Passion Drama from Luke

For those who read the long Gospel of the Passion lesson for Palm Sunday, Sola Publishing has made available a copy of the ESV text divided into narrator and character parts.

Go HERE to our Free Worship Resources > Orders of Worship page to download a pdf copy. Permission is granted to reproduce the sheet for use in your local congregation.

Advent Candle Readings

The word Advent means “coming.” It is the season of the Church year where we are reminded of the reality of Christ’s coming into our world. It is a season of preparation and anticipation -- not simply for the celebration of Christmas -- but to recognize that hope and expectation are a part of our daily life of faith. 

For many Christians, the Advent wreath is a tradition that marks the passage of the four weeks of Advent in the liturgical calendar. On each Sunday in Advent, a new candle is lit, representing particular Advent themes.

Sola Publishing has a resource of "Readings for the Lighting of the Advent Candles." This simple booklet provides a brief reading, Scripture text, and song to accompany the lighting of the candles. It also suggests readings and prayers for the candle-lighting portion of a Christmas Eve candlelight service. The brief rites may be used for the worship services of a congregation or in family devotional settings.

5.5 x 8.5" Paperback booklet, 12 pages.  Go HERE to order.

Education Workshop in Nebraska

Attention: Lutheran CORE, NALC, and LCMC members in Nebraska!

This Saturday, October 6th, Trinity Lutheran of Gothenburg will be hosting a free workshop for area congregations, featuring Pastor Steven King, managing editor of Sola Publishing, who will be presenting the topic: “God’s Word in Action: A Workshop on Scripture-centered Bible Study.” 

Pastor King will be talking about what makes Bible Study more than just a book club,  support group, or self help seminar, but a real encounter with the Living Word: Jesus Christ.

The workshop will be held at the Comfort Suites Event Center, 301 Platte River Drive in Gothenburg, NE, from 10 am to 12 noon, with a full display of Sola educational products that you can take a look at after. Coffee and donuts will be provided.  The workshop is free and is open to anyone.  Call Pastor Jeff Cottingham at Trinity (308) 537-2055 for directions.

Missions Event in Iowa

Attention: Members of Lutheran Core in Iowa

This weekend, September 28-29, 2012 at Faith Lutheran Church of Spencer, IA, the Great Commission Lutherans of Northwest Iowa will host "A Light for All Peoples!" -- a Missions Conference aimed at equipping pastors and church leaders with the skills to ignite a passion within their congregations for sharing God's mission beyond the walls of the church building. Keynote speakers include: Rev. Dr. Gemechis Buba, Ethiopian Evangelist and NALC’s leader of World Mission, Rev. Ken Kimball, Dean of the Iowa Mission District of the NALC, and Rev. Mark Vander Tuig, Service Coordinator of LCMC.

A forum designed for congregational leaders will be held on Friday (beginning at 6 pm),  featuring all three keynote speakers, offering pragmatic help to "lead congregations into mission." Saturday's programming will feature discussion on local and world missions with Rev. Dr. Gemechis Buba, as well as an open forum with all three keynote speakers.

Those attending the conference will also have an opportunity to learn more about several missions organizations through breakout sessions and exhibit tables.  Sola Publishing will have a sales display, with several new products on the theme of evangelism and mission.

The cost of registration is $20.00 per person.   To register for this event, please contact Faith Lutheran Church via email at faithlutheran@smunet.net or call (712) 580-4316.

Examining Our Core Beliefs

Having had the privilege of being part of Lutheran Core since its early days, and as one of those who had a hand in its initial development, I have always thought that the title of the organization was a good one.  Lutheran Core represents the "core" of the biblical faith, as expressed in historic Lutheranism.

In this same spirit, Sola Publishing has just released a new book called "Examining Our Core Beliefs."  Written by the Rev. Dr. David Hagstrom, the book explains, in straight-forward terms, the core of what we believe as Lutherans — from a biblical, theological, historical, and confessional point of view.  Not only does the book serve as an excellent primer in basic biblical theology, a 30-page study guide in the back of the book allows it to be easily used for for group study.

For more information, or to order, go to the Sola website HERE.

Every Perfect Gift

For congregations planning a fall stewardship emphasis, Sola Publishing is providing free downloadable materials on the Sola website.  The theme for this year's stewardship emphasis comes from the Book of James, where Scripture says:

Every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of first-fruits of his creatures.  (James 1:17b-18)

Look on the Sola website under the tab menu "Free Sola Resources" or go directly to the Stewardship Page HERE for these downloads:

a) Color Theme Poster (like the one right)

b) Bulletin Insert-Devotional

c) Giving Plan Card

d) Sample: Time and Abilities Sheet

e) Children's Stewardship Coloring Page

f) Children's Stewardship Plan

g) Black and White Logo

h) Full Color Logo

Permission is granted to reproduce these materials for local congregational use.

New 2012 Women's & Men's Group Bible Study

Through This Vain World

A Bible Study on the Book of Ecclesiastes

Sola Publishing has just released the Participant's Book and the Leader's Guide for its new group Bible Study series for 2012, based on the Book of Ecclesiastes. The study, titled "Through this Vain World" was written by Rev. Steven E. King, general editor of Sola Publishing. Go to the Sola website HERE for more information or to order the study.

NEW FOR 2012: This year's study makes use of a larger three-page-per-session format, with more material added into each lesson. Also, at popular request, the new Leader's Guides include the full text of the Participant's Book, so that study leaders don't have to switch back and forth between books!


From the website description:

Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity. What does man gain by all the toil at which he toils under the sun? (Ecclesiastes 1:2-3)

The Book of Eccelsiastes has a unique place in Scripture, reflecting on the life of faith with an honest and realistic perspective. This Bible study takes a Christ-centered approach, by looking at the book of Ecclesiastes through the lens of the Cross. It asks the hard questions of purpose and meaning in a world that often seems empty and vain. From the perspective that Martin Luther called a Theology of the Cross, the questions and discussion in this study focus on our calling to take up our cross and follow Christ in faith "through this vain world."

“Through this vain world He guides our feet,
 and leads us to His heavenly seat. His mercies ever shall endure,
 when this vain world shall be no more.” (Isaac Watts)