Lutheran Mission

Small group or worship resource - Lutheran Fellowship Gatherings weekly resource

noreply@blogger.com (Richard Schwedes) — Tue, 24 Mar 2026 21:59:00 +0000

The Lutheran Fellowship Gathering weekly resource is for small groups or small worshipping communities to help them connect with God and each other focussing on the Gospel reading of the Revised Common Lectionary

One of the reasons for making this resource available is to support people who wish to gather around God’s Word, focus on Jesus and to grow as part of God’s church.

You may want to use it to help you start a small group in your church community, or to gather people in a community where a Lutheran church currently is not present.

This resource is offered free of charge to non-commercial situations, on the understanding that you will not charge for copies or its use.

This resource has been developed by Pastor Richard Schwedes, richardschwedes@gmail.com

Click on the weekly links below to access the weekly resources

2026

January weekly resources

January week 2: Baptism of Jesus - Matthew 3:13-17

January week 3: Epiphany 2 - John 1:29-42

January week 4: Epiphany 3 - Matthew 4:12-23

February weekly resources

February week 1: Epiphany 4 - Matthew 5:1-12

February week 2: Epiphany 5 - Matthew 5:13-20

February week 3: Transfiguration - Matthew 17:1-9

February week 4: Lent 1 - Matthew 4:1-11

March weekly resources

March week 1: Lent 2 - John 3:1-17

March week 2: Lent 3 - John 4:5-42

March week 3: Lent 4 - John 9:1-41

March week 4: Lent 5 - John 11:1-45

March week 5: Palm and Passion Sunday - Matthew 21:1-11, 26:14-27:66

April weekly resources

April week 1: Easter Sunday - John 20:1-18

April week 2: Easter 2- John 20:19-31

April week 3: Easter 3 - Luke 24:13-35

April week 4: Easter 4 - John 10:1-10

Help us develop more resources

Book: Day 7: For work, rest or play

noreply@blogger.com (Richard Schwedes) — Tue, 24 Mar 2026 14:33:00 +0000

The Third Commandment asks Christians to "Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy." But how is one supposed to keep it holy? What are the ways that we are to honor the sabbath through our work, rest, play, and everyday life? Author Joel Biermann invites you to join him on an exploration of the sabbath and how it's all about living in the joy and celebration of God's good gifts.

Start with a look at what both Luther's Small Catechism and the Bible say about the sabbath to give you a foundational understanding of what God says.

Then, see how to apply it in your work, personal, and leisure, rest, and day-to-day activities.

You can purchase this book at Amazon

BOOK: Unapologetic by Francis Suppford

noreply@blogger.com (Richard Schwedes) — Mon, 23 Mar 2026 13:47:00 +0000

Francis Spufford's Unapologetic is a wonderfully pugnacious defense of Christianity. Refuting critics such as Richard Dawkins, Sam Harris, and the "new atheist" crowd, Spufford, a former atheist and Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature, argues that Christianity is recognizable, drawing on the deep and deeply ordinary vocabulary of human feeling, satisfying those who believe in it by offering a ruthlessly realistic account of the grown-up dignity of Christian experience.

Fans of C. S. Lewis, N. T. Wright, Marilynne Robinson, Mary Karr, Diana Butler Bass, Rob Bell, and James Martin will appreciate Spufford's crisp, lively, and abashedly defiant thesis.

Unapologetic is a book for believers who are fed up with being patronized, for non-believers curious about how faith can possibly work in the twenty-first century, and for anyone who feels there is something indefinably wrong, literalistic, anti-imaginative and intolerant about the way the atheist case is now being made.

Chapters

1. The Crack in Everything: Introduces the book’s central idea: Christianity as an emotional, not merely intellectual, framework for understanding human brokenness.

2. Yeshua: A vivid, historically grounded portrait of Jesus, focusing on his emotional impact rather than doctrinal claims.

