Guidance needed for reading/studying

[OhioMom66]

Hi all. I could use some guidance on where to start reading/studying Lutheran doctrine/confessions.

I have the Book of Concord bookmarked at bookofconcord.org (The forum will not allow me to post a link yet due to low post count).

Is this an accurate website? Any advice on where to start...yes, yes, start at the beginning I hear some of you saying, lol. It seems rather overwhelming. Are there any books/workbooks that would help me with studying and understanding the confessions?

Are there other books or documents I should read? I appreciate any advice you could offer.

Blessings, Beth

 

[alexnbethmom]

honestly, i would start with the BoC, and Luther's Small Catechism with Explanation....that would be the best place to start, and i know there will be a lot of other books recommended as well....

it's so exciting to see someone so excited about learning about the Confessions!!

 

[alexnbethmom]

here is a video by Pastor Fisk (he puts out i think 2 videos a week), talking about books that every Lutheran should read - this should also help a great deal.....

YouTube - ‪Texas Spaceman Bunny Marriage‬‏

 

[jonathan1971]

The shorter catechism is what I was started on when first approaching the ELS. I picked up a BoC on my own initiative. I find it easy to read but coming from calvinsim everything is easy to read.

I haven't actually bought one yet but I've read about 20pgs of is Lutheranism101. You can get a copy from Concordia Publishing House. Maybe someone else can give you a more informed review. I get the feeling that the book is specifically geared towards some like yourself getting back into lutheranism or an adult that is new to lutheranism.

Hope that helps

 

[Zecryphon]

Hi all. I could use some guidance on where to start reading/studying Lutheran doctrine/confessions.

I have the Book of Concord bookmarked at bookofconcord.org (The forum will not allow me to post a link yet due to low post count).

Is this an accurate website? Any advice on where to start...yes, yes, start at the beginning I hear some of you saying, lol. It seems rather overwhelming. Are there any books/workbooks that would help me with studying and understanding the confessions?

Are there other books or documents I should read? I appreciate any advice you could offer.

Blessings, Beth

Hi Beth and welcome to the forum! I don't know if the website you're talking about has the reading plan on it. I could email you the reading plan for each week if you'd like. I was going to start reading the BoC all the way through today. I know the first reading is the three Ecumenical creeds: the Apostles Creed, the Nicene Creed and the Athanasian Creed. The last one is the longest of the three.

I don't know if there is a study guide for this book. But one of the great things about the website you're talking about is that when you read the Augsburg Confession, at the bottom of each article there are some links. One of the links takes you to what is known as the Confutation or the Roman Confutation. This was Rome's response to the Augsburg Confession and why it was "wrong." A lot of people have wanted to read that document and now they can. There is also a link to the Defense of the Augsburg Confession included there, so you can read the Lutheran response to Rome's objections.

I have the Reader's Edition at home. As for any other documents to read. You should probably read the 95 Theses, which were Luther's points of debate about various abuses in the Catholic Church at that time. The debate never took place as far as I know. The other book you should really read is Bondage of the Will.

 

[DaRev]

Hi all. I could use some guidance on where to start reading/studying Lutheran doctrine/confessions.

I have the Book of Concord bookmarked at bookofconcord.org (The forum will not allow me to post a link yet due to low post count).

Is this an accurate website? Any advice on where to start...yes, yes, start at the beginning I hear some of you saying, lol. It seems rather overwhelming. Are there any books/workbooks that would help me with studying and understanding the confessions?

Are there other books or documents I should read? I appreciate any advice you could offer.

Blessings, Beth

Start with this:

ESV Luther's Small Catechism with Explanation - 1991 Edition

I truly believe every Christian household should have a copy of this right next to their Bible.

 

[Tangible]

Along with your Bible, your Small Catechism, and the BoC, I always recommend Gene Veith's book, The Spirituality of the Cross. It was instrumental in my own journey from Baptist to Lutheran Christianity.

I especially appreciate his chapters on the sacraments and the doctrine of vocation. He has another book specifically on Vocation that is also very good.

