Happy ending?
• Free -  to serve the Gospel
• Chosen!!
• Is God choosy?
• Our Lutheran identity

ebook: The Bible in the Life of the Lutheran Communion - a study document on Lutheran Hermeneutics

 The Bible in the Life of the Lutheran Communion. A Study Document on Lutheran Hermeneutics
The commemoration of the 500th anniversary of the Reformation in 2017 provides the opportunity to highlight the special significance of the Bible for the vitality of the Church and the life of every Christian. This study document emphasizes that the heart of the Bible is its salvific message. The gospel is “the power of God for salvation” (Rom 1:16). The whole Bible is to be interpreted in light of the message that brings life.
Today, the Bible is read in hugely diverse cultural, political, economic and religious contexts. Therefore the document engages with the question how Lutheran churches in such varied contexts can reach a shared and mutual understanding regarding their reading and interpretation of biblical texts. The study text emphasizes the importance of theological education in order to prepare pastors, teachers and leaders effectively to interpret Scripture.

Contents
The Lutheran churches’ focus on the Bible and its interpretation
2. What does sola scriptura mean?
Reading the Bible in light of the Lutheran Reformation
2.1. Luther’s understanding and exegesis of the Bible
2.2 Sola scriptura and the tradition of the Church
2.3 The paradox of understanding: revelation and interpretation

3. Challenges of interpreting the Bible today 
3.1. Contextual interpretation of the Bible amidst the plurality of cultures 
3.2 Ongoing translation 
3.3. Historical-critical reading of the Word of God
3.4. The Bible as a book communicating experiences with the living God 
3.5. The Church as a “space of resonance” of the Bible 
3.6. The tension between the common and the particular 
3.7. Methodological considerations: various hermeneutical spirals

4. Opportunities for reading and understanding the Bible in the twenty-first century 
4.1. Common ground
4.2. Plurality of meaning
4.3. Global dialogues
4.4. Lutheran branding

The Bible in the life of the Lutheran Communion is available free here

Article: Martin Luther in Global Pentecostalism by Sarah Hinlicky Wilson

Global Pentecostalism encompasses three distinct waves or movements: 

• the Classical Pentecostal denominations inspired by the Azusa Street revival in the early 20th century; 
• the Charismatic renewal in historic mainline churches starting in the 1950s; 
• and independent Neocharismatic congregations and networks that began to multiply dramatically starting in the 1980s. 

Early Classical Pentecostals tended to have a positive attitude toward Luther as the beginning of the “restoration” of the lost doctrine and practice of the apostolic church, but only Jonathan Paul and his Mühlheimer Verband in Germany engaged in any meaningful way with Lutheran theology.   Faced with fierce opposition within their denominations, Lutheran Charismatics such as Theodore R. Jungkuntz saw a need to correlate their spiritual distinctives with the Lutheran Confessions, which reached its most detailed expression in Welcome, Holy Spirit, edited by Larry Christenson.   The Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus in Ethiopia responded most positively to Charismatic renewal of all Lutheran churches in the world with its 1976 statement, “The Work of the Holy Spirit.”   While contemporary Classical Pentecostal theologians have only begun to engage with Luther, notable examples include Frank D. Macchia, Veli-Matti Kärkkäinen, and David J. Courey, who deal primarily with the doctrine of justification and the theology of the cross. The encounter of Lutheran theology with Pentecostalism suggests that both sides need to develop more comprehensive accounts of Christian experience and its role in doctrine, piety, and church life.

read the article here

Book: A guide to Pentecostal movements for Lutherans

In just over a century, Pentecostalism has rocketed from its humble beginnings in an interracial congregation on Azusa Street in Los Angeles to a global movement counting more than six hundred million members. Confronted with the bewildering array of Pentecostal, Charismatic, and Neocharismatic beliefs and practices, Lutherans are often at a loss as to how to think about Pentecostals, much less how to engage them in positive ways that build up the whole body of Christ. In this guide, Lutherans will find tools for just such an engagement. Building on a foundation of Pentecostalism's history and varieties, Wilson undertakes an in-depth survey of biblical teaching on baptism, the Holy Spirit, and spiritual gifts. 
The guide then brings innovative new lenses to bear on the questions at stake: 

• the use of church history in defending denominational borders, 
• right and wrong approaches to prosperity, 
• the power of the Spirit 
• and corruptions of power, and the role of experience in theological discernment. 

Written in a style accessible to laity and clergy alike, this guide will strengthen Lutherans' appreciation of their own tradition while enabling them to encounter Pentecostals as fellow believers in the salvation given by the triune God.

