THE PURPOSE OF THE BOOK OF FAITH INITIATIVE IS TO INCREASE BIBLICAL LITERACY AND FLUENCY FOR THE SAKE OF THE WORLD.
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America has made a commitment to encourage all members of our congregations, from children to adults, to dig deeper into our book of faith, the Bible. The Book of Faith Initiative recommends a new model for our church. A grass-roots approach embracing a common vision in which all are invited to open scripture and join the conversation. Each community is encouraged to decide how the Book of Faith Initiative will become a vital part of its own ministry.
BIBLE STUDY ON BISHOP EATON’S FOUR EMPHASES
This reproducible four-session study invites discussion and imagination around four foundational claims of the church and the scripture passages that inspire them. Written by Rev. Marcus Kunz and Rev. Susan M. Lang, the study gives helpful instruction and creatively relies upon Book of Faith lenses—devotional, theological, historical and literary—to invite conversation. Participant and leader guides are available.
THE LIFE OF FAITH INITIATIVE
The Life of Faith Initiative is a new grassroots effort within the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) that seeks to connect the Book of Faith initiative to the many and varied forms of service to neighbors through family, workplace, school, local community, and world. Each expression of the church, beginning with the primary expression lived out by all the baptized, is encouraged to develop approaches and resources in order to make the Life of Faith initiative a vital part of its reason for existence.
BOOK OF FAITH AND FAITH PRACTICES RESOURCES
ON THE ELCA WEBSITE
THE HEIN-FRY BOOK OF FAITH CHALLENGE
The Hein-Fry Book of Faith Challenge (HFBFC) launched in 2015 to enliven the biblical engagement of the whole church by encouraging the development of new examples of faithful, innovative, and effective ways of teaching and learning Scripture. The project is jointly sponsored by the seminaries of the ELCA, the Hein-Fry Planning Team, and the Book of Faith initiative.
2020 events
Susan Briehl hosted four online premieres, each featuring a student presentation on the theme, “The Bible: Word, Not Weapon.” Visit the links below for each presentation-only video (18 to 25 minutes) or video of the full webinar, presentation, and discussion (approximately 60 minutes). To adapt a study for use in your setting, see the related leader guide.
Read about the student presenters and their projects
Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary
Jennifer Garcia
Sharing Our Faith in a Time of Social Distancing
Presentation only
Full webinar presentation and discussion
Leader guide
United Lutheran Seminary
Taylor Berdahl
Biblical Responses to COVID-19: Lament, Bodies, Breath
Presentation only
Full webinar presentation and discussion
Leader guide
Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago
Karl Anliker
Look for the Women: A Virtual Bible Study in Search of Hope
Presentation only
Full webinar presentation and discussion
Leader guide
Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary
Christopher Shealy
How Scripture is Weaponized, and What We Can Do About It
Presentation only
Full webinar presentation and discussion
Leader guide
- The Wounded Reader (2018)
- Building Relationships with the Word, Other Generations, and Other Churches (2018)
- Faith Friends: Exploring Intergenerational Encounters with the Bible (2018)
- Give unto the Lord: A Study about Food and Tithing in Deuteronomy 14 (2018)
- Scripture, Women, and Justice: A Survey (2018)
- Engaging Storytelling: Using Character, Narrative Sequence, and Scene to Experience and Share the Book of Acts (2018)
- Students, seminaries, and project titles (2015 through 2017)
- Video invitation to Philadelphia event (2017)
- Video invitation to St. Paul event (2017)
THE GOSPEL OF MARK: THE NEVERENDING STORY
A collection of resources created for the 2015 ELCA Youth Gathering, including two PowerPoint presentations and two supporting documents. The story-by-story art panels, historical factoids, thoughtful questions, and literary insights (help sheets) offer guidance for a unique journey through the story line of Mark's Gospel.
Mark: The NeverEnding Story files
BOOK OF FAITH INITIATIVE
The June 2014 issue of Currents in Theology and Mission is dedicated to the Book of Faith Initiative. The editors of Currents are kindly making the issue available for downloading at no cost.
Download issue here
STORY MATTERS
Story Matters: A new resource designed to help your congregation discover and articulate its unique identity and mission. Story Matters will help to:
- Discern your congregation’s story
- Explore and live into your congregation’s story
- Engage your congregation in its mission planning
- Challenge your congregation to live out its mission
MISSION TABLE
In a time of declining mainline Protestant church attendance, Bouman reminds us that the Holy Spirit is still very much at work in our communities and in the world. God continues to make all things new, and calls us to join this mission of reconciliation, restoration, and renewal. Each chapter of this book contains Bible references and questions for individual and group reflection, study, and action. Learn More |
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NEW ARTICLES AND RESOURCES
Fun Quotes From Luther
What Lutherans Think About The Bible
Attitudes We Bring to Scripture
Some Helpful Ways to Read the Bible
Reproducible articles from Lutheran Study Bible
