Why I Am A Lutheran Study Guide Opening Comments: We are very glad you are interested in this series. Don’t be surprised if you have questions that arise as you work through the study. Please do not hesitate to contact us at if you would like us to answer specific questions you may have, or if you would like to arrange a time to visit with us. Session 1: Introduction and Background Getting Started: If the members of your small group do not know each other, do introductions. Have each member tell their name and give a picture of their life: significant people, where most of one’s time is spent. Opening Prayer: Merciful God, as we gather, ease our fears, doubts, and worries. Send your Holy Spirit that our ears would be opened to the word you would have us hear. In the name of Christ, we pray. Amen. Questions: In this first class, it might be helpful for each of you to answer the following questions: What was your motivation to come to this class? What question/s do you have concerning Luther and Lutheranism? What do you hope to gain from this class? Have you ever thought about history as unpacking a backpack? Do you think this is a helpful way to think about it – especially in the context of Luther and Lutheranism – as we start this series of classes? Do we always know what is in our backpack? As part of this idea of history as unpacking a backpack, talk about your faith background, how you were raised, etc… and start thinking about how this may impact how you might react to what you will hear about Luther and Lutheranism. As you started to learn about the interconnectedness of the church and society in the Middle Ages, and leading up to Luther’s time, can you anticipate what might happen if something happened to disrupt that system? Session 2: The 95 Theses Getting Started: If you would like, it might be helpful to remind people of names if you don’t know one another well. Before watching the lecture, if there are people there who weren’t at the first class, ask them to tell a little about themselves and answer the questions
Why I Am A Lutheran Study Guide Opening Comments: We are very glad you are interested in this series. Don’t be surprised if you have questions that arise as you work through the study. Please do not hesitate to contact us at if you would like us to answer specific questions you may have, or if you would like to arrange a time to visit with us. Session 1: Introduction and Background Getting Started: If the members of your small group do not know each other, do introductions. Have each member tell their name and give a picture of their life: significant people, where most of one’s time is spent. Opening Prayer: Merciful God, as we gather, ease our fears, doubts, and worries. Send your Holy Spirit that our ears would be opened to the word you would have us hear. In the name of Christ, we pray. Amen. Questions: In this first class, it might be helpful for each of you to answer the following questions: What was your motivation to come to this class? What question/s do you have concerning Luther and Lutheranism? What do you hope to gain from this class? Have you ever thought about history as unpacking a backpack? Do you think this is a helpful way to think about it – especially in the context of Luther and Lutheranism – as we start this series of classes? Do we always know what is in our backpack? As part of this idea of history as unpacking a backpack, talk about your faith background, how you were raised, etc… and start thinking about how this may impact how you might react to what you will hear about Luther and Lutheranism. As you started to learn about the interconnectedness of the church and society in the Middle Ages, and leading up to Luther’s time, can you anticipate what might happen if something happened to disrupt that system? Session 2: The 95 Theses Getting Started: If you would like, it might be helpful to remind people of names if you don’t know one another well. Before watching the lecture, if there are people there who weren’t at the first class, ask them to tell a little about themselves and answer the questions
Why%20I%20Am%20A%20Lutheran%20Study%20Guide%20Final.docx