NEW! Family Discipleship: Exploring an Effective Partnership of the Congregation and Home This workshop will explore helping ministries become family-centered and church-supported in raising children in the faith. Biblical mandates give this vocation to household leaders. The Small Catechism supports and equips families for this work. Vital today is the incorporation into church and day […]

The Present God: Exploring a Major Biblical Theme For many Christians, the theological value of the Old Testament is limited to messianic prophecies and the comforting assurances of the Psalms. Such a perspective runs the risk of impoverishing our teaching and preaching by failing to recognize the foundational role of the Old Testament for the […]

NEW! The Bible We Read in Church Christian denominations using a lectionary tend to read the Bible more extensively in church than most denominations that do not use a lectionary. As we use the Three-Year Lectionary Series, what exactly are we reading in church each year? What will never be read? What specifically are we […]

Meeting the Crisis of Scripture as “People of the Word”: How to Avoid Liberal Criticism and Biblical Fundamentalism Conservative Lutherans have never felt at home in the modern “Battle for the Bible.” We reject liberal critics, for they have abandoned the foundational Christian belief that the Scriptures are the written Word of God. But we […]

From Font to Table: Welcoming the Stranger into Christ and Congregational Life Veteran pastors and commissioned ministers of parish ministry are well aware there is no “magic bullet” that guarantees to increase a congregation’s membership, and this workshop makes no such claim for an adult faith formation process. Rather, the research—case studies at four congregations […]

NEW! On Using Worldly Wealth Do we have a “theology of possessions?” Why don’t we talk about the “tithe?” What does the New Testament say about “worldly wealth” (Luke 16:9)? Is the principle “neither poverty nor riches” (Prov. 30:8) typical of what the Bible teaches about worldly wealth? Special attention will be given to Jesus’ […]

From Font to Table: Welcoming the Stranger into Christ and Congregational Life Veteran pastors and commissioned ministers of parish ministry are well aware there is no “magic bullet” that guarantees to increase a congregation’s membership, and this workshop makes no such claim for an adult faith formation process. Rather, the research—case studies at four congregations […]

Principles of Biblical Interpretation for the Parish Dr. James Voelz is currently working on a book designed to teach hermeneutics to interested laypeople in a parish setting. This workshop will present this material to pastors for feedback and discussion on its propriety for parishioners. Laypeople also are welcome to attend. After the course, pastors will […]

Sharpening the Sword of the Spirit In this workshop, pastors will reflect on the art of preaching and learn specific techniques for continued growth in proclaiming God’s Word. Beginning with an overview of the theology of preaching, the sessions will identify ways to evaluate one’s preaching, clarify one’s Law and Gospel proclamation and integrate current […]

Decoding the Apocalypse: Study of the Book of Revelation The title of the last book of the Bible is translated as “Revelation,” but its original title was “Apocalypse.” This word literally means “the unveiling.” The purpose of this book of the Bible is to unveil the purposes of God in human history. For many people, […]