Back from visit to LCMS

[NowIC]

Hi again-

Visited a Lutheran (LCMS) church this past Sunday. Being raised as a Roman Catholic, the service was very familiar. However, the emphasis on grace alone, faith alone, and the Bible alone is new - and very refreshing. Very traditional service, small congregation. With a great Pastor who welcomes my questions.

What reference would you all recommend - something for a newbie to start learning Lutheran doctrine?

Thanks.

 

[DaRev]

Luther's Small Catechism with Explanation. This is the basic text for beginning catechesis. Most likely the church you visited may have copies available for you, maybe even at no cost. Ask the pastor if he has one, even to borrow.

 

[ctay]

Here's a link to the small catechism
http://www.lcms.org/graphics/assets/media/LCMS/smallcatechism.pdf

THe Large catechism
http://www.lcms.org/pages/internal.asp?NavID=585

The Augsburg confession
http://www.lcms.org/graphics/assets/media/LCMS/augsburgconfession.pdf

 

[seajoy]

Hi again-

Visited a Lutheran (LCMS) church this past Sunday. Being raised as a Roman Catholic, the service was very familiar. However, the emphasis on grace alone, faith alone, and the Bible alone is new - and very refreshing. Very traditional service, small congregation. With a great Pastor who welcomes my questions.

What reference would you all recommend - something for a newbie to start learning Lutheran doctrine?

Thanks.

Good to hear that you were so warmly welcomed, and were refreshed in what you heard. Being a Lutheran Christian gives one a lot of peace.

 

[Lupinus]

When I met with the pastor he provided me with a copy of the small catechism with explanation and I have read through it. Excellent reading and provides you with a lot of information.

I also went ahead and got a Book of Concord, more great reading for a more in depth explanation. The Pastor was a bit surprised, it was my first meeting with a Pastor and I was already halfway finished with the Book of Concord, he couldn't recall seeing that.

But yeah, the Small Catechism with explanation I think sums things up very well.

 

[ctay]

I wish to extend a big welcome here, glad you like the church. Are you planning on going back?

 

[Radiata]

I think I should get in this conversation. But there is also one like it on the main forum called "Lots of questions". I'm starting study Luther and his works for the first time. I rented two books yesterday and spent about 3 hours reading and taking notes. But yea, that one is just about lutheranism in general. Maybe the discussion of LCMS should stay here. It's the type of church I go to. I would show you a picture, but I can't seem to find one. Here's something better though.
http://www.faithtroy.org/virtualtour/vtour.wc.htm
A virtual tour of our santuary. Tell me what you think.
And it's good to have you here as well.

 

[NowIC]

Thanks all for the info. about the small catechism. And I think I will go back. I am in Salt Lake City and the LCMS congregations here are very small. ECLA has a much larger presence. But I am discovering that growth is much better measured in terms of individual development and not in the quantity of attenders that go to a certain church. And I think my faith will be enhanced at an LCMS church as I am more conservative in my views. (With all due respect to those whose views differ from mine.)

 

[NowIC]

Oh, and Radiata - your church looks wonderful.

 

[Radiata]

Oh, and Radiata - your church looks wonderful.

Thanks. It seats 1,450 people and we have a congregation of 4,000 members. That that doesn't mean that all will show every week. But that also doesn't include all the nonmembers we have. My parents have been going to this church for 25 years, and they still just put frequent attender on the attendence card.