Lay School Courses
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Upcoming Courses
Winter: February 1-March 2, 2010
Spring: March 22 - April 19, 2010
Evil and the Bible 
Winter: February 1-March 2, 2010
Course Time: MONDAY EVENING 7:00 – 9:00 p.m.
All humans face the reality of evil and believers perhaps doubly so, since they are confronted with the question of how to understand the presence of evil in a world created good by a loving God. The Bible addresses the question of evil—and evil itself—in a variety of ways. We will explore significant biblical texts and attempt to find ways to speak of evil and endure it while retaining faith in God.
Faculty:
Frederick Gaiser, Professor of Old Testament, Editor of Word & World
Leading Women: Religion, Reform and Renewal in America
Winter: February 1-March 2, 2010
Course Time: MONDAY AFTERNOON 12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
This course tells the stories of Christian women who changed American society. Each session will highlight at least one woman who put faith into action to change American society. Harriet Beecher Stowe was an author who used her literary talent to persuade Americans that slavery was wrong. Phoebe Palmer was an internationally known evangelist. She worked for social change in New York slums and created the first settlement house in America. Elizabeth Cady Stanton was a leader in women's sufferage and authored "The Women's Bible". Anna Howard Shaw was a physician and a Methodist pastor; she fought for women’s right to vote. Aimee Semple McPherson was a Pentecostal minister who gave people hope during the Great Depression. Dorothy Day was a journalist and labor leader who organized Catholic Workers to fight for better wages. All of these women helped us have a freer and more open society. And all of them were inspired by faith.
Seminar Leader: Sally Padgett, instructor of Religion, Augsburg College.
Making Sense of Scripture - Webcast Available
Winter: February 1-March 2, 2010
Course Time: MONDAY EVENING 7:00 – 9:00 p.m.
Based on his new book, "Making Sense of Scripture—Inviting People to Think about the Bible," David Lose will introduce themes, exercises and practical resources that invite all Christians to read the Bible with both heart and mind. He’ll explore major questions Christians have about their book of faith.
Faculty:
David Lose, The Marbury E. Anderson Chair in Biblical Preaching
A Walk Through the New Testament - Webcast Available
Spring: March 22 - April 19, 2010
Course Time: MONDAY EVENING 7:00 – 9:00 p.m.
Most churchgoers say they would like to be more familiar with the Bible, and many feel embarrassed at not knowing as much as they think they’re supposed to know. But they also often report that they find the Bible intimidating and difficult to understand. Does any of this sound familiar to you? If so, then join us for an overview of the world and books of the New Testament. You’ll come away with a framework for becoming a better, more knowledgeable reader of Christian Scripture. Together we’ll explore the content of these books and the world from which they came. Why were these books written? To whom were they written? What were the big ideas or controversies they were trying to address in their time? What makes them, for all their differences, “hang together” as a unified “New Testament?” Why do they still matter for us today? Whether you are just setting out on your journey as a Bible reader, need a roadmap to orient you to the big picture or would like to stop and ask directions to refresh your memory, these sessions will help you set a course into the story of the God who saves us and claims us through Jesus Christ.
Faculty:
Matthew Skinner, Associate Professor of New Testament
Crazy Talk
Spring: March 22 - April 19, 2010
Course Time: MONDAY AFTERNOON 12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
When people heard that Humor and Theology had started dating each other, they whispered, “It’ll never work. The two are just not a good match for each other.” When Humor and Theology got engaged…and then married, the skepticism only grew more intense. “Can these two really live together?” But it turns out that Humor and Theology, in fact, are great partners. In the tradition of Martin Luther, who both knew a good joke and a good theological distinction, this course will draw on humor to explore many of the basic concepts of the Christian faith, focusing on what the church has found most important in its central theological concepts.
Faculty:
Rolf Jacobson, Associate Professor of Old Testament
The Dead Sea Scrolls
Spring: March 22 - April 19, 2010
Course Time: MONDAY EVENING 7:00 – 9:00 p.m.
Since their discovery in 1947, the Dead Sea Scrolls have been the object of intense interest on the part of scholars and laypeople alike. Dating from the 2nd century BCE to the 1st century CE, these scrolls include the oldest biblical manuscripts in existence, as well as much non-biblical material. They provide a fascinating glimpse into the history of Judaism and into the background of early Christianity. In conjunction with a special exhibition of some of the Dead Sea Scrolls at the Science Museum of Minnesota, the Bible faculty of Luther Seminary will offer a course on the Scrolls. Various members of the Bible division will address topics such as these: What is the history of the Qumran community (the Jewish sect that produced the Scrolls)? Who were they and what did they believe? What do the Scrolls tell us about the formation of the Bible? What do they tell us about messianic hopes in the time of Christ? The third class session will be held at the Science Museum, in order to view the Dead Sea Scrolls exhibition. This will require an additional charge at the museum's group rate.
Faculty:
Kathryn Schifferdecker, Assistant Professor of Old Testament
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