3. The Human Propensity to F* Things Up (HPtFtU)**: Spufford’s famous reframing of “sin” as a universal human tendency toward self‑sabotage.

4. Something is Missing: Explores the longing, absence, and emotional hunger that often precede faith.

5. Hello, Cruel World: A meditation on suffering, tragedy, and the emotional realism of Christian hope.

6. The Territory of Joy: Discusses grace, forgiveness, and the surprising emotional richness of Christian experience.

7. Big Daddy: A chapter on God the Father—addressing stereotypes, misunderstandings, and the emotional logic of belief.

8. The Church: A candid, humorous, and affectionate look at the flawed but enduring Christian community.

9. The Story: A sweeping retelling of the Christian narrative as an emotionally coherent whole.

10. The End of the Book: A concluding reflection on why Christianity still “makes emotional sense” despite modern skepticism.

You can buy this book here

Lutheran Fellowship Gatherings Weekly Resource - April 2026

noreply@blogger.com (Richard Schwedes) — Mon, 23 Mar 2026 12:34:00 +0000

One of the reasons for making this resource available is to support people who wish to gather around God’s Word, focus on Jesus and to grow as part of God’s church.

You may want to use it to help you start a small group in your church community, or to gather people in a community where a Lutheran church currently is not present.

This resource is offered free of charge to non-commercial situations, on the understanding that you will not charge for copies or its use.

This resource has been developed by Pastor Richard Schwedes, richardschwedes@gmail.com

Click on the weekly links below to access the weekly resources

April weekly resources

April week 1: Easter Sunday - John 20:1-18

April week 2: Easter 2- John 20:19-31

April week 3: Easter 3 - Luke 24:13-35

April week 4: Easter 4 - John 10:1-10

Songwriter Initiative

noreply@blogger.com (Richard Schwedes) — Wed, 25 Feb 2026 12:07:00 +0000

The Songwriter Initiative of the Center for Worship Leadership exists to support modern songwriters serving within Lutheran churches.

They seek to be a positive resource and influence for those writing for the church-at-large. Music and melody, as a vehicle for the proclamation of the Gospel and expression of praise to God for all that he is and has done for us in Christ, has always been a valued part of the Lutheran tradition. Necessarily, then, our creativity requires guidance and meaningful training so that those who are called to write in service to the Gospel will benefit. To that end, the Songwriter Initiative exists to support songwriters throughout the church, empowering each artist to create art that glorifies God, while creating a community that shares the common goal of sharing the Gospel message of Jesus.

Currently they have over 30 contemporary songs that have been influenced by Lutheran theology.

You can access the music for these songs at https://www.cui.edu/academicprograms/christcollege/center-for-worship-leadership/songwriter

You can access the videos of many of these songs at https://www.youtube.com/@CWL

One of their songs is God who Bleeds

Lent 2026 resources

noreply@blogger.com (Richard Schwedes) — Mon, 26 Jan 2026 23:35:00 +0000

Lenten Resources for 2026

Grow Ministries - Lent resource

Lutheran Church of Australia - Lent resources

Lutheran Tract Mission - Lenten Devotions

Lutheran Education Australia - Lent

Song Writers Initiative - God who bleeds Lent Series

Symbols of our Savior - Church of Lutheran Brethren

LCMS - Midweek Lent Services

The Tear Fund - The Table Lent resources

ELCA World Hunger - Lenten resources

CPH - For Us Lenten Series

Faithinkubators - 2026 Lent resource

Martin Luther's Lent sermons

Dietrich Bonhoeffer Lenten reflections

Podcast: Pastor Mike drop

noreply@blogger.com (Richard Schwedes) — Mon, 26 Jan 2026 23:13:00 +0000

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

Podcast: Lutheran leadership focus - Tim Ahlman Podcast

noreply@blogger.com (Richard Schwedes) — Mon, 26 Jan 2026 21:50:00 +0000

he Tim Ahlman Podcast is your go-to resource for inspiring conversations that equip leaders to thrive in every vocation, inside and outside the church. With three primary focuses, this podcast dives deep into:

Leadership: Learn from experts across diverse fields as we explore how their insights can shape and sustain a healthy culture in the local church and beyond. Over 60% of listeners expressed a desire for practical discussions on cultivating thriving environments—and that's exactly what these conversations will deliver.

