Bible study is held on Sunday mornings from 9:00–9:45 am. If you would like to receive a Zoom link, please email us. Handouts are posted below for each session.
Bible study
The first lutheran hymnal (1524): 500 years later
The first Lutheran hymnal was published in 1524. It was known as the "Book of Eight Songs" (Achtliederbuch). Though it only had eight hymns in it, it reflected the importance the Lutheran Reformation placed on worship and hymnody. Quickly that book of eight songs turned into many more hymnals and many more hymns, lasting all the way up to this very day. In fact, our new hymnal (Christian Worship) was recently published as a way to observe this 500th anniversary. This Bible study is a historical study of the first Lutheran hymnal, its hymns, and its legacy and relevance today.
october 20: publication
Today we overview the first Lutheran hymnal and look at the historical background to its publication. We'll see Luther's high view of music and the reasons the Reformation would place a high priority on reforming worship life. We'll list the principles of Lutheran worship reflected in the first hymnal. Our goal is to see how we would be affected if this first hymnal would not have been published five centuries ago.
Download the study guide here: L1_Overview.pdf
october 27: legacy
Today we look at the legacy of the first Lutheran hymnal, especially how that first publication spurned on other hymnal publications in 1524. We'll focus on Luther's involvement with Johann Walther's "Spiritual Hymn Booklet" of 1524. Many of the challenges they faced in encouraging congregational singing remain today. Our goal is to see how we can foster hymnody and remain the "singing church" today.
Download the study guide here: L2_Legacy.pdf