Designs for Living: Paul and Luther on Christian Freedom
Luther Seminary : Lay School of Theology : Winter 2005
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"For freedom Christ has set us free!" So Paul wrote to the Galatians. In our baptism God calls us for a purpose— with our neighbors as the beneficiaries. At the center Christian freedom is about vocation. Reading of Paul’s letter to the Galatians and Martin Luther’s reformation treatise on the "Freedom of the Christian" provides the basis for reflection and group discussion on the shape of Christian freedom in relation to vocation. Together we explore implications of the way in which God continues to free, unite, and empower us as whole persons to serve our neighbor in our daily lives. |
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Session Outline |
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Session 1: Monday, January 10
"Designs for Freedom: God’s Call in the Gospel." Study Outline of Galatians Galatians 1:1-24 Martin Luther on Romans, Part 1 (Romans 1-3)
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Reminder: No Class on Monday, January 17: Martin Luther King Day
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Session 2: Monday, January 24 "Designs for Freedom: A New Model: Life in Christ" Galatians 2:1-21 Martin Luther on Romans, Part 2 (Romans 4-8) Martin Luther, On Christian Liberty, p. 1-33a ("…believes that he is justified")(Reading/Study Outline) Suggested Reading: Romans 4-6
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Session 3: Monday, January 31 "Designs for Freedom: A Matter of Persusasion" Galatians 3 – 4 (Reading Notes: Tracking the Argument of Gal 3-4) Marc Kolden, The Christian’s Calling in the World, p. 6-23 (note pages change!) An Understanding of Christian Vocation/ God's Work in Creation (Reading Notes Handout) Suggested Reading: Romans 7 |
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Session 4: Monday, February 7 "Designs for Freedom: Willing and Doing – The Poetry of the Spirit" Galatians 5 On Christian Liberty, p. 33b-60a ("Now let us turn…contrary to God.") Suggested Reading: Romans 8 James L. Boyce. "The Poetry of the Spirit: Willing and Doing in Galatians 5 and 6." Word & World. Summer 2000. Vol. XX No. 3. p. 290-298. Copyright © 2000. St. Paul, Minnesota: Word & World, Luther Seminary. All rights reserved. Used with permission.
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Session 5: Monday, February 14 For those unable to attend this final class session -- the 3 handouts for session 5 are available at the links below. Best wishes!
"Designs for Freedom: Living in My Neighbor"
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Readings for the Class Paul’s Letter to the Galatians Martin Luther, On Christian Liberty (Fortress Press: Facets) Marc Kolden, The Christian’s Calling in the World (Luther Seminary: Centered Life Series)
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| Suggested Supplementary Reading Edgar Krentz. Galatians. Augsburg New Testament Commentary (this vol. also includes Phillipians, Philemon, 1 Thessalonians) Sam K. Williams. Galatians. Abingdon New Testament Commentaries. Martin Luther. Lectures on Galatians. LW, vols. 25-26. Robert Benne. Ordinary Saints: And Introduction to the Christian Life (Augsburg Fortress, 2003):
Steven Paulson. Luther for Armchair Theologians (Westminster John Knox, 2004) especially chap. 11: "Freedom of a Christian" Parker J. Palmer, Let your Life Speak (Jossey-Bass, 2000) James L. Boyce. "The Poetry of the Spirit: Willing and Doing in Galatians 5 and 6." Word & World. Summer 2000. Vol. XX No. 3 See Marc Kolden's Luther Seminary Web Site: Resources: URL: http://www.luthersem.edu/mkolden/ See "Ministry in Daily Life" Web resources of the Division for Ministry of the ELCA: URL: http://www.elca.org/dm/midl/ministry.html
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