Learn: Engage in deep theological discussions with scholars who illuminate how Christ is revealed on every page of Scripture. Together, we’ll bridge theology to the realities of a post-Christian America, ensuring practical application for today’s world. This segment aligns closely with the themes of the American Reformation Podcast and resonates with the 60% of you who crave more exploration in this area.

Live: Discover healthy habits that empower leaders in all vocations to become holistically healthy. As followers of Jesus, we’re called to lead not only with faith but also with physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being.

You can join Tim Ahlman as we navigate leadership, learning, and living with purpose, so you can lead with strength, wisdom, and a Christ-centered vision

Book: Reclaiming the joy of ministry

noreply@blogger.com (Richard Schwedes) — Mon, 26 Jan 2026 21:31:00 +0000

A life in Christian ministry can be tremendously rewarding and exhilarating.

It can also be incredibly demanding and stressful. Professional church workers run the risk of becoming depleted—spiritually, relationally and vocationally, as well as physically and financially. Nearly every minister endures times of significant hardship, but few are willing to admit how overwhelmed they often feel by the demands and expectations placed on them.

Longtime parish pastor Darrell Zimmerman will guide you on a detailed analysis of the hazards of the ministerial lifestyle and help you discover new possibilities for a long, joyful and fruitful career in ministry. His insights are grounded in the latest research into church worker stress and burnout, and informed by his vast experience as a parish pastor and as a mentor and guide to other church workers.

The reader will learn to:

Monitor the presence of the Spirit’s gift of JOY, our fuel for ministry;
Assess their spiritual wellbeing and renew their life with God;
Tend to their relationships to find encouragement, love and unity;
Make vocational, physical and financial health top priorities.

Chapters/Lessons

Ministry is great but hard
Because ministry is the way of the cross
And overwhelmed is a way of life
So don't try this alone
Joy is a fuel for ministry
But ministry threatens the joy of life with God
And ministry threatens the joy of life with community
And ministry threatens the joy of ministry
Which makes daily healing essential
Therefore, self-care has to be intentional

Reclaiming the joy of ministry is available from Amazon.

Bible Reading Plans 2026

noreply@blogger.com (Richard Schwedes) — Tue, 30 Dec 2025 05:04:00 +0000

Please join us in hearing from God as we read a book of the bible together:

Plan: 1 Corinthians - 1 January to 17 February

2026 A prayer for a new year

noreply@blogger.com (Richard Schwedes) — Tue, 30 Dec 2025 05:01:00 +0000

As Bishop of the Lutheran Church of Australia in NSW and ACT and New Zealand I have prepared a prayer for all

The prayer poster is available here

Book: Jesus Through Middle Eastern Eyes: Cultural Studies in the Gospels

noreply@blogger.com (Richard Schwedes) — Wed, 10 Dec 2025 11:03:00 +0000

Understand the Life of Jesus in Cultural Context

Discover a deeper, richer understanding of the life and teachings of Jesus with Jesus Through Middle Eastern Eyes by renowned scholar Kenneth Bailey.

This book invites readers to see Jesus through the lens of his historical and cultural context, lifting away the layers of Western interpretation that have shaped modern perspectives. From Jesus' birth to his parables, from the Beatitudes to his relationships, Bailey helps readers remove modern Western interpretations to see Jesus as he was understood in his own time, offering readers a kaleidoscopic view of the person of Jesus that is simultaneously ancient and refreshingly new.

In Jesus Through Middle Eastern Eyes, you'll find

Cultural Insight: Gain a deeper understanding of Jesus within his Middle Eastern context, removing Western cultural blinders.
A Transformational Perspective: Be inspired to read the Gospels with renewed clarity and depth, seeing Jesus in the light of his historical and cultural setting.

