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Start here: a new pastor's kit

Twelve resources that give a newly called pastor or evangelist a working library in one afternoon.

Lutheran Leader’s Companion

Every pastor eventually builds a shelf of books he reaches for every week: a clear summary of what the church teaches, a catechism he can teach from, something to help him read the Bible with his people, sermons to learn from, and hymns to sing. This collection is that shelf, chosen from the English resources on the Lutheran Leader's Companion. Each item below is free to download; find it by searching the title on the Resources page, or open the tag link to browse everything nearby.

What we teach

  1. What the Bible and Lutherans Teach — The one-volume summary of Lutheran doctrine that most of our partner churches use for adult instruction. If you read one book on this list, read this one. Browse: doctrine →
  2. Lutheran Teaching — A shorter walk through the same ground, useful for members who want the essentials without the full course. Browse: doctrine →
  3. Theological Dictionary — Plain definitions of the terms you will meet in sermons, essays and the confessions — justification, means of grace, vocation and hundreds more. Keep it next to you when you read. Browse: doctrine →
  4. The Means of Grace — How God actually delivers forgiveness: Word, Baptism and the Lord's Supper. Essential for understanding why Lutheran worship looks the way it does. Browse: doctrine →
  5. Righteous Through Faith — Armin Panning on justification — the doctrine on which the church stands or falls, explained for pastors who will teach it. Browse: doctrine →

Teaching the faith

  1. Luther’s Small Catechism in Pictures — The Small Catechism with an illustration for every part. Works for adults with little schooling as well as for children. Browse: catechism →
  2. Study Guide for Bible Teachings (Simplified Catechism) together with Bible Stories — A complete instruction course that pairs each catechism lesson with the Bible story behind it. Browse: catechism →
  3. Catechism Sermon Book — A year of sermons on the catechism by Peter Martin — a model for preaching doctrine warmly. Browse: sermons →

Reading and preaching the Word

  1. A Bible Handbook — Book-by-book introductions, outlines and background, written for readers without a seminary library. Browse: bible study →
  2. How to Read Your Bible — A short guide to reading Scripture well — the piece to give a new member or a new Bible class. Browse: bible study →
  3. We Preach Christ Crucified - Sermons — Sermons that show the law-and-gospel shape of Lutheran preaching. Read them for structure as much as for content. Browse: sermons →

Worship

  1. Praise the Lord — A hymnal of familiar hymns in simple settings for congregations without an organ or a trained choir. Book 2 adds more. Browse: hymnal →

When you have worked through these, the tags on the Resources page (Doctrine, Catechism, Sermons, Bible study, Worship and hymns) will take you further. If you lead in another language, the same books often exist in Spanish, Hmong, Chinese, Urdu, Nepali and more — switch the language at the top of the page.

To download any title: open Resources, type the title in the search box, and click Download. All items are free for study, teaching and ministry under the terms shown with each resource.