This class will study how Paul addresses confusion about the end-times in his letters to the Thessalonians. Topics such as the intermediate state, Antichrist, the return of Christ, the wrath of God, judgment, rapture, resurrection and vocation will be addressed through a study of these two letters that exhibit Paul’s pastoral care for a congregation confused about eschatology. (3 CEU)

This course will be an investigation into the Scriptures, looking particularly at the way the apostles speak of compassion and mercy. Emphasis will be toward Clement of Alexandria’s approach to teaching the Christian faith in a Gnostic world. Further, this course will examine scriptural texts exegetically and will consider how, in light of Clement’s approach, the Church may communicate the Scriptures and draw people into the Church in our modern-day Gnostic and Postmodern culture. (3.0 CEU)

Bayer’s contributions to Luther studies and systematic theology are well known in Lutheran and ecumenical circles. This course will unpack several of the fundamental motifs of Bayer’s work that have deep implications for pastoral theology: justification by faith alone as basis and boundary for pastoral theology, the distinction between Law and promise in preaching and the Sacraments, absolution as performative speech, the ethic of gift, the three estates and Luther’s oratio,meditatio, tentatio. (1.5 CEU)

This CE class will consider in great depth the Gospel of Mark, which is the current focus of Series B Gospel pericopes. Students are asked to buy volume 1 of the Concordia Commentary (Mark 1:1-8:26), which contains the introductory material, text, notes and commentary on the first half of the Gospel. The author has finished writing part two and is currently putting the material on computer for CPH, with all slated to be finished this spring. Class sessions will deal with introductory material, key pericopes of volume one and then, especially, material from volume two.

Students should be prepared to work thoroughly with the Greek of 1:1-8, 4:1-20, 7:1-23; 8:22-26 from volume one, and then, anticipating volume two, 8:27-33, 9:30-37, 9:38-50, 10:17-27, 10:35-45, 12:35-37, 13:24-37, 14:1-11, 14:32-42, 15:33-39, 16:1-8. We will discuss these pericopes and much more. (Passages underlined are from Series B but in weeks past; those in bold will occur after the conference.) (3.0 CEU)

This exegetical study of the first epistle of Peter, the “Epistle of Christian Hope,” will focus on the epistle’s rich theology, which touches every aspect of Christian living in a world of hostility, uncertainty and paganism. The unique theological formulation is seen as credal statement, with particular emphasis placed on the work of Christ and its hope-giving effect. The course will focus on the practical application of the work of Christ, the spiritual priesthood of all believers and eschatology for the church today. (CEU 1.5)

Scripture enjoins us to always be prepared to make a defense when non-Christians ask us why we believe what we believe and, sometimes, why they, too, should consider Christian belief. This course is an introduction to this particular aspect of the apologetic task. It covers the historical Christian apologetic tradition, assesses the various methods employed by apologists and especially focuses on the various charges made against and challenges posed to Christian belief today. (1.5 CEU)

Scripture enjoins us to always be prepared to make a defense when non-Christians ask us why we believe what we believe and, sometimes, why they, too, should consider Christian belief. This course is an introduction to this particular aspect of the apologetic task. It covers the historical Christian apologetic tradition, assesses the various methods employed by apologists and especially focuses on the various charges made against and challenges posed to Christian belief today. (1.5 CEU)

This CE class will consider in great depth the Gospel of Mark, which is the current focus of Series B Gospel pericopes. Students are asked to buy volume 1 of the Concordia Commentary (Mark 1:1-8:26), which contains the introductory material, text, notes and commentary on the first half of the Gospel. The author has finished writing part two and is currently putting the material on computer for CPH, with all slated to be finished this spring. Class sessions will deal with introductory material, key pericopes of volume one and then, especially, material from volume two.