Jesus Through Middle Eastern Eyes is a valuable resource for anyone passionate about studying the New Testament and the life of Jesus deeply and meaningfully. Explore Jesus’ story as it was meant to be seen and enrich your spiritual study with this compelling, context-driven approach.

Available on Amazon

Worship Planning Template 2025-2026

noreply@blogger.com (Richard Schwedes) — Wed, 26 Nov 2025 02:05:00 +0000

The Worship Planning template is a simple Excel tool to help pastors and worship teams in their worship planning.

The template offers the RCL readings for each Sunday and Special services, with suggestions for Invocation/Call to Worship, Confession, Creed, Lord's Prayer, Holy Communion, and Hymns/Songs (opening, praise after forgiveness, kids, post sermon/offering and sending).

The Narrative Lectionary has also been included

The resource is designed for you to adapt for your own context

You can download the 2025-2026 Worship Planning template here

Book: The Ultimate Christmas Wishlist

noreply@blogger.com (Richard Schwedes) — Wed, 26 Nov 2025 02:00:00 +0000

We all need hope in our lives, but many struggle to know where to look for it. This short, warm and profound book by well-known evangelist Rico Tice makes a compelling case for Christianity and the hope that it provides.

Based on Isaiah 9:6 (a passage often used in Christmas services), readers will see how Jesus – the Mighty God, Prince of Peace, Everlasting Father and Wonderful Counsellor – is the ultimate gift as he delivers what they really want: hope, peace, purpose and guidance.

This gospel presentation is ideal to give away at Christmas.

Contents

What Do You Want for Christmas?
Hope
Peace
Purpose
Guidance

This book is available here

Booklet: Making the Christmas Connection

noreply@blogger.com (Richard Schwedes) — Wed, 26 Nov 2025 01:52:00 +0000

This book will help you connect the Christmas story with God and how He wants to connect with us....

J. John in this book unpacks who is God and how he connects and interacts with us, and the Christmas story plays a major role in this

Find out and discover something more about who God really is and exactly how he feels about us. Find out how we lost our connection with God and how our connection can be restored.

You can purchase this booklet here

Book: The Gospel for the person who has everything

noreply@blogger.com (Richard Schwedes) — Wed, 26 Nov 2025 01:45:00 +0000

The Gospel for the person who has everything

Secure, content, competent, reasonably happy and fulfilled, such persons of strength go their own way without any apparent discomfort at having missed the benefits of the Christian faith. . . . What do you say to the person who says, through his or her neglect of the faith, "Thanks, but I don’t need it"? —from the book

Bishop William Willimon brings the Gospel of Jesus Christ to life for the person who has everything – happy, fulfilled human beings, who don’t feel the same level of need expressed by the downcast, the outcast, the brokenhearted, and the miserable. Willimon says that the church’s message to the wretched and sad must not exclude the strong and the joyous.

In nine concise, inspired chapters, he discusses these ideas:

Must one be sad, depressed, wallowing in sin and degradation, immature, and childishly dependent in order truly to hear the Good News? (See chapters 1 and 2.)
“What do we say to the strong?” (See chapters 3 and 4.)
Speaking to the strong and to the people who are weak and want to be stronger: a particular kind of evangelistic message. They have their sins, but these sins are not the sins of the weak (chapter 5).
Worship which takes God’s strong love seriously (chapter 6)
Ethics which arise out of our response to that love (chapter 7)
Church as a place of continual growth and widening responsibility (chapters 8 and 9)

Buy this book here

2025 A down to earth Christmas - Carols and Readings

noreply@blogger.com (Richard Schwedes) — Sat, 22 Nov 2025 05:26:00 +0000

I have prepared the following Carols and Readings service to serve especially the smaller or people limited congregations of the Lutheran Church of Australia in New South Wales and the Lutheran Church of New Zealand. Anyone else is also free to use these resources

2025 Carols and Reading Service - Down to Earth Christmas

2025 Christmas Reflection - Down to Earth Christmas - this can be used either with the carols and readings service or separately also available at https://sermoncentral.com/sermons/god-comes-down-to-earth-richard-schwedes-sermon-on-christmas-296698

Instant Christmas Play - this can be used either with the carols and readings service or separately

I pray your Christmas time not only brings joy to people but also helps people engage with the God who came down to earth for us, to bring reveal his life giving love...