What others are saying about the book
"Sarah Hinlicky Wilson guides her reader to understand the Pentecostal movement particularly in relation to the Lutheran tradition. This she does with the special care of a trained Lutheran theologian, and with the warm understanding of someone who has learned to appreciate the Pentecostal tradition through various ecumenical encounters and discussions. The result is a guide not only to the two Christian traditions, but a call to a journey for deeper understanding of the other."
Kaisamari Hintikka, Assistant General Secretary for Ecumenical Relations and Director for the Department for Theology and Public Witness, Lutheran World Federation

"Sarah Hinlicky Wilson has written a very welcome addition to the growing body of ecumenical literature concerning Pentecostals. A Guide to Pentecostal Movements for Lutherans is highly readable, sympathetic, and honest. Wilson has engaged in theological dialogue with Classical Pentecostals, done her homework in the relevant Biblical, theological, and historical fields, and delivered an honest and compelling volume that provides answers to serious questions and stereotypes that have often kept Pentecostals and Lutherans from taking one another seriously."

Cecil M. Robeck, Jr., Professor of Church History and Ecumenics, Director of the David du Plessis Center for Christian Spirituality, Fuller Theological Seminary

About the author
The author Sarah Hinlicky Wilson is an ordained Lutheran pastor, an Adjunct Professor of the Institute for Ecumenical Research in Strasbourg, France, and the editor of Lutheran Forum. She is the author of Woman, Women, and the Priesthood in the Trinitarian Theology of Elisabeth Behr-Sigel (2013) and of more than one hundred articles on theology in both popular and scholarly venues.

You can buy A guide to Pentecostal movements for Lutherans here

Book: Dictionary of Luther and Lutheran traditions

In the five hundred years since the publication of Martin Luther's Ninety-Five Theses, a rich set of traditions have grown up around that action and the subsequent events of the Reformation. This up-to-date dictionary by leading theologians and church historians covers Luther's life and thought, key figures of his time, and the various traditions he continues to influence.

Prominent scholars of the history of Lutheran traditions have brought together experts in church history representing a variety of Christian perspectives to offer a major, cutting-edge reference work. Containing nearly six hundred articles, this dictionary provides a comprehensive overview of Luther's life and work and the traditions emanating from the Wittenberg Reformation. It traces the history, theology, and practices of the global Lutheran movement, covering significant figures, events, theological writings and ideas, denominational subgroups, and congregational practices that have constituted the Lutheran tradition from the Reformation to the present day.

available from here

Book: Together by Grace: Introducing the Lutherans (Together by Grace)

Courageous. Trailblazing. Diverse. Action-oriented. When people think of the various Christian churches, those words might not be ones they attach to the Lutherans—but they should be! Yes, they have roots in northern Europe, but the people called Lutherans offer liberating insights into Christian faith, encompass a worldwide reach, and tell a story that goes back 500 years while pointing to the future.

This volume takes us on a journey across this broad landscape of faith and time. Over two dozen gifted writers—scholars, pastors, leaders, activists—paint a colorful map for this journey. Newcomers will find intriguing entry points, and lifelong Lutherans will discover new dimensions. Whether it's a passion for a grace-filled theology, worship and music that lift spirits, or a deep concern for wholeness and justice, Lutherans are engaged in the world, alongside other Christians and those of various faiths.

Sections include:

• The Faith we confess
• 16th Century to today
• Worship and arts
• Faith active in love
• Being Lutheran in the wider world
• Global Lutheran stories

A free study guide is available here

Lutheran Synod Digital Publishing

Lutheran Synod Digital Publishing (LSDP) is a website dedicated to developing and publishing digital resources for Lutheran congregations.  The name “Lutheran Synod” shows that our resources can be used in various synods, but “the Lutheran Synod” also is an homage to the “nickname” of the Evangelical Lutheran Synod in the early years.  This site is affiliated with the ELS and the majority of the liturgical resources on this site are based on the historic lectionary of the ELS.

Currently they offer:
Church Year icon/symbol collections
Church Web site design
Video production
Logo design

English Lutheran Hymnal timeline

Visit https://lutheransynodpublishing.com  for more information

Resources: Luther House of Study

Luther House of Study is not a building or place, it is a mission. We work to strengthen Lutheran leadership and ministries for the proclamation of the Gospel.
Anchored in the Lutheran faith and grounded in the foundation of Lutheran education, Luther House of Study serves future ministry professionals, current ministry professionals, and congregations.
Luther House of Study offers, at no cost, online curriculum and videos for learning about the Lutheran faith and its foundation. Individuals may utilize these resources in self study while congregations or ministry professionals may find them beneficial for larger groups.

Videos and study guides are available for:

• APOSTLES CREED
• BAPTISM
• CATECHISM
• COMMANDMENTS
• GALATIANS 
• LORDS PRAYER
• REFORMATION
• WHY I AM A LUTHERAN 

Their reformation video

Visit www.lutherhouseofstudy.org to discover more