Students should be prepared to work thoroughly with the Greek of 1:1-8, 4:1-20, 7:1-23; 8:22-26 from volume one, and then, anticipating volume two, 8:27-33, 9:30-37, 9:38-50, 10:17-27, 10:35-45, 12:35-37, 13:24-37, 14:1-11, 14:32-42, 15:33-39, 16:1-8. We will discuss these pericopes and much more. (Passages underlined are from Series B but in weeks past; those in bold will occur after the conference.) (3.0 CEU)

This exegetical study of the first epistle of Peter, the “Epistle of Christian Hope,” will focus on the epistle’s rich theology, which touches every aspect of Christian living in a world of hostility, uncertainty and paganism. The unique theological formulation is seen as credal statement, with particular emphasis placed on the work of Christ and its hope-giving effect. The course will focus on the practical application of the work of Christ, the spiritual priesthood of all believers and eschatology for the church today. (CEU 1.5)

For as long as humans have existed they have attempted to answer these questions: What is so special about us humans? From where do we originate and what distinguishes us from the rest of creation? What are we made up of? What is our purpose and destiny in life? Why should humans be blamed for something they did not commit? Philosophers, Christian theologians, anthropologists and scientists all have something to say. In this course we will address these important questions from a biblical and theological perspective. Some topics will include: (CEU 3.0)

1. The origin of man
2. The status of man within creation
3. The problem with non-theological anthropologies: Luther and his “Disputation on Man” (1536)
4. The image of God and its ethical implications for today
5. The Humanum is formed and defined through relationships
6. Dualism: soul and body
7. The battle of Spirit and flesh
8. Original sin and concupiscence: Why should I be blamed for something I did not do?
9. Simul iustus et peccator: Are Lutherans correct on Romans 7:14-25?
10. Past, contemporary and future discussions on man’s origin and destiny: Medieval theology, Enlightenment, Darwinism, humanism, Existentialism, Posthumanism
11. What it means to be human in a technological society
12. Mission as restoration of man to God’s likeness
13. Sexualism and Transgenderism
14. Approaching human life with a robust Trinitarian theology

This course will offer a study of the relationship between theology and the music of the Church. Ancient and modern church-music forms will be studied. Present-day parish music concerns
will be addressed with special emphasis on the theological function of music as proclamation history of the Church and programmatic for us today. (1.5 CEU)

The Book of Concord is central to the life of our church, but it is often found underused or even misused. In this course, we will focus our attention on the Formula of Concord. Amazingly contemporary and invaluable, the Formula will be found as practical a handbook as the Small Catechism. This rich confession of the Gospel is open for anyone, pastors and the people of God. (1.5 CEU)

The Gospel of Mark is perhaps the most intriguing and mysterious of the Gospels. Again and again, Jesus, like a roaring lion, confounds our expectations. More than any Gospel, Mark emphasizes a theology of the cross in which Jesus’ true nature is known only in His suffering. We will also show how Mark has a profound understanding of the Sacraments which flow from Jesus Himself. (3.0 CEU)

In the Early Church and much of the history of the church Christians practiced meditation by singing or saying the psalms and reflecting on them in the light of their experience of life. Psalm 1, which introduces the whole Psalter, shows us that the psalms were produced by daily meditation on God’s Word. They, in turn, were used to teach God’s people to meditate on God’s word christologically and effectively in all circumstances but most of all in trouble. Psalm 2, a prophetic royal psalm, shows us that they help us to take refuge in God’s Son, for we speak the psalms of David together with Jesus. Since they were inspired by the Holy Spirit, they inspire us with the Holy Spirit. This course will consider how to use the psalms as a handbook for meditation in reflection and petitionary prayer, self-instruction and confession, thanksgiving and praise. (1.5 CEU)

This course serves as an introduction to my commentary on Hebrews published by Concordia Publishing House this year. In this course we will explore the theology of worship in this letter. The following topics will be examined:

• the contrast between the divine service in the old covenant and the new covenant;
• the role of Jesus as our high priest and our sin offering;
• our entry into the heavenly place of rest by hearing the voice of the living God;
• our access to the heavenly sanctuary through the body and blood of Jesus;
• our purification and sanctification by Jesus in the divine service;
• our participation with the angels in the heavenly liturgy; and
• the presentation of God-pleasing offerings through Jesus.

The main focus will be on the practical relevance of this teaching to what is done and taught, given and received in the divine service. (CEU 1.5)

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