Bishop Richard

Professional Supervisors

noreply@blogger.com (Richard Schwedes) — Thu, 31 Jul 2025 07:24:00 +0000

Many pastors and church workers are benefiting from regular engagement with a Pastoral Supervisor.

The following are registers of Pastoral Supervisors to help anyone seeking a Pastoral Supervisor in Australia and New Zealand

Australia

Lutheran Church of Australia list

St Marks Theological Centre list

Australasian Association of Supervision list

Sydney Anglican list

NSWACT Uniting Church list

New Zealand

Centre for Life Long Learning Approved list

Caira directory

Devotional Prayer Book: Guide to Prayer: For Ministers & Other Servants by Rueben P Job (Author), Norman Shawchuck Ph.D. (Author)

noreply@blogger.com (Richard Schwedes) — Wed, 25 Jun 2025 03:01:00 +0000

A guide to prayer for ministers and other servants is a best seller for nearly 3 decades!

This classic devotional and prayer book is a compilation of scriptures, prayers, readings from well-known spiritual writers, and hymn texts.

Each week centers on a different theme and follows this format: invocation, psalm, daily scripture readings, readings for reflection, prayers (for the church, myself, others), reflection time, and a hymn.

The back of the book contains models for 12 personal one-day retreats.

Featured writers include William Barclay, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Carlo Carretto, Mother Teresa, Richard J. Foster, Elton Trueblood, C. S. Lewis, Henri J. M. Nouwen, Simone Weil, and many others.

Available at AMAZON

Book - Acts to Action

noreply@blogger.com (Richard Schwedes) — Mon, 19 May 2025 23:17:00 +0000

Acts to Action is a 90 day devotional journey to missional living.

This resource is ideal for individuals, bible studies or even a congregational worship series. It is written by a Lutheran pastor and mission director, with Lutheran congregations in mind.

It will help you explore is my faith and my local church still relevant?

The answer of course is a resounding, “YES!”

But only the Word of God, and especially that Word as it come to us in the Acts of the Apostles, can make it so. This 90-Day devotional journey leads readers on a guided tour of the entire Book of Acts to see and learn anew how God is always working through His people, His leaders, and His local congregations to grow His kingdom. The first century church changed the world for the better. The Lord of the church wants to use you and your 21st century congregation to do the same.

The journal will you :

Appreciate how God uses His people to save people
Love people from all backgrounds, races, nations, and ethnicities
Follow the example of the early church and be intentionally engaged in the mission of God
Bring the love and hope of Jesus Christ to your family, friends, neighbourhoods, and communities

Available through Amazon

Nicene Creed resources

noreply@blogger.com (Richard Schwedes) — Fri, 07 Feb 2025 06:56:00 +0000

In 325AD the first version of the Nicene Creed was adopted by the Christian church at the Council of Nicaea.

So in 2025 many Christians will be celebrating 1700 years of the Christian church proclaiming God using the words of the Nicene Creed

Following are some Resources to assist you in commemorating and celebrating God through the words of the Nicene Creed.