Another good source of books is CPH, the LCMS publishing house. They've recently started publishing a series of excellent books on basic Lutheranism:

Lutheranism 101 - http://www.cph.org/p-17404-lutheranism-101.aspx

Lutheran Spirituality - http://www.cph.org/p-18227-lutheran-spirituality.aspx

The Lutheran Difference - http://www.cph.org/p-18153-the-lutheran-difference.aspx
(Make sure you see the video on this page. )

 

[Luther073082]

Works that I think are important to read for a Lutheran.

Luther's Small Catechism
Augsburg Confession
Luther's large catechism
Freedom of a Christian

If you are interested in purchasing a Book of Concord I was actually surprised that it doesn't really cost that much.

I personally have this version I bought it "used" but when I received it, it looked brand new like it had never been opened.

Amazon.com: The Book of Concord: The Confessions of the Evangelical Lutheran Church (9780800627409): Robert Kolb, Wengert, James Schaffer: Books

However I think many would recommend this version because of the commentary.

Concordia: The Lutheran Confessions-A Readers Edition of the Book of Concord - 2nd edition

 

[OhioMom66]

You all are awesome!! I don't have time right now to respond to all of your suggestions, but I wanted you to know I had read them. Thank you so much!!

Blessings, Beth

 

[CaliforniaJosiah]

.


I'd begin with Luther's Small Catechism (it's actually a "sticky" right here at our Lutheran Forum of CF).

For a book, I'd recommend "The Spirituality of the Cross" by Gene Edward Veith, Jr (Concordia Publishing House, 1999) I don't think it's available electronically yet, but the book runs about $15.00. It's written by a lay person, and while the topic really isn't Luther Doctrine per se, I found it to be an EXCELLENT "primer" for such. It's a fairly easy read, too, and pretty short.






.

 

[Tangible]

It's available in Kindle format.

 

[OhioMom66]

Hi Beth and welcome to the forum! I don't know if the website you're talking about has the reading plan on it. I could email you the reading plan for each week if you'd like. I was going to start reading the BoC all the way through today. I know the first reading is the three Ecumenical creeds: the Apostles Creed, the Nicene Creed and the Athanasian Creed. The last one is the longest of the three.

Hi Zecryphon! The bookofconcord.org website does have reading plans, but the site it sends you to, LCMSsermons.com, has it set up where you basically just jump in where they are at on the plan. You do not start at the begining. Where did you get your reading plan? It would be great if you could email it to me or send me a link.

Blessings, Beth

 

[OhioMom66]

Start with this:

ESV Luther's Small Catechism with Explanation - 1991 Edition

I truly believe every Christian household should have a copy of this right next to their Bible.

Thank you, DaRev...I had been looking on CPH and wasn't sure which one to select.

I am also purchasing a cd called Sing the Faith. It has the small catechism set to music. I had my daughter listen to the samples and she liked it.

Blessings, Beth

 

[OhioMom66]

Another good source of books is CPH, the LCMS publishing house. They've recently started publishing a series of excellent books on basic Lutheranism:

The Lutheran Difference -

This looks really good! My shopping cart on CPH is growing, lol!

Blessings, Beth

 

[alexnbethmom]

i don't know if this has been mentioned, but you might also try looking for "Why I Am A Lutheran" - and i concur with tang's recommendation about "Lutheranism 101" and "The Spirituality of the Cross"....

 

[OhioMom66]

i don't know if this has been mentioned, but you might also try looking for "Why I Am A Lutheran" - and i concur with tang's recommendation about "Lutheranism 101" and "The Spirituality of the Cross"....

You all are really good at spending my hubby's money, lol!! Just teasing, I really appreciate the recommendations! I will have more books in my CPH shopping cart for next month!

Blessings, Beth

 

[OhioMom66]

Oh, alexnbethmom, I just saw your ticker...are you getting married or?? in 13 days?

 

[alexnbethmom]

Oh, alexnbethmom, I just saw your ticker...are you getting married or?? in 13 days?

noooo.....not getting married in 13 days, lol.....my love will be here in 13 days...

 

[OhioMom66]

noooo.....not getting married in 13 days, lol.....my love will be here in 13 days...

Ahhh, well that is wonderful for you! That blushing icon is too adorable, lol. I hope the days go by swiftly for you both!

 

[alexnbethmom]

Ahhh, well that is wonderful for you! That blushing icon is too adorable, lol. I hope the days go by swiftly for you both!

thank you.....

my special guy is someone who has responded to you in this thread....