Books

Nicene Creed: A Scriptural, Historical, and Theological Commentary

The Nicene Creed - a devotional

Very God: an artist explores the Nicene Creed

Bible References for the Nicene Creed

https://tumi.org/images/nicene-creed-scripture.pdf

https://steadfastlutherans.org/blog/2017/08/apostles-and-nicene-creeds-according-to-scripture/

https://revtrev.com/living-light/the-nicene-creed-with-scripture-references/

Worship/Sermon Series

https://gloriadeionline.wordpress.com/?s=Nicene+Creed

https://www.lambofgodseattle.org/sermons#series_25

https://rockofages-payson.com/2024/02/03/we-believe-nicene-creed-part-1-of-4/

The Story of the Nicene Creed

2025 Lent Resources

noreply@blogger.com (Richard Schwedes) — Fri, 07 Feb 2025 06:10:00 +0000

Lent resources for 2025

Books, devotions and worship

4o things not to give up for Lent

Book of Faith 40-Day Lenten Journey into the Lord's Prayer

Meeting Jesus at the Table Lent devotion

Saint and Sinner Lent Devotion

Stations for Easter and Lent

Saviour Servant Friend Devotion

Resource pages from Lutheran Church of Australia and other organisations

Lutheran Church of Australia Worship Planning Page Lent Resources

Lutheran Tract Mission – Lent Resources

Lutheran Lent Daily Devotions

National Council of Churches – Lent resources from various churches

ACR – Lent and Easter Resources

1517 Lent resources

Creative Communications for the Parish - Lent Resources

Book: Faith Notes: A Christ-Centered Survival Kit for Young Men

noreply@blogger.com (Richard Schwedes) — Tue, 31 Dec 2024 23:00:00 +0000

Today's youth are facing big problems and challenges, and they need life-saving truth that speaks directly to their unique circumstances.

Faith Notes: A Christ-Centered Survival Kit for Young Men, and its companion title for young women, is an engaging and practical devotional that candidly addresses the real hurts and heartaches of adolescence. In contrast to the daily media onslaught that young people are subjected to that leads to comparison, anxiety, perfectionism, and confusion, Faith Notes offers Jesus, grace alone, faith alone, Scripture alone. They offer a survival guide that lead to eternal life.

In all, Faith Notes offers 96 devotionals on general subjects: Relationships; Spiritual Life; Thoughts and Feelings; Friends; the Future; Character; Family and Home; Anxiety; and Mistakes.

The author, Rev. Michael W. Newman, has been a pastor in The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, and has served and ministered to youth for decades, giving him unique insight into what's troubling the youth of today, and how to respond Christ-like to those troubles.

Buy Faith Notes here

Devotion - a simple approach to the New Year

noreply@blogger.com (Richard Schwedes) — Tue, 31 Dec 2024 01:18:00 +0000

Every year December 31 leads into January 1....the new year...

As Christians this is a good opportunity to reflect, pray, plan, act and reflect again

Reflect

On a bible reading - Isaiah 43:16-21, Ecclesiastes 3:1-13, Psalm 8, Revelation 21:1-6a or Matthew 25:31-46

Greatest Commandment - How have you experienced or lived out the Greatest Commandment of loving God and loving others?

Great Commission - Who have you shared Jesus with, or invited to meet Jesus?

On your life - What or who can you give thanks for? What do you need to seek forgiveness for? What needs some attention? What are you needing help with?

Pray

Pray about what ever pops up in your mind related to the Bible Reading, Greatest Commandment, Great Commission or Your life.

Plan

Consider where God is calling you....and what is prompted from your prayer time, that leads into the next year.

What practical things do you need to put into place?

Who do you need to contact and seek help, guidance or assistance from?

What changes may you need to make and need God's help with?

Put things in your diary or draw up a schedule of activities that help you?

Act

Pray every day for God's help

Do things that follow your plan.

Do things in ways that help you keep connected with God, reflect God (Greatest Commandment), connect others with God (Great Commission).

and be prepared for God to surprise you

Worship Planning template 2024-2025

noreply@blogger.com (Richard Schwedes) — Tue, 31 Dec 2024 00:38:00 +0000

The Worship Planning template is a simple Excel tool to help pastors and worship teams in their worship planning.

The resource is designed for you to adapt for your own context

You can download the 2024-2025 Worship